James Louis Picard was born on August 30, 1914, in Rensselaer, Rensselaer County, New York. He was employed as a waiter before enlisting in the service on June 20, 1942. He served in the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomb Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-26 Marauder #42-96210 during World War II.

On June 14, 1944, B-26 Marauder 42-96210 took off from Station 161 Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, for a mission targeting Cloyes-sur-le-Loir, France. At approximately 07:40 A.M., while flying over the Commune of Saint-Péravy-la-Colombe in the Loiret department, about 12 km southwest of Châteaudun, the aircraft was struck by enemy flak. The anti-aircraft fire critically damaged the plane, causing it to be completely destroyed in the air, and it crashed in the area. All six crew members were killed in action.

SSgt Picard is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net