Special Salute VFW Honors Memory Of Bainville’s Picard
He will not be forgotten. The Montana VFW recently presented special recognition in honor of Bainville native Michael Picard, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country during the Vietnam War on Feb. 20, 1968.
Paul Picard, one of Michael’s brothers, explained that the Montana VFW has been honoring one individual from each service branch during an annual ceremony in each of the last seven years. Michael was this year’s recipient for the Army, Paul noted that a representative from the Montana VFW asked him a few months ago if the Picard family would be interested in the recognition. “I told him absolutely.”
About 30 members of the Picard family attended the ceremony held in Belgrade. “It sure was an honor,” Paul said.
Bev Vannatta, sister, added, “It was a very special time.” She noted it was the first time that the entire family was together in about 15 years.
The presentation came during a softball tournament. Since Michael was a recipient for the Army, members of the Army team came over to the Picard team and were interested in hearing about Michael’s service.
“It was a touching ceremony,” Vannatta said. “The team was very interested in how he earned his awards and how brave he was.”
Michael was a sergeant in the Army and was the second casualty of the Vietnam War from Roosevelt County. He was 23 years old at the time of this death.
For his service, Michael earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star Medal, Military Merit Medal, Gallantry Cross and Good Conduct Medal. Honors earned prior to his death included the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and Sharpshooter Badge. He received the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action against a hostile force. On Feb. 20, 1968, Sgt. Picard was leading his squad as the flank security element on a company size search and destroy mission near the village of Ben Cat. While moving a dense jungle, his unit was suddenly subjected to intensive small arms fire by a well concealed Viet Cong force. During the initial moments of contact, several men were wounded by the heavy enemy fire.
Unhesitatingly, Sgt. Picard moved forward through the hail of hostile fire so that he might better control his men. As he moved through the enemy kill zone, he spotted three enemy soldiers. He immediately engaged the insurgents, killing all three.
Sgt. Picard then continued to ignore the Viet Cong rounds as he moved forward, directing his men’s fire on the enemy. While advancing toward one enemy position, he was mortally wounded by hostile fire.
The letter for the Silver Star award reads, “His undaunted courage, as demonstrated by his selfless sacrifice was undoubtedly responsible for the ultimate rout of the insurgent force. Sgt. Picard’s unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.”
He attended his final two years of high school in Bainville, graduating with the class of 1963. The football field in Bainville is now named in memory of him. He went on to attend Carroll College and Eastern Montana College in Billings until January 1966. Michael was inducted into the service on Oct. 17, 1966, and left on July 26, 1967, for service in Vietnam.
Michael PicardSgt. Michael Picard gave his life for his country on Feb. 20, 1968.(Photosubmitted)
