World War II Veteran, Bronze Star
Survivor of the Bataan Death March as well as three years as a Prisoner of War in the Phillipines.
Source: from the Marriage Index for Cedar County, Nebraska - Caryl LeF. Picotte married Florence Wallace on 29 May 1921; book 6, page 467. Note: this is his first wife and the mother of Caryl Jr.
Source: 'Indians in the War' -- a 1945 Bureau of Indian Affairs booklet describing the contributions of Native Americans to the war effort. Excerpt from pages 50-51:
"Among the American prisoners released by the 6th Ranger Battalion from Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines on January 30, 1945, was Major Caryl L. Picotte, Sioux-Omaha, formerly of Nebraska, but now stationed in Oakland, California.
Major Picotte was called to active duty with the Air Corps in September, 1941, and sent to the Philippines. On his arrival in Manila he was assigned to duty as Associate Engineering Officer at the Philippine Air Depot, Nichols Field.
After the Japanese air attack on Nichols Field, December 8, 1941, when most of the serviceable American aircraft were destroyed, Major Picotte assisted in the organization of a provisional Air Corps regiment which fought as infantry from January 1, 1942, until the capitulation of Bataan on April 9th of that year. He was in the famous Death March from Bataan to the first American prisoner-of-war camp at O'Donnell, covering 80 miles in three days with one meal of rice. In June he was moved to Cabanatuan, where he remained until released by the Rangers two and a half years later. During the last days before the fall of Bataan, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
Major Picotte comes of a distinguished Indian family. His grandfather was Joseph LaFlesche (Iron Eyes), the last chief of the Omaha tribe. His mother, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, was the first Indian woman physician and is remembered with veneration for her life of unselfish service to both Indians and Whites. The late Francis LaFlesche, distinguished ethnologist, was his uncle, and Suzette LaFlesche Tibbles, (Bright Eyes), who lectured throughout the civilized world and was the most famous Indian woman of the 1880's and 1890's, was his aunt.
Major Picotte reported that there were more than 300 Indians on Bataan and Corregidor. While in the prison camps he met and talked with many from all sections of the country. He added, "Their battle record, individually and as a whole, left nothing to be desired." "
Colonel Picotte's obituary as it appeared in The San Diego Union, dated 7 May 1978:
"Lt. Col. Caryl L. Picotte, USA, ret., of 1150 La Cresta Blvd. in El Cajon, died Friday at a hospital. He was 81.
Col. Picotte, a native of Bancroft, Nebraska, served 28 years in the Army. During World War II, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese and held captive for four years.
He lived in San Diego for 33 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 303 in El Cajon.
Co. Picotte is survived by his widow, the former Miriam S. Carney; his son, Caryl Jr. of Michigan; a brother, Pierre of Hemet; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Park, followed by entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum. The family suggests donations to the Lung Association."
Survivor of the Bataan Death March as well as three years as a Prisoner of War in the Phillipines.
Source: from the Marriage Index for Cedar County, Nebraska - Caryl LeF. Picotte married Florence Wallace on 29 May 1921; book 6, page 467. Note: this is his first wife and the mother of Caryl Jr.
Source: 'Indians in the War' -- a 1945 Bureau of Indian Affairs booklet describing the contributions of Native Americans to the war effort. Excerpt from pages 50-51:
"Among the American prisoners released by the 6th Ranger Battalion from Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines on January 30, 1945, was Major Caryl L. Picotte, Sioux-Omaha, formerly of Nebraska, but now stationed in Oakland, California.
Major Picotte was called to active duty with the Air Corps in September, 1941, and sent to the Philippines. On his arrival in Manila he was assigned to duty as Associate Engineering Officer at the Philippine Air Depot, Nichols Field.
After the Japanese air attack on Nichols Field, December 8, 1941, when most of the serviceable American aircraft were destroyed, Major Picotte assisted in the organization of a provisional Air Corps regiment which fought as infantry from January 1, 1942, until the capitulation of Bataan on April 9th of that year. He was in the famous Death March from Bataan to the first American prisoner-of-war camp at O'Donnell, covering 80 miles in three days with one meal of rice. In June he was moved to Cabanatuan, where he remained until released by the Rangers two and a half years later. During the last days before the fall of Bataan, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
Major Picotte comes of a distinguished Indian family. His grandfather was Joseph LaFlesche (Iron Eyes), the last chief of the Omaha tribe. His mother, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, was the first Indian woman physician and is remembered with veneration for her life of unselfish service to both Indians and Whites. The late Francis LaFlesche, distinguished ethnologist, was his uncle, and Suzette LaFlesche Tibbles, (Bright Eyes), who lectured throughout the civilized world and was the most famous Indian woman of the 1880's and 1890's, was his aunt.
Major Picotte reported that there were more than 300 Indians on Bataan and Corregidor. While in the prison camps he met and talked with many from all sections of the country. He added, "Their battle record, individually and as a whole, left nothing to be desired." "
Colonel Picotte's obituary as it appeared in The San Diego Union, dated 7 May 1978:
"Lt. Col. Caryl L. Picotte, USA, ret., of 1150 La Cresta Blvd. in El Cajon, died Friday at a hospital. He was 81.
Col. Picotte, a native of Bancroft, Nebraska, served 28 years in the Army. During World War II, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese and held captive for four years.
He lived in San Diego for 33 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 303 in El Cajon.
Co. Picotte is survived by his widow, the former Miriam S. Carney; his son, Caryl Jr. of Michigan; a brother, Pierre of Hemet; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Park, followed by entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum. The family suggests donations to the Lung Association."
World War II Veteran, Bronze Star
Survivor of the Bataan Death March as well as three years as a Prisoner of War in the Phillipines.
Source: from the Marriage Index for Cedar County, Nebraska - Caryl LeF. Picotte married Florence Wallace on 29 May 1921; book 6, page 467. Note: this is his first wife and the mother of Caryl Jr.
Source: 'Indians in the War' -- a 1945 Bureau of Indian Affairs booklet describing the contributions of Native Americans to the war effort. Excerpt from pages 50-51:
"Among the American prisoners released by the 6th Ranger Battalion from Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines on January 30, 1945, was Major Caryl L. Picotte, Sioux-Omaha, formerly of Nebraska, but now stationed in Oakland, California.
Major Picotte was called to active duty with the Air Corps in September, 1941, and sent to the Philippines. On his arrival in Manila he was assigned to duty as Associate Engineering Officer at the Philippine Air Depot, Nichols Field.
After the Japanese air attack on Nichols Field, December 8, 1941, when most of the serviceable American aircraft were destroyed, Major Picotte assisted in the organization of a provisional Air Corps regiment which fought as infantry from January 1, 1942, until the capitulation of Bataan on April 9th of that year. He was in the famous Death March from Bataan to the first American prisoner-of-war camp at O'Donnell, covering 80 miles in three days with one meal of rice. In June he was moved to Cabanatuan, where he remained until released by the Rangers two and a half years later. During the last days before the fall of Bataan, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
Major Picotte comes of a distinguished Indian family. His grandfather was Joseph LaFlesche (Iron Eyes), the last chief of the Omaha tribe. His mother, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, was the first Indian woman physician and is remembered with veneration for her life of unselfish service to both Indians and Whites. The late Francis LaFlesche, distinguished ethnologist, was his uncle, and Suzette LaFlesche Tibbles, (Bright Eyes), who lectured throughout the civilized world and was the most famous Indian woman of the 1880's and 1890's, was his aunt.
Major Picotte reported that there were more than 300 Indians on Bataan and Corregidor. While in the prison camps he met and talked with many from all sections of the country. He added, "Their battle record, individually and as a whole, left nothing to be desired." "
Colonel Picotte's obituary as it appeared in The San Diego Union, dated 7 May 1978:
"Lt. Col. Caryl L. Picotte, USA, ret., of 1150 La Cresta Blvd. in El Cajon, died Friday at a hospital. He was 81.
Col. Picotte, a native of Bancroft, Nebraska, served 28 years in the Army. During World War II, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese and held captive for four years.
He lived in San Diego for 33 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 303 in El Cajon.
Co. Picotte is survived by his widow, the former Miriam S. Carney; his son, Caryl Jr. of Michigan; a brother, Pierre of Hemet; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Park, followed by entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum. The family suggests donations to the Lung Association."
Survivor of the Bataan Death March as well as three years as a Prisoner of War in the Phillipines.
Source: from the Marriage Index for Cedar County, Nebraska - Caryl LeF. Picotte married Florence Wallace on 29 May 1921; book 6, page 467. Note: this is his first wife and the mother of Caryl Jr.
Source: 'Indians in the War' -- a 1945 Bureau of Indian Affairs booklet describing the contributions of Native Americans to the war effort. Excerpt from pages 50-51:
"Among the American prisoners released by the 6th Ranger Battalion from Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines on January 30, 1945, was Major Caryl L. Picotte, Sioux-Omaha, formerly of Nebraska, but now stationed in Oakland, California.
Major Picotte was called to active duty with the Air Corps in September, 1941, and sent to the Philippines. On his arrival in Manila he was assigned to duty as Associate Engineering Officer at the Philippine Air Depot, Nichols Field.
After the Japanese air attack on Nichols Field, December 8, 1941, when most of the serviceable American aircraft were destroyed, Major Picotte assisted in the organization of a provisional Air Corps regiment which fought as infantry from January 1, 1942, until the capitulation of Bataan on April 9th of that year. He was in the famous Death March from Bataan to the first American prisoner-of-war camp at O'Donnell, covering 80 miles in three days with one meal of rice. In June he was moved to Cabanatuan, where he remained until released by the Rangers two and a half years later. During the last days before the fall of Bataan, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
Major Picotte comes of a distinguished Indian family. His grandfather was Joseph LaFlesche (Iron Eyes), the last chief of the Omaha tribe. His mother, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, was the first Indian woman physician and is remembered with veneration for her life of unselfish service to both Indians and Whites. The late Francis LaFlesche, distinguished ethnologist, was his uncle, and Suzette LaFlesche Tibbles, (Bright Eyes), who lectured throughout the civilized world and was the most famous Indian woman of the 1880's and 1890's, was his aunt.
Major Picotte reported that there were more than 300 Indians on Bataan and Corregidor. While in the prison camps he met and talked with many from all sections of the country. He added, "Their battle record, individually and as a whole, left nothing to be desired." "
Colonel Picotte's obituary as it appeared in The San Diego Union, dated 7 May 1978:
"Lt. Col. Caryl L. Picotte, USA, ret., of 1150 La Cresta Blvd. in El Cajon, died Friday at a hospital. He was 81.
Col. Picotte, a native of Bancroft, Nebraska, served 28 years in the Army. During World War II, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese and held captive for four years.
He lived in San Diego for 33 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 303 in El Cajon.
Co. Picotte is survived by his widow, the former Miriam S. Carney; his son, Caryl Jr. of Michigan; a brother, Pierre of Hemet; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Park, followed by entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum. The family suggests donations to the Lung Association."
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