Ernest was born on October 21, 1919 in Enterprise, Washington County, Utah to Ernest Arthur Pickering, Sr. and Mary Ann Winsor. His father was born in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah on June 26, 1891 and his mother was born on December 23, 1895 in Saint George, Washington County, Utah. His siblings included Marie, Anson, Leah, Wendell, and Willard.

According to the United States Census records, in 1920, he resided in New Castle, Utah and his father was a farmer. In 1930 and 1940, he resided in Enterprise, Washington County, Utah, and his father was still listed as a farmer.

Ernest graduated from Enterprise High School, Utah, in 1938. Three years later, at the age of 21, on July 1, 1941, he registered for the draft. On June 30, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force at Fort Douglas, Utah, and on July 14, 1942, he was inducted, service number 39028358, and trained at Camp Carson, Colorado and Camp Butner, South Carolina. He was promoted to Private First Class on January 25, 1943, to Corporal on October 12, 1943, and to Sergeant on April 19, 1944. He also trained at Shreveport, Louisiana and Camp Roberts, California. As part of the 334th Infantry 89th Division, he shipped out overseas in January 1945 and was home on furlough in October 1944.

On April 10, 1945, he was wounded in action. The National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files listed, “his wounds were categorized as penetrating (point of entrance only: includes incised, puncture or stab wound) with no nerve or artery involvement; Location: Mediastinum; Location: Thigh; Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified; Diagnosis: Wound(s), penetrating (point of entrance only: includes incised, puncture or stab wound) with no nerve or artery involvement; Diagnosis: Bladder and urethra, disease of, other.”

The Washington County News on May 3, 1945, reported that his parents “received a telegram on April 28, 1945 at forenoon from the War Department that their son, Sergeant Ernest Arthur Pickering, Jr., was wounded in action in Germany on April 10, 1945. Later that same day, his parents received a second telegram reporting his death on April 17, 1945 in Germany.”

He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten (Block E, Row 13, Grave 26) with inscription that reads:

"Ernest Arthur Pickering

SGT 354 INF 89 DIV

Utah APR 17 1945

26"

At the time of his death, according to the Washington County News on May 3, 1945, his brother, S. 1/c Anson Perry was serving in the Navy in the Pacific and another brother, Private Wendell was in the US Army 67th tank battalion and training at Camp Roberts, California, and later, his other brother, Willard, served during the Korean War.

According to the Washington County News on May 17, 1945, during his memorial that “Sgt. Pickering was one of three members of the 89th Infantry division in Germany cited for “quick thinking and resourcefulness during the recent crossing of the Rhine River at St. Goar.” He was a squad leader; S/Sgt. C.M. Kelper of Nelsonville, Ohio was section leader and Pfc. R.F. Warner of Haverhill, Mass. was gunner. Members of Co. G. 348th Infantry Regiment, “they lost no time in getting a machine gun into action under fire on the waterfront to cover the company crossing in assault boats,” says the overseas report. “The boats were subjected to murderous fire from German 20mm flack and machine guns as well as sniper rifles, but the three gunners picked off the entrenched enemy speedily and efficiently,” declares their commanding officer, John W. Otterbein.”

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Sources:

https://www.fold3.com/file/959.953129445971996749?terms=ernest,arthur,pickering

Ancestry.com

National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112

https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/246/Purple-Heart.htm

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40001-225183656/ernest-arthur-pickering-jr-in-familysearch-family-tree

https://www.newspapers.com/image/545273688/?terms=ernest%2Barthur%2Bpickering

https://www.newspapers.com/image/545273296/?terms=ernest%2Barthur%2Bpickering

https://www.newspapers.com/image/595296908/?terms=ernest%2Barthur%2Bpickering

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=116811

Additional information in the form of personal letters written to his family members can be found: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/gallery/album/743787

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.