Private Pickett was a member of Company C, 70th Heavy Tank Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. While supporting the 7th Calvary Regiment near Sinchang-ni, North Korea, his tank was hit by an enemy missile and he was killed. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Pickett was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.