World War II Honoree

Robert Lewis Collins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

R. Collins

Relationship

Self

SIGNED UP TO BE DRAFTED AND WAS ON JANUARY 23, 1943. SENT TO CAMP STEWART, GEORGIA; COAST ARTILLERY, ANTI-AIRCRAFT. ROSE TO RANK OF CORPORAL, AND JOINED A CADRE TO CAMP DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA. ROSE TO RANK OF SERGEANT. OFFERED TO ATTEND THE INFANTRY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. RECEIVED COMMISSION OF SECOND LIEUTENANT. ATTENDED PARACHUTE SCHOOL. SENT TO EUROPE ON MARCH 8, 1945 AS A REPLACEMENT COMBAT PLATOON LEADER. UPON ARRIVING IN FRANCE, ASSIGNED TO THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION AT CHALONS SUR MARNE. WHEN THE FIRST ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER INTO GERMANY, ASSIGNED TO THE 17TH DIVISION MILITARY POLICE PLATOON. DIVISION WAS BROKEN UP, RETURNED TO THE U.S. AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA IN THE FALL OF 1945, AND ASSIGNED AS SUPPLY OFFICER FOR THE SIGNAL COMPANY OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE IN THE SPRING OF 1946.