World War II Honoree

Robert L. 'Bob' Collins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sugden, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS FOR 27 MONTHS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS AN ENGINE MECHANIC WITH THE 349TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 100TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. STATIONED AT THORPE ABBOTTS, ENGLAND. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT ON 2 OCCASIONS. FIRST, DURING AN ATTACK ON REGENSBURG, GERMANY ON AUGUST 17, 1943 FOR SERIOUSLY DISRUPTING GERMAN FIGHTER PLANE PRODUCTION; THEN, FOR A SERIES OF AIR RAIDS ON BERLIN, GERMANY IN MARCH 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.