World War II Honoree

Harry J. Collins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

A Grateful American

IN AUGUST 1942, WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DIVISION COMMANDER OF THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP VAN DORN, MISSISSIPPI. IN APRIL, 1943, ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 42ND INFANTRY DIVISION (THE FAMED RAINBOW DIVISION) AT CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA. IN DECEMBER 1944, THE DIVISION ARRIVED IN FRANCE AND PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN STOPPING THE LAST GERMAN DRIVE INTO WESTERN EUROPE, KNOWN AS THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS CREDITED WITH THE LIBERATING OF THE DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP AT THE END OF THE WAR. FOLLOWING V-E DAY, THE 42ND INFANTRY DIVISION ASSUMED OCCUPATION DUTY IN WESTERN AUSTRIA, WITH COLLINS SERVING AS MILITARY GOVERNOR. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR, FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR (ORDER OF CHEVALIER).