World War II Honoree

G. C. Collins

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Marked Tree, Arkansas

Honored By

Martha Evelyn Copeland Collins, Joann, Patricia, Brenda & Gary

Relationship

Wife and Family

HE COMPLETED A FULL MEASURE OF COMBAT TRAINING IN THE MARINE CORPS. FOLLOWING EMPLOYMENT AT OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE, HE TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOLLOWED BY ADVANCED COMBAT READINESS TRAINING AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. HE WAS ASSIGNED 20 MILE HIKES WITH FULL FIELD PACK PLUS THE REGULAR PHYSICAL CONDITIONING AND QUALIFYING WITH THE USE OF COMBAT GEAR INCLUDING THE M-1 RIFLE. AS HE SHIPPED OUT FROM OCEANSIDE AT CAMP PENDELTON, CALIFORNIA, TO PEARL HARBOR, NEWS CAME THAT THE ATOMIC BOMB HAD BEEN DROPPED ON JAPAN. IN LIGHT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, HE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS IN THE MILITARY PRIOR TO RETURNING HOME AND DISCHARGE.