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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Garland W. Collier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

RANK: SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 1, 1942 AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA AND BECAME A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE JUMPED INTO THE AREA OF ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, BATTLE OF NORMANDY ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, CODE NAME: OPERATION, MARKET GARDEN WITH HIS 2ND COMBAT JUMP. HE WAS KILLED BY MORTAR FIRE DURING THE FIERCE BATTLE OF OPHEUSDEN, HOLLAND AND WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1944. HIS REMAINS WERE NEVER RECOVERED AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. HE IS ALSO MEMORIALIZED WITH A MEMORIAL STONE IN THE FAMILY PLOT AT THE WHITE CHAPEL CEMETERY COLEMAN, TEXAS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT. HIS REGIMENT, FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF NORMANDY AND IT’S MARCH ACROSS EUROPE TO THE EAGLE’S NEST, BERCHTESGADEN, GERMANY WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE MEDAL, THE BELGIUM FOURRAGERE AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.