World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Chester Lewis Collins
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pawnee County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN JULY, 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP ADAIR AT CORVALLIS, OREGON. HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MARCH 25, 1944, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON APRIL 13, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON APRIL 21, 1944. LANDED IN ITALY ON MAY 27, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY WITH THE 361ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 91ST INFANTRY 'POWDER RIVER' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, AND NORTH APENNINES CAMPAIGNS. PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT ON THE GOTHIC LINE AND FOUGHT THE BATTLE FOR MT. MONTICELLI FROM SEPTEMBER 12-18, 1944. HIS REGIMENT TOOK MT. BENI ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1944; FOUGHT THE BATTLE FOR MT. OGGIOLI ON SEPTEMBER 27-28, 1944; TOOK THE TOWN OF LOIANO ON OCTOBER 5, 1944; AND FOUGHT THE BATTLE FOR MT. CASTELLARI ON OCTOBER 7-8, 1944. SERGEANT COLLINS WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 18, 1944 DURING THE NORTH APENNINES CAMPAIGN WHILE OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF LIVERGNANO. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.