World War II Honoree

Wallace Hardison Collins, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Wichita Falls, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN NAVAL SERVICE IN LIEU OF BEING DRAFTED. RECEIVED TRAINING AS A RADIO TECHNICIAN AT CHICAGO UNIVERSITY IN ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN TEXAS AND AT TREASURE ISLAND IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS SHANGRI-LA (CV-38), NICKNAMED 'TOKYO EXPRESS'. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, AND AGAINST THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON MARCH 24, 1946 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.