World War II Honoree

Frederick G. Collins, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Riverside, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On December 16, 1939, he entered the United States Army from California. Deployed to the Philippine Islands, where he served with the 263rd Quartermaster Company, Quartermaster Corps, based at Nichols Field on the Island of Luzon. His unit was assigned to a provisional infantry company when the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces invaded the Philippine Islands. The Japanese Armed forces captured him May 9, 1942 during the fall of the Philippines, subjected to participate in the Bataan Death March. Held captive at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp, Nueva Province on Luzon. On Thursday, November 19, 1942, he died of unknown causes and buried in a common grave along with thirteen other prisoners at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Cemetery. In June of 2014, a private organization discovered a collective burial grave and the remains were transferred to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency in Hawaii where he was identified. The remains of this Soldier were interred with Military Honors at the Riverside National Cemetery September 15, 2017 in Riverside, California. This Soldier, an American Patriot, so gallantly gave his life for his country.