Collins Howard D.

Monuments

Eternal Heroes Memorial -82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions

Name:

Howard D. Collins

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

0-1286969

Unit:

502nd Parachute infantry Regiment

Date of Death:

1996-09-01

State:

Indiana

Cemetery:

Cane Creek Cemetery, Indiana

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart

Comments:

Howard Collins served in the U.S. Army during the Normandy Invasion of World War II as a First Lieutenant in G Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He served the entirety of the war in the European theatre. Howard was a member of the OSS and spent time in Austria following VE Day conducting investigations and searching out Nazis. He was recalled to active duty to serve in the Korean War. Following the Korean War, at age 35 Howard married Joyce who brought light, love, and eventually 5 children into his life. He farmed and operated the Collins Lumber Company until shortly before his death in 1996.