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John Howell Collier

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John Howell Collier
Collier as a lieutenant general
Born(1898-09-08)September 8, 1898
Uvalde, Texas, US
DiedApril 21, 1980(1980-04-21) (aged 81)
San Antonio, Texas, US
Buried
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1914–1958
RankLieutenant General
Commands3rd Battalion 66th Armored Regiment
Combat Command A, 2nd Armored Division
2nd Armored Division
U.S. Army Armor Center and School
I Corps
Fourth United States Army
Battles / warsVilla Expedition
World War I
World War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

John Howell Collier (September 8, 1898 – April 21, 1980) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He was notable as a commander of 2nd Armored Division units in World War II and as the Army's Chief of Armor.

Early life

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Nicknamed "Pee Wee" because of his diminutive 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) stature, Collier was born in Uvalde, Texas on September 8, 1898. He joined the Texas National Guard and served in the Villa Expedition.[1][2]

Subsequent military career

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As a West Point cadet

Collier attended the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1918. After receiving his commission, Collier was assigned to Europe to carry out an observation tour of World War I battlefields.[3]

Assigned to the Cavalry branch, Collier completed the Cavalry Officer Basic Course in 1920.[4]

Collier served in assignments throughout the United States, including instructor at New Mexico Military Institute and postings to Ft. Riley, Kansas, Ft. Benning, Georgia, and the Philippines.[5][6]

Collier graduated from the Cavalry Regular Course in 1937, as well as the Advanced Equitation Course in 1938.[7]

World War II

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General Collier (right) shakes hands with Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson (left) during World War II in Europe at the Potsdam Conference in 1945.

After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1941, Collier was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division for World War II. He served in Africa and Europe as commander of the division's 3rd Battalion 66th Armored Regiment, and succeeded to command of Combat Command A when Maurice Rose was assigned to command the 3rd Armored Division. He then commanded the 2nd Armored Division from June to September, 1945.[8][9][10][11]

Post World War II

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Collier continued his service after World War II, including high-profile assignments as the Army's Inspector of Armor, and commander of the U.S. Army Armor Center and School.[12][13][14][15][16]

Korean War

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After serving as the Chief of Armor, Collier assumed command of I Corps in Korea on July 13, 1954.[17] In November he was assigned additional duty as interim deputy commander of the Eighth United States Army until the arrival of the permanent deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Claude B. Ferenbaugh, in early January 1955.[18][19] Ferenbaugh retired at the end of June and Collier relinquished command of I Corps to become deputy commander of Eighth Army and U.S. Army Forces Far East.[20] He promptly made nationwide headlines when he attempted to prevent U.S. service members from fraternizing with South Korean women, an effort that proved unsuccessful when commanders in areas outside Eighth Army control did not follow Collier's example.[21][22][23][24]

Post Korean War

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Collier returned to the United States in 1955 to assume command of the Fourth United States Army, where he served until his 1958 retirement.[25][26][27]

Awards and decorations

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General Collier's decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Silver Star, and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.[28][29][30] At the end of World War II, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics decorated him with the Order of Alexander Nevsky as the 2nd Armored Division linked up with elements of the Red Army.[31]

Retirement and death

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After his 1958 retirement, Collier resided in San Antonio, Texas, where he died on April 21, 1980. Collier was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section M Site 105-C.[1][29][32][33][34][35]

References

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  1. ^ a b "42-Year Military Cycle Brings General Back Home", San Antonio Express, September 30, 1958
  2. ^ Official Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 162
  3. ^ National Guard Association of the United States, Official proceedings, Volumes 77-79, 1955, page 93
  4. ^ Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 142
  5. ^ "Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, June 29, 1921
  6. ^ "Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, p. S32, June 17, 1928 (subscription required)
  7. ^ "Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, p. 40, March 3, 1938 (subscription required)
  8. ^ Iron Knights: the United States 66th Armored Regiment, 1918–1945, by Gordon A. Blaker, 1999, page 162
  9. ^ A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald, 1997, page 567
  10. ^ In the Middle of the Fight: an Assessment of Medium-Armored Forces in Past Military Operations, by David E. Johnson, Adam Grissom, and Olga Oliker, published by Rand Corporation 2008, page 197
  11. ^ Combat Chronicles Page, 2nd Armored Division in World War II Archived June 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, United States Army Center of Military History
  12. ^ Official Register of the United States, 1952, page 131
  13. ^ Army Information Digest, published by the Armed Forces Information School, 1950, Page 35
  14. ^ "Army Shifts Generals; Armored Center's Chief Gets Assignment in Far East", The New York Times, p. 13 - Books, July 5, 1952 (subscription required)
  15. ^ Bits and Pieces of Hardin County History, Spring 2002, page 9, published by Hardin County Historical Society
  16. ^ The National Guardsman, Volume 6, 1952, page 44
  17. ^ "Gen. Collier Named I Corps Commander", Pacific Stars and Stripes, p. 6, July 12, 1954
  18. ^ "Ferenbaugh Flies to Seoul To Take Post", Pacific Stars and Stripes, p. 7, January 3, 1955
  19. ^ "Cardinal Spellman in Korea for Yule". The Herald. Seoul. Associated Press. December 24, 1954. p. 9. Retrieved December 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Collier to Take 8th Army Post as Ferenbaugh Retires", Pacific Stars and Stripes, p. 1, June 21, 1955
  21. ^ Newspaper article, Collier Praises Departing Turks, Pacific Stars and Stripes, July 21, 1955
  22. ^ Magazine article, National Affairs: Open Season for Moose, Time Magazine, July 25, 1955
  23. ^ "Collier Gets Third Star", The New York Times, p. 16 - Amusements, August 20, 1954 (subscription required)
  24. ^ "Korean Cuties Shut Out From Officer Clubs". Chicago Tribune. Seoul, Korea. Associated Press. July 13, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved December 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Newspaper article, Lt. Gen. Collier Comes Home: Uvalde Native Takes Top Fourth Army Job, San Antonio Express and News, October 2, 1955
  26. ^ Atom War Games End 2d Phase; New Concepts Are Being Tested, New York Times, April 4, 1957
  27. ^ Doctoral thesis, Intimidating the World: The United States Atomic Army, 1956-1960 Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, by Paul C. Jussel, Ohio State University, 2004
  28. ^ Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 164
  29. ^ a b Social Security Death Index
  30. ^ Online database, U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
  31. ^ Empric, Bruce E. (2024), Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II, Teufelsberg Press, p. 86, ISBN 979-8-3444-6807-5
  32. ^ Newspaper editorial, Gen. Collier, San Antonio Light, July 10, 1958
  33. ^ "Meloy Heads Fourth Army", The New York Times, p. 12, September 3, 1958 (subscription required)
  34. ^ Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates, 1972, page 359
  35. ^ "Nationwide Grave Site Locator, US Department of Veterans Affairs". Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General 2nd Armored Division
June–September 1945 		Succeeded by
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