John Howell Collier

John Howell Collier
General Collier with the 2nd Armored Division in World War II
Born	September 8, 1898 Uvalde, Texas
Died	April 21, 1980 (aged 81) San Antonio, Texas
Buried at	Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1914–1958
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	3rd 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/wars	Villa Expedition World War I World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star

John Howell Collier (8 September 1899 – 21 April 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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]

Retirement and death

After his 1958 retirement, Collier resided in San Antonio, Texas, where he died 22 years later on April 21, 1980.^[31] Collier was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section M Site 105-C.^{[1][29][32][33][34][35]}

References

1. Newspaper editorial, 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. Newspaper article, Army Orders and Assignments, New York Times, June 29, 1921
6. Newspaper article, Army Orders and Assignments, New York Times, June 17, 1928
7. Newspaper article, Army Orders and Assignments, New York Times, March 3, 1938
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, 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. Newspaper article, Army Shifts Generals; Armored Center's Chief Gets Assignment in Far East, New York Times, July 5, 1952
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. Newspaper article, Cardinal Spellman in Korea for Yule, by Associated Press, published in Rock Hill (North Carolina) Herald, December 24, 1954
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. Newspaper article, Collier Gets Third Star, New York Times, August 20, 1954
24. Newspaper article, Korean Cuties Shut Out From Officer Clubs, Chicago Tribune, July 13, 1955
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, by Paul C. Jussel, Ohio State University, 2004
28. Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 164
29. Social Security Death Index
30. Online database, U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
31. John Howell Collier. at Find a Grave
32. Newspaper editorial, Gen. Collier, San Antonio Light, July 10, 1958
33. Newspaper article, Meloy Heads Fourth Army, New York Times, September 3, 1958
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

External links