John Howell Collier
Encyclopedia
John Howell Collier 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.
on September 8, 1898. He joined the Texas National Guard
and served in the Villa Expedition
.
, from which he graduated in 1918. Assigned to the Cavalry
branch, he completed the Cavalry Officer Basic Course in 1920.
He 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
.
Collier graduated from the Cavalry Regular Course in 1937, and the Advanced Equitation Course in 1938.
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 6th Armored Division. He then commanded the 2nd Armored Division
from June to September, 1945.
, including high profile assignments as the Army’s Inspector of Armor, and commander of the U.S. Army Armor Center and School.
, in early January 1955. 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. 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.
, two awards of the Silver Star
, and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit
and Bronze Star.
, where he died on April 21, 1980. Collier was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
, Section M Site 105-C.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He was notable as a commander of 2nd Armored Division
U.S. 2nd Armored Division
The 2nd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played an important role during World War II in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and the liberation of France, Belgium, and Holland and the invasion of Germany...
units in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and as the Army’s Chief of Armor.
Early life
Nicknamed “Pee Wee” because of his diminutive (5’ 2”) stature, Collier was born in Uvalde, TexasUvalde, Texas
Uvalde is a city in and the county seat of Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,929 at the 2000 census.Uvalde was founded by Reading Wood Black in 1853 as the town of Encina. In 1856, when the county was organized, the town was renamed Uvalde for Spanish governor Juan de...
on September 8, 1898. He joined the Texas National Guard
Texas National Guard
The Texas National Guard consists of the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. The Guard is administered by the adjutant general, an appointee of the governor of Texas. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state...
and served in the Villa Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
.
Subsequent military career
Collier attended the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, from which he graduated in 1918. Assigned to the Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
branch, he completed the Cavalry Officer Basic Course in 1920.
He served in assignments throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including instructor at New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute is a state-supported educational institution. NMMI is located in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. It is sometimes referred to as the West Point of the West and it is the only state-supported military college located in the western United States. NMMI includes a...
and postings to Ft. Riley, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Ft. Benning, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Collier graduated from the Cavalry Regular Course in 1937, and the Advanced Equitation Course in 1938.
World War II
After graduating from the Command and General Staff CollegeCommand and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
in 1941 Collier was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division
U.S. 2nd Armored Division
The 2nd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played an important role during World War II in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and the liberation of France, Belgium, and Holland and the invasion of Germany...
for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
as commander of the division’s 3rd Battalion 66th Armored Regiment, and succeeded to command of Combat Command A when Maurice Rose
Maurice Rose
General Maurice Rose was a United States Army general during World War II and World War I veteran. The son and grandson of rabbis, General Rose was at the time the highest ranking Jew in the U.S. Army...
was assigned to command the 6th Armored Division. He then commanded the 2nd Armored Division
U.S. 2nd Armored Division
The 2nd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played an important role during World War II in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and the liberation of France, Belgium, and Holland and the invasion of Germany...
from June to September, 1945.
Post World War II
Collier continued his service after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including high profile assignments as the Army’s Inspector of Armor, and commander of the U.S. Army Armor Center and School.
Korean War
After serving as the Chief of Armor, Collier assumed command of I Corps in Korea on July 13, 1954. 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. FerenbaughClaude Birkett Ferenbaugh
Claude Birkett Ferenbaugh was a United States Army Lieutenant General. He served as the operations officer of the U.S. II Corps in Africa during World War II and commanded the 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War....
, in early January 1955. 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. 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.
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.Awards and decorations
General Collier’s decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, two awards of the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and Bronze Star.
Retirement and death
After his 1958 retirement Collier resided in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, where he died on April 21, 1980. Collier was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.- History :...
, Section M Site 105-C.