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 Nicknamed "Pee Wee" because of his diminutive stature, Collier was born in Uvalde, Texas on September 8, 1898. He joined the Texas National Guard and served in the Villa Expedition."42-Year Military Cycle Brings General Back Home", San Antonio Express, September 30, 1958Official Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 162

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.National Guard Association of the United States, Official proceedings, Volumes 77-79, 1955, page 93

Assigned to the Cavalry branch, Collier completed the Cavalry Officer Basic Course in 1920.Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 142

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."Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, June 29, 1921"Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, p. S32, June 17, 1928

Collier graduated from the Cavalry Regular Course in 1937, as well as the Advanced Equitation Course in 1938."Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, p. 40, March 3, 1938

World War II

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.Iron Knights: the United States 66th Armored Regiment, 1918–1945, by Gordon A. Blaker, 1999, page 162A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald, 1997, page 567In 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 197Combat Chronicles Page, 2nd Armored Division in World War II , United States Army Center of Military History

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.Official Register of the United States, 1952, page 131Army Information Digest, published by the Armed Forces Information School, 1950, Page 35"Army Shifts Generals; Armored Center's Chief Gets Assignment in Far East", The New York Times, p. 13 - Books, July 5, 1952 Bits and Pieces of Hardin County History, Spring 2002, page 9, published by Hardin County Historical SocietyThe National Guardsman, Volume 6, 1952, page 44

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. Ferenbaugh, 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.Newspaper article, Collier Praises Departing Turks, Pacific Stars and Stripes, July 21, 1955Magazine article, National Affairs: Open Season for Moose, Time Magazine, July 25, 1955"Collier Gets Third Star", The New York Times, p. 16 - Amusements, August 20, 1954

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.Newspaper article, Lt. Gen. Collier Comes Home: Uvalde Native Takes Top Fourth Army Job, San Antonio Express and News, October 2, 1955Atom War Games End 2d Phase; New Concepts Are Being Tested, New York Times, April 4, 1957Doctoral thesis, Intimidating the World: The United States Atomic Army, 1956-1960 , by Paul C. Jussel, Ohio State University, 2004

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.Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 164Social Security Death IndexOnline database, U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 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.

Retirement and death 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.Newspaper editorial, Gen. Collier, San Antonio Light, July 10, 1958"Meloy Heads Fourth Army", The New York Times, p. 12, September 3, 1958 Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates, 1972, page 359

References

External links Generals of World War II