Photo taken in Naples, Italy
NAME: Boggs G. Collins
ASN: 35275416
PLACE OF BIRTH: Randolph County, Huttonsville, WV
DATE OF BIRTH: 21 Sep 1917
DATES OF SERVICE: 12 Feb 1942 - 30 May 1945
UNIT ASSIGNED: 1st PLT, C CO 509th PIB
CAMPAIGNS: Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland
AWARDS: Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and four campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters, Five overseas service bars
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
12 Feb 1942 - Enlisted at Ft Hayes, Columbus, OH - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 35275416 | 35275416 |
| NAME | COLLINS#BOGGS#G######### | COLLINS#BOGGS#G######### |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | 54 | WEST VIRGINIA |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 083 | RANDOLPH |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 5340 | FT HAYES COLUMBUS OHIO |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 12 | 12 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 02 | 02 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 42 | 42 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | PVT# | Private |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | BI# | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| BRANCH: CODE | 00 | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 5 | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 54 | WEST VIRGINIA |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 17 | 17 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 0 | Grammar school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 316 | Farm hands, general farms |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 7 | Selectees (Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0916 | 0916 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 3.338 | 3.338 |
20 Mar 1942 - Qualified Marksman on M1903 Springfield Rifle
29 Mar 1942 - Yellow Fever Immunization
19 Jul 1942 - Qualified Marksman on M1 Garand Rifle
05 Oct 1942 - Departed US for Scotland as part of 180 replacements for 509th
15 Oct 1942 - Arrived in Scotland
14 Sep 1943 - Participated in Operation GIANT III (AVALANCHE) the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy
05 Jan 1944 - Smallpox Immunization
06 Jan 1944 - Tetanus Immunization
10 Jan 1944 - Typhoid Immunization
22 Jan 1944 - Participated in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy
15 Feb 1944 - Daylight was imminent when the 30th Infantry arrived to relieve Lieutenant Rose's platoon at House Six. All the weary paratroopers withdrew except for three, Corporal Collins, Pvt. Edwin C. Hicks, and an unknown individual. Collins had stayed behind temporarily to assist the relieving platoon in installing a BAR position, and Hicks and the other man had stayed to protect him. Collins, Hicks and the third man were soon astonished when a second enemy counterattack of about 20 men bore down on them. It originated from the main German positions about 130 yards away. The three paratroopers instinctively sprang into action. Collins opened fire with the BAR. After a few well-directed bursts, he caught sight of an unmanned light machine gun. Turning the latter weapon over to Hicks, he made for the machine gun. He had to cross open ground in full view of the enemy. Luckily, he reached the gun unscathed, only to learn it was completely disabled. The Krauts were closer now. Hicks and the third man were still blazing away, however the BAR had jammed and Hicks was now using a captured German rifle. Now Collins half crawled, half scurried along the ground, back to his men. They were the only persons in this forward position. Miraculously he arrived back at the BAR still unhurt. He inspected the BAR, unjammed it, and turned it on the enemy. His aim was good. The three troopers were now all inside the house, besieged, just as the Germans had been. At last the few Krauts decided they had had enough. Two of them put up their hands. Collins motioned for them to approach, and they were taken into custody. He then decided that, having done all they could and having a low ammo supply, it was time to withdraw. Collins and Hicks later each received a Distinguished Service Cross for stopping the counterattack described above. (Extracted - Page 245 - 246, Chapter 19, Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart)
15 Mar 1944 - Distinguished Service Cross, General Orders: Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 78 (1944)
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Corporal Boggs G. Collins, United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in action against enemy forces on 15 and 16 March 1944. Corporal Collins' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
10 Apr 1944 - Cpl. Boggs G. Collins ASN 35275416 Unit: C CO 509th PIB General Order #5 Award of Combat Infantryman Badge
14 Apr 1944 - Wounded In Action, Italy
11 May 1944 - Cpl. Boggs G. Collins General Order #78 HQ Fifth Army Award of Distinguished Service Cross DSC. Award presented by Lieutenant General Mark Clark, Commanding General, US 5th Army in Naples, Italy
15 Aug 1944 - Participated in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY) the Airborne invasion of Southern France.
15 Aug 1944 - Lieutenant Sammons' 2nd Platoon was the last to leave the vicinity of the citadel. One of the men spotted the white flag: "Hey, the Krauts have put up a white flag! They want to surrender!" Word was passed to Captain Walls, who halted the procession and directed Sammons to take the surrender. His second-in-command Lt. Mike O'Brien, got a party together, consisting mainly of Sgt. Boggs Collins' squad. Collins was a Nazi-fighter who had neither patience nor sympathy for them. Lieutenant O 'Brien felt much the same way. He had served a long stretch as an enlisted man before receiving his commission, so observing the amenities of a surrender was not a big deal with him. The German commander came from the citadel holding the white flag, and Collins met him. "l will not surrender to a sergeant,” the German said, “only to a high ranking officer. Have your commanding officer come forward." Enraged, Collins jabbed the muzzle of his tommy gun hard up against the officer's stomach. "Here's the high-ranking officer right here! You may not want to surrender to me, but you sure as hell better surrender to this!" This encouraged the rest of the Jerries to join their leader, and the approximately 60 prisoners were herded to the bottom of the hill. (Extracted - Page 273 - 274, Chapter 22, Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart)
15 Aug 1944 - Wounded In Action, France
18 Nov 1944 - Typhus Immunization
20 Dec 1944 - Wounded In Action, Belgium
29 Dec 1944 - S/Sgt. Boggs Collins destroys enemy machine gun postion of SS Panzer Grenadiers approximately 800 yards south of Sadzot, Belgium. Recommended for award but never approved or awarded.
04 Jan 1945 - Recommended for Silver Star Medal by "C" Company Commander Captain Jess Walls for action on 29 Dec 1944. CITATION: on 29 December 1944 at about 0900 hours, during an assault on prepared enemy positions south of Sadzot, Belgium, heavy machine gun and rifle fire was received on the company's right flank. Sgt. COLLINS, leading the squad on that flank turned his squad over to his assistant and doubling back, came upon the flank of the enemy machine gun position and with his Thompson Sub-Machine Gun completely wiped out the enemy occupying the positions. Sgt. Collins then rejoined his squad and led them through the rest of the battle. Sgt. Collins is credited with killing twenty-two enemy during the actions the company participated in on the 28 and 29 December 1944. His conduct in action truly inspires his men to their best efforts.
23 Mar 1945 - Departed ETO for US
04 Apr 1945 - Arrived in US
30 May 1945 - Honorably discharged as S/Sgt. at Personnel Center, Fort George G. Meade, MD 9 months, 19 days service in US, 2 years, 6 months service in MTO and ETO
Sgt. Boggs G. Collins 1st PLT, C CO 509th PIB Squad Leader Southern France 51, 64, 74 First Airborne Task Force Michel De Trez
BOGGS COLLINS 509/WWII HQ CO HUTTENSVILLE WV
Listed on pages 245, 246, 249, 274, 383 in the book "Stand in the Door" by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart
31 Jan 1949 - Married Mary Emaline White
18 Oct 2004 - Passed away, buried at Brick Church Cemetery, Huttonsville, WV
22 Oct 2005 - Boggs G. Collins WWII Memorial Section Dedication Ceremony at the Tygart Valley Community Library
Boggs G.Collins G for George after his father. He lived in WV all his life and worked on his farm and dug graves at the local graveyard.
Lt. Gen. Mark Clark Commander, 5th Army presents the Distinguished Service Cross to Sgt. Boggs G. Collins in Italy
Using a map captured from the Germans, Sgt. Boggs Collins and Pvt. John Demling (laying down) plot the best route to rejoin the unit
C Company takes a rest break south of LeMuy on the Argens River. Seated on box is Sgt. Boggs Collins and Pvt Edwin N. McGee wearing beret face towards the camera
The Darringer family has offered to provide family members of the Soldiers pictured in the last two photos a quality copy. Contact me at the e-mail below.
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