Background
Collins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a large Irish Catholic family on May 1, 1896.
Collins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a large Irish Catholic family on May 1, 1896.
He entered the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in June 1913, at the age of 17, and graduated on April 20, 1917, exactly two weeks after the American entry into World War I, and shortly before his 21st birthday.
Afterwards, he was an instructor at the Army War College In 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served as chief of staff of the VII Corps until 1941. He was successively promoted to the temporary ranks of colonel, brigadier general, and major general in 1941, 1942, and 1943 respectively. From 1941 to 1942, Collins was the Hawaiian Department chief of staff. He led the 25th Division on Oahu and during the assault on Guadalcanal. He was transferred to the European Theater, and commanded VII Corps in the Normandy invasion and Western European operations. In 1945, he was made a temporary lieutenant general and permanent brigadier general. After Germany’s surrender, he served as deputy commanding general and chief of staff of Army Ground Forces.
After the war, Collins served as the head of public information of the Army, deputy (later vice) Army chief of staff, and was promoted to temporary general and full major general in 1948. Collins served as Army Chief of Staff from 16 August 1949 to 15 August 1953. As Chief of Staff, Collins led the U.S. Army during the Korean War, supervised the Army’s operations of the railroads, and helped develop the Army’s role in the newly-created North Atlantic Treaty Organization. After serving as Chief of Staff, Collins was a representative to the Military Committee and Standing Group of NATO until 1954. From 1954 to 1955, Collins served as a special U.S. representative to Vietnam, a position with the rank of ambassador. Briefly, he returned to NATO duty before retiring in 1956. Collins died in Washington, D.C., on 12 September 1987.
Chairman board directors, Foreign Student Service Council of Greater Washington, Inc., 1957-1958, honorary chairman. Honorary trustee Institute International Education, Incorporated, New York York City, since 1965, chairman advisory committee to Washington officer, 1958-1960. Member Army and Navy Club (Washington), Chevy Chase Club (Maryland).
Married Gladys Esterbrook, July 15, 1921. Children: Joseph Esterbrook, Gladys May Collins Stenger, Nancy Katherine Collins Rubino.