lest we forget

COLLINS, HARRIS LESTER

Rank / Branch:

CORPORAL (POSTHUMOUS) U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

1943-09-30

Country Of Loss:

SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

HOSTILE-SMALL ARMS FIRE

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:

GROUND

Other:

DIVORCED

Unit:

NINTH INFANTRY DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

1968-04-26

Loss Coordinates:

DINH TUONG

Catagory:

BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

COLLINS, HARRIS LESTER, CORPORAL, U.S. ARMY, SAN ANGELO, TOM GREEN COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V DEVICE, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CIVIC ACTION MEDAL, VEITNAM MILITARY MERT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

Harris Lester Collins was born in Winters, Texas, the son of Mary Proctor Collins and Oliver Lowe Collins. His father was in the Army Air Corp during World War II and Mrs. Collins was living with her family. Harris had a younger brother, Larry and a younger sister Pat. Harris attended schools all over while his father served in the Air Force. Harris attended San Angelo schools while his father was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. He last attended San Angelo Lakeview High School during his sophomore year. His father was transferred to Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya where Harris completed high school in 1962. While at Wheelus High School, Harris lettered in baseball, basketball and football, was in the Drama and Chess Club.
He married right out of high school when the family returned to the states. The Collins family considered San Angelo to be their home. Harris was divorced in 1965 and was the father of three children, Terry Dean, Laura, and Misty.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1967 and was living and working in Memphis, Tennessee when he got his draft notice. He attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then M.P training at Fort Gordan, Georgia. He joined the 9th M.P. Company, 9th Division at Fort Gordan and mobilized with that unit to Vietnam on December 11, 1967. Upon arrival in Vietnam, he was assigned to the Dinh Tuong Province in the Delta. He was killed by small arms fire on April 26, 1968, while his unit was assisting an infantry company in providing security for the engineers on Highway #4, or Route 4, just north of Dong Tam. He received posthumous promotion to Corporal and was awarded a Bronze Star with V device, the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Civic Action Medal, posthumously as well.
At the time of his death, his brother, Larry was serving his second tour off the coast of Vietnam with the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. John Boyles. He was buried with full military honors in the Lawn Haven Cemtery in San Angelo, Texas.
Harris's son, Terry lives in Arizona. His daughter, Laura Waltman and her husband, Richard live in West Monroe, Louisiana. His daughter, Misty Lynn Marquardt and her husband, Steven live in Buda, Texas. The grandchildren of Harris are Ambre Collins, Toni Daniellee Harris, Nikki Michelle Harris, Amber Nichole Waltman, Bonnet Ann Riddles, Tori Marie Riddles and William Baine Marquardt. He is the great grandfather to Madison Alexis and another great grandchild is due in December 2006. His brother Larry Dewayne is deceased as are his parents. His sister, Pat survives him.