Vernel Collins

Company A 1/22 Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 4/30/1970

( With Advisory Team 84, HQ, MACV ADVISORS, MACV )

4th Infantry Division

Sergeant First Class Vernel Collins
served a tour of duty in Vietnam
as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A 1/22 Infantry
4th Infantry Division from March 1967- March 1968.
While with Company A, he was wounded
in August 1967 and received the Purple Heart.

During the Battle of Kontum in February of 1968,
as acting First-Sergeant of Company A 1/22 Infantry,
SFC Collins was awarded the Silver Star Medal
for his gallantry in action and saving the life
of his wounded commanding officer,
Captain Clyde Herron, by
pulling him to safety under fire.

Vernel Collins returned to Vietnam
for his second tour of duty in August of 1969.
As an advisor to the South Vietnamese Military
with MACV Advisory Team 84,
SFC Collins was killed in action
on April 30, 1970.

Military Assistance
Command Vietnam

PERSONAL DATA
Age: 35
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
Home of Record: Blue Island, IL
Date of birth: 07/17/1934

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E7
Rank: Sergeant First Class
MOS: 11C4H: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Instructor)
Length Service: 16
Unit: ADV TEAM 84, HQ, MACV ADVISORS, MACV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 08/14/1969
Incident Date: 04/30/1970
Casualty Date: 04/30/1970
Age at Loss: 35
Location: Kien Phong Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire

Panel 11W Line 072

Vernel Collins was Killed In Action in Kien Phong Province, IV Corps Tactical Zone (Military Region 4),
on April 30, 1970. He left behind a wife, two sons, and two daughters.

Casualty report for SFC Vernel Collins

SFC Vernel Collins' decorations

SFC Vernel Collins as a US Advisor in the South Vietnamese IV Corps Tactical Zone

Certificate for the award of the Silver Star Medal to Vernel Collins

Signed by Major General Charles P. Stone, Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division, January 1968-November 1968

This was the first award of the Silver Star to SFC Collins

Certificate of Achievement presented to Vernel Collins from 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division certificate presented to Vernel Colllins, signed by Major General William R. Peers,
Commanding General of the 4th Division

The following is an article describing the award ceremony for SFC Collins' first Silver Star Medal:

The Silver Star Medal is pinned on SFC Collins by Colonel Albert W. Jones

Four recipients of the Silver Star Medal with Col. A. W. Jones in the center
-- second from left is SFC Vernel Collins

Certificate for the award (posthumous) of the Bronze Star Medal to Vernel Collins

This was the second award of the Bronze Star to SFC Collins

Citation for the award (posthumous) of the Bronze Star Medal to Vernel Collins

This was the second award of the Bronze Star to SFC Collins

Certificate for the award of the Purple Heart Medal to Vernel Collins

Signed by Major General William R. Peers, Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division, January 1967-January 1968

This was the first award of the Purple Heart to SFC Collins

Certificate for the award (posthumous) of the Purple Heart Medal to Vernel Collins

This was the second award of the Purple Heart to SFC Collins

Certificate for the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Vernel Collins

Citation for the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Vernel Collins

Citation for the award (posthumous) of the
Silver Star Medal to Vernel Collins

This was the second award
of the Silver Star to SFC Collins

SFC Vernel Collins re-enlisting :

Left: SFC Collins taking the oath of re-enlistment
Right: SFC Collins being congratulated on his re-enlistment

Grave marker for Vernel Collins

Photo courtesy of:

James Alexander
Lincoln Cemetery
12300 S Kedzie Ave
Chicago IL 60655

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The 1st Battalion website is grateful to Bob Harik and Mrs. Vernel Collins
for the above photos and mementos of SFC Collins

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