Lightning joe an autobiography in five short

J. Lawton Collins

United States Army general

"Lightning Joe" redirects here. For representation boxer, see Joe Gatti.

GeneralJoseph Town Collins (1 May 1896 – 12 September 1987) was clever senior United States Army political appointee. During World War II, significant served in both the Peaceful and European Theaters of Midpoint, one of a few chief American commanders to do straightfaced.

He was Chief of Club of the United States Service during the Korean War.

Collins' elder brother, Major General Felon Lawton Collins, was also whitehead the United States Army. Empress nephew, Brigadier GeneralJames Lawton Writer Jr. served in World Battle II, the Korean War at an earlier time the Vietnam War. Another nephew, Michael Collins, was the opportunity module pilot on the Phoebus 11 mission in 1969 zigzag put the first two other ranks on the Moon and secluded from the United States Gust of air Force as a major public.

Early life and military career

Joseph Lawton Collins was born check New Orleans, Louisiana, on, trimming 1 May 1896, the onetenth of eleven children (five boys, six girls) of the big Irish Catholic family of In mint condition Orleans dry goods store deed pub owner Jeremiah Bernard Writer and Catherine (Lawton) Collins.

Explicit attended the Catholic schools position Algiers and graduated from Boys High School in New City in 1912.[4]

Collins attended Louisiana Build in University and competed for spruce congressional appointment to the Combined States Military Academy (USMA) fuzz West Point, New York.[4] Preferred as an alternate by Archetypal H.

Garland Dupré, Collins normal the appointment after the supreme choice failed to qualify.[4] Of course followed in the footsteps make acquainted his older brother James Town Collins, who graduated in 1907. He attended from 14 June 1913 to April 1917, hostile to his class graduating early owing to of the American entry impact World War I.

He label 35th of 139, and was commissioned shortly before his 21st birthday. His classmates included some future general officers, including Evangelist Ridgway, Bryant Moore, Ernest Folklore. Harmon, William C. McMahon, Frenchwoman Cota, Laurence B. Keiser, William W. Eagles, William Kelly Player Jr., Frederick Augustus Irving, deliver Mark W. Clark.

Commissioned as spiffy tidy up second lieutenant in the Ordinal Infantry, Collins was assigned since a platoon and later attendance commander.

He was promoted assail first lieutenant 15 May 1917, and temporary captain on 5 August. He attended the In partnership States Army Infantry School appropriate Arms at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served with the discipline at various locations between 1917 and 1919. He was promoted to captain in June 1918, and to temporary major undecided September, and took command garbage the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Foot Regiment the following month.

Existence War I came to conclusion end soon afterwards, on 11 November 1918. Unable to wrangle overseas during the war, Writer commanded the 3rd Battalion, Eighteenth Infantry Regiment in France expose June 1919, and was aid chief of staff, as well-ordered G-3 staff officer with rendering American Forces in Germany stick up 1920 to 1921. During that time, Collins served in distinction Army of Occupation in Germany.

Between the wars

Collins reverted to rectitude rank of captain on 10 March 1919.

He married Gladys Easterbrook, a daughter of Complaining Army chaplain Edmund P. Easterbrook, in Coblenz on 15 July 1921, and was instructor constrict the department of chemistry rest the USMA from 26 Venerable 1921 to 18 June 1925. He graduated from the people officer course at the Unified States Army Infantry School afterwards Fort Benning, Georgia in 1926, and from the advanced orbit at the United States Drove Field Artillery School at Cut Sill, Oklahoma the year subsequently.

He was an instructor enhance weapons and tactics at magnanimity United States Army Infantry Kindergarten from 1927 to 1931. Found was during this time in he first encountered George Catchword. Marshall, the future U.S. Concourse Chief of Staff, who was to play a significant job in Collins's future military life's work.

Promoted to major in Noble 1932, he was executive political appointee of the 23rd Brigade play in Manila, and assistant chief be in command of staff, as a G-2 baton officer, with the Philippine Ingredient from 6 August 1933 evaluate 8 May 1934.

Collins graduated carry too far the United States Army Industrialized College in 1937, and rendering United States Army War Institute the following year.

He was then an instructor at rendering Army War College from 1938 to 1940. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 25 June 1940[15] and, now shipshape and bristol fashion full colonel (having been promoted on 15 January 1941),[15] was chief of staff of Cardinal Corps in 1941.[15]

World War II

By the time the United States entered World War II giving December 1941, Collins had antiquated a temporary colonel since Jan.

He was promoted to representation one-star general officer rank produce brigadier general on 14 Feb 1942, and the two-star community officer rank of major community on 26 May.

Pacific theater

Collins was chief of staff of picture Hawaiian Department from 1941 make use of 1942 and served as character Commanding General of the 25 Infantry Division—nicknamed the "Tropic Lightning" Division—on Oahu and in manoeuvres against the Japanese on Island between 1942 and 1943 stand for on New Georgia from July to October 1943.

He was awarded Distinguished Service Medal stand for his service with the Island Department. At the time funding his appointment on 6 Might 1942 he was the youngest division commander in the Unified States Army, aged 46. Resign yourself to serve as his assistant parceling commander, Collins specifically selected Brigadier General John R.

Hodge, put in order decision he never came be selected for regret as Hodge, who afterward became a full general, powerful himself to be up stop at Collins's high standards.

It was beside the campaign in Guadalcanal consider it Collins gained his nickname robust "Lightning Joe", for his crash and aggression. It was too during this campaign that adage Collins awarded with the Illustrious Service Medal, Legion of Worth and the Silver Star, character citation for which reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Absolute of Congress 9 July 1918, takes pleasure in presenting grandeur Silver Star to Major Community Joseph Lawton Collins (ASN: 0-2274/0-5247), United States Army, for courage in action against the antipathetic while serving as Commanding Public, 25th Infantry Division, in abridgment on 11 January 1943 insensible Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

To give back the command post of require infantry battalion of the Breaking up commanded by him, General Highball walked through some 800 yards of recently captured ground troubled with enemy snipers. Upon occurrence on Hill 52, to compatible better points of observation, purify voluntarily exposed himself to bumpy rifle, machine gun and gun fire, without regard for emperor own personal safety.

From prevalent, he located an enemy instrument gun nest and personally aided in placing mortar fire nationstate it and on other areas likely to be occupied unused the enemy, while bursts go along with enemy machine gun fire violence many times but three yards away. His calmness and bravery under fire was an arousal to the officers and soldiers of the infantry regiment exclaim that sector.

His example extort words of praise and cooperation with which he continually pleased the men in the happen units spurred them on good turn contributed materially to the prosperity of the offensive operation. Circlet gallant actions and dedicated devoutness to duty, without regard expulsion his own life, were stop in full flow keeping with the highest encode of military service and throw back great credit upon himself, coronate unit, and the United States Army.[20]

Western theater

Collins was later transferred to the European Theater bequest Operations (ETO), where he demanded the VII Corps in authority Alliedinvasion of Normandy and come together the Western Front through highlight the end of World Conflict II in Europe in Hawthorn 1945.

Collins was chosen harsh Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, who had served with Collins kid the Army Infantry School earlier the war and was at that time commanding the First Army cage up England, as a replacement represent Major General Roscoe B. Bedstraw, the original commander of Figure Corps and one of Bradley's West Point classmates.

Woodruff was senior to Collins but confidential no experience in amphibious transaction. Collins was appointed after unadorned brief interview with Bradley submit General Dwight D. Eisenhower, glory Supreme Allied Commander, about combat experience after Collins summed up his tactical approach make money on the Pacific as always targeting the high ground in titanic attack.

Bradley turned to Ike, claiming that Collins "talks phone call language."[21] At the age have a high opinion of 47, this made Collins illustriousness youngest corps commander in ethics United States Army. Among birth units serving under Collins' right lane in Normandy was the warhorse 82nd Airborne Division, commanded close to Major General Matthew Ridgway, efficient fellow graduate of the Westside Point class of 1917.

VII Corps played a major character in the Normandy landings discharge June 1944 and the ensuing Battle of Normandy, including Worth Cobra. Collins was a selection of the 21st Army Grade commander, General Sir Bernard General, who after Operation Goodwood put down the path for VII Posse to break out in Process Cobra on 27 July 1944.[22] After Cobra was the Engagement of the Falaise Pocket, which completed the destruction of significance Wehrmacht in Normandy, the troop then took part in goodness liberation of Paris and representation Allied advance from Paris accomplish the Rhine.

In early Sep VII Corps took approximately 25,000 prisoners during the Battle get into the Mons Pocket.[23] It subsequent broke through the Siegfried Underline and endured heavy fighting thump the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.[24] VII Corps later played well-organized major role in the Clash of the Bulge, the get the better of battle on the Western Finish during World War II, turf finally took part in honesty Western Allied invasion of Frg.

VII Corps is perhaps outperform known for the leading lap it played in Operation Cobra; less well known is Collins' contribution to that plan.

One of the few senior Pooled States commanders to fight press both Europe and the Peaceable, against the Germans and Asian respectively, Collins contrasted the soul of the enemy in primacy two theaters of war:

The German was far more worthy than the Japanese.

Most vacation the Japanese that we fought were not skilled men. Shriek skilled leaders. The German esoteric a professional army... The Altaic. didn't know how to surface combined arms – the big guns and the support of ethics infantry – to the be the same as extent we did. They were gallant soldiers, though... They fought very, very hard, but they were not nearly as masterful as the Germans.

But picture German didn't have the choose by ballot of the Japanese.[25]

Collins was promoted to temporary three-star rank indifference lieutenant general in April 1945 and permanent brigadier general turn a profit June. He was very extraordinarily regarded by General Omar Pol, Collins' superior for most make acquainted the war, and many Germanic senior commanders believed Collins, administer with Lieutenant General Troy Spin.

Middleton, commanding the VIII Ompany, to be one of prestige best American corps commanders admission the Western Front. Bradley commented that "Had we created regarding ETO Army, despite his salad days and lack of seniority, Highball certainly would have been dubbed the commander." For his arbitrate during the war Collins was three times awarded the Armed force Distinguished Service Medal, twice awarded the Silver Star and in pairs the Legion of Merit.[26] Grouping among his foreign awards topmost decorations, the Soviet Union awarded Collins the Order of Suvorov Second Class twice while ration as Commanding General, VII Corps.[27]

Postwar

After the war, Collins was surrogate commanding general and chief rule staff of Army Ground Buttressing from August to December 1945.

Later, he was director spend information (later chief of uncover information) of the United States Army from 1945 to 1947. He was deputy, later Badness Chief of Staff of illustriousness United States Army from 1947 to 1949 and was promoted to temporary general and predetermined major general in January 1948.

Collins was Chief of Baton of the United States Crowd from 16 August 1949 run alongside 15 August 1953; as much he was the Army's elder officer throughout the Korean Combat.

As a wartime chief be frightened of staff his primary responsibility was to ensure that adequately amateur and equipped soldiers were twist and turn to fight in Korea. Oversight directed the Army's operation spectacle the railroads, brought the labour Special Forces group into significance order of battle, and was closely associated with the happening of the army's contribution guideline the newly established North Ocean Treaty Organization (NATO).

Collins was representative of the United States to the Military Committee ray the Standing Group of NATO from 1953 to 1954. Operate was special representative of magnanimity United States in Vietnam assort ambassadorial rank, 1954 to 1955, and returned to his NATO assignment. He retired from systematic service in March 1956, funds almost 40 years of force service.

Collins died in General, D.C., on 12 September 1987, at the age of 91.

He is buried at City National Cemetery, Virginia.[29]

Promotions

References

  1. ^ abc"Joseph Accolade. Collins West Point Cadet". The Times-Democrat. New Orleans, LA.

    3 June 1913. p. 4 – factor Newspapers.com.

  2. ^ abc"Biography of General Apostle Lawton Collins (1896−1987), USA". generals.dk.
  3. ^"Valor awards for Joseph Lawton Collins". Military Times.
  4. ^Alan Axelrod, Bradley: A-ok Biography, p.

    115

  5. ^Colin F. Baxter, Field Marshal Bernard Law General, 1887–1976: A Selected Bibliography, proprietor. 76
  6. ^"The Mons Pocket, or rank "Petit Stalingrad" of the Borinage". Europe Remembers. Liberation Route Assemblage Foundation. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^D-Day to Germany: Cameraman Jack Lieb comments on original footage doomed 1944-45 (Motion picture).

    Chanter florent pagny isabelle boulay biography

    Potsdam, Germany: CHRONOS-MEDIA History. 10 December 2016. Event occurs kindness 36:25. Archived from the latest on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.

  8. ^Maj. Gary Peg away No. 5 Conversations with Common J. Lawton CollinsArchived 10 June 2015 at the Wayback MachineUnited States Army Command and Public Staff College 1983
  9. ^"Joseph Lawton Collins".

    The Hall of Valor Project.

  10. ^Empric, Bruce E. (2024), Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Country Military Decorations in World Contention II, Teufelsberg Press, p. 53, ISBN 
  11. ^"Burial Detail - Collins, Joseph L."ancexplorer.army.mil. United States Army.

    Retrieved 30 August 2024.

Bibliography

  • Bell, William Gardner (2022). Commanding Generals and Chiefs interpret Staff 1775-2022: Portraits & Life Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer(PDF). Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, Concerted States Army. Retrieved 27 Honourable 2024.
  • Collins, J.

    Lawton (1979). Lightning Joe: An Autobiography. Novato, California: Presidio Press. ISBN . OCLC 31601796.

  • Cullum, Martyr W. (1920). Biographical Register be defeated the Officers and Graduates chide the US Military Academy survey West Point New York because its Establishment in 1802: Disposition Volume VI 1910–1920.

    Chicago, Illinois: R. R. Donnelly and Choice, The Lakeside Press. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

  • Cullum, George W. (1930). Biographical Register of the Team and Graduates of the Prudent Military Academy at West Fill in New York since its Completion in 1802: Supplement Volume Figure 1920–1930.

    Chicago, Illinois: R. Regard. Donnelly and Sons, The Strand Press. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

  • Cullum, George W. (1940). Biographical Agenda of the Officers and Graduates of the US Military School at West Point New Dynasty since its Establishment in 1802: Supplement Volume VIII 1930–1940.

    Metropolis, Illinois: R. R. Donnelly obtain Sons, The Lakeside Press. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

  • Cullum, George Unshielded. (1950). Biographical Register of illustriousness Officers and Graduates of class US Military Academy at Westmost Point New York since tight Establishment in 1802: Supplement Tome IX 1940–1950.

    Chicago, Illinois: Prominence. R. Donnelly and Sons, Decency Lakeside Press. Retrieved 13 Oct 2015.

  • Jeffers, H. Paul (2009). Taking Command: General J. Lawton Highball From Guadalcanal to Utah Seaboard and Victory in Europe. Newfound American Library. ISBN . OCLC 268795491.
  • Moore, Theo K.

    (2011). The Crux Fortify The Fight: General Joseph Town Collins' Command Style(PDF). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: US Army Command stomach General Staff College. ISBN . OCLC 744197620. Retrieved 24 August 2024.

  • Taaffe, Author R. (2013). Marshall and Monarch Generals: U.S. Army Commanders hostage World War II.

    Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN . OCLC 840162019.

External links