 |
| Hiram Collins never got onto Omaha Beach after his LCI was hit by a German shell and set on fire. https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/material/warships/landing-craft/lci https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56643363/hiram-h-collins https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144166521/hiram-h-collins |
Hiram Henry Collins never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on August 22, 1918 in Maryland. His parents Hiram and Mayne were also both born in Maryland. His father worked as an assistant postmaster and later as a surveyor/engineer. He died in the 1930s. Hiram's mom got a political job. Hiram had one older brother.
He enlisted in the army on May 16, 1942. By Christmas time he had advanced to the rank of staff sergeant and was training cadets at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He ended up with the rank of First Sergeant in Company B, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. It was given the D-Day assignment of clearing obstacles and mines from Omaha Beach.
Sgt. Collins was a passenger on LCI #531 on D-Day when his boat was hit by a German artillery shell and set ablaze just as it got to the beach at 0900. His remains were never recovered. Half of the men in his unit were either killed or wounded that day.
His cenotaph grave is at American Legion Cemetery in Crisfield, Maryland.
Last year on this date I profiled Milton Butler, 2nd Armored Division. You can read about Milton here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Very cool. Thank you. He was my great uncle.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Thank you. He was my great uncle.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Thank you. He was my great uncle.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you want to add his story to the www.storiesbehindthestars.org project. don@storiesbehindthestars.org
DeleteThank you for your research! I married his great-nephew. It’s lovely to hear about his parents. We appreciate his sacrifice and every soldier’s sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you want to add his story to the www.storiesbehindthestars.org project. don@storiesbehindthestars.org
Delete