Regret we lost another local hero June 30, 2008
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:35 pm
Amid all our discussions about wheel seals, fuel filters and GI Canvas, we sometimes loose sight of the quiet heros among us.
I was saddened to learn today that my friend and neighbor, Staff Sgt Orville Collins, late of the 101st Abn Division, 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment passed away on Monday June 30, 2008 here in Denmark Wisconsin USA at age 89 years.
Orville was among the original 101st Airborne Paratroops trained in the early days of WWII. He jumped into Normandy on June 6th, Jumped into Holland at Market Garden and moved up to defend Bastonge with the 101st in Dec 1944.
While leading a patrol crossing a frozen stream on Christmas Eve night near Houffalize Belgium a member of the patrol crashed thru the ice. To avoid freezing to death in the cold, Sgt Collins lead the patrol to a local farm house and began drying out the trooper. The local farmers wife turned them in to a German patrol who surrounded the farmhouse and captured the 101st paratroopers. They spent the remainder of WWII in a POW cooler.
I met Orville about 15 years ago and learned of his story. He had been a member of the local VFW but never said much about his service. Just returned home in 1946 and farmed in the area until retiring in 1989.
One night at a local pub we met as he and his wife were leaving after dinner. I quietly said "Airborne" as he passed. At age 80 he spun around came to attention and instantly replyed "all the way" like he was 18 years old. He looked at me and sat down for a beer and the telling of many long past stories. We met and talked of his service several times after that.
Thankfully the Wisconsin Veterans History project has recorded the
stories of many of our local veterans. After we learned of Orville Collins service, and at our urging, the vets project sent a film crew and interveiwed my neighbor and recorded his story before age and disease took his memory.
Don't let these heros pass, make all efforts to record there hjstory before the colors fade.
Long shadows still streach from here to there. And our quite heros fade away each day and the connection is lost.
Sgt Orville Collins, 502 PIR, 101ABN, WWII. "All The Way" Rest trooper, rest in peace.
Your friend,
Cat Man
I was saddened to learn today that my friend and neighbor, Staff Sgt Orville Collins, late of the 101st Abn Division, 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment passed away on Monday June 30, 2008 here in Denmark Wisconsin USA at age 89 years.
Orville was among the original 101st Airborne Paratroops trained in the early days of WWII. He jumped into Normandy on June 6th, Jumped into Holland at Market Garden and moved up to defend Bastonge with the 101st in Dec 1944.
While leading a patrol crossing a frozen stream on Christmas Eve night near Houffalize Belgium a member of the patrol crashed thru the ice. To avoid freezing to death in the cold, Sgt Collins lead the patrol to a local farm house and began drying out the trooper. The local farmers wife turned them in to a German patrol who surrounded the farmhouse and captured the 101st paratroopers. They spent the remainder of WWII in a POW cooler.
I met Orville about 15 years ago and learned of his story. He had been a member of the local VFW but never said much about his service. Just returned home in 1946 and farmed in the area until retiring in 1989.
One night at a local pub we met as he and his wife were leaving after dinner. I quietly said "Airborne" as he passed. At age 80 he spun around came to attention and instantly replyed "all the way" like he was 18 years old. He looked at me and sat down for a beer and the telling of many long past stories. We met and talked of his service several times after that.
Thankfully the Wisconsin Veterans History project has recorded the
stories of many of our local veterans. After we learned of Orville Collins service, and at our urging, the vets project sent a film crew and interveiwed my neighbor and recorded his story before age and disease took his memory.
Don't let these heros pass, make all efforts to record there hjstory before the colors fade.
Long shadows still streach from here to there. And our quite heros fade away each day and the connection is lost.
Sgt Orville Collins, 502 PIR, 101ABN, WWII. "All The Way" Rest trooper, rest in peace.
Your friend,
Cat Man