Born on December 10, 1882 he was a graduate of West Point. He served in the Philippine Insurrection, initially with the 8th United States Cavalry and then as aide-de-camp to General John J. Pershing. He was also Pershing's aide during the Mexican Punitive Expedition and accompanied him in that role to France during World War I.
He later became Secretary of the General Staff at General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France during that war, leaving that position to lead a battalion of the 7th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division during the last months of the war.
During World War II he commanded the Puerto Rico Division and the 5th Service Command at Columbus, Ohio. He retired as a Major General in 1946.
He died in 1963, too soon to see his youngest son, Michael, go to the moon as Commnd Module Pilot of Apollo 11, the first moon landing.
COLLINS, JAMES LAWTON
- M/GEN USA
- VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
- DATE OF BIRTH: 12/10/1882
- DATE OF DEATH: 06/30/1963
- DATE OF INTERMENT: 07/03/1963
- BURIED AT: SECTION 34 SITE 121-A
- ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
His brother, Joseph Lawton Collins, General, United States Army, is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
NOTE: His son, James Lawton Collins, Jr., Brigadier General, United States Army, died on 5 May 2002 and is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard