James Lawton Collins

Infobox Military Person
name = James Lawton Collins
lived = December 10, 1882 – June 30, 1963
placeofbirth = Algiers, Louisiana
placeofdeath =


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = United States of America
serviceyears = 1907–1946
rank = Major General
branch = United States Army
commands =
unit =
battles = Philippine-American War
World War I
World War II
awards = Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
laterwork =

James Lawton Collins (born December 10, 1882, died June 30, 1963) (Major General, U.S. Army), (father of Major General Michael Collins (astronaut) U.S. Air Force, the Command Module pilot of Apollo 11; and Brigadier General James Lawton Collins Jr. U.S. Army), (older brother of General Joseph Lawton Collins U.S. Army) was born into a large Irish Catholic family in Algiers, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.

His father, Jeremiah Bernard Collins, had left Ireland as a young boy to join the rest of the family in Cincinnati, Ohio. Family legend has it that he served as a drummer boy in the Civil War, and at the age of 16, helped to drive a herd of horses into Texas to replace the cavalry mounts that had been lost to the war. He made his way to New Orleans, where he worked for James Lawton, a grocer. Jeremiah worked his way up to running the stables for the delivery wagons, and eventually married Kate Lawton, his employer's daughter. They moved across the river to Algiers, near the terminus and rail repair shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which employed many workers of Irish descent. There, they established a dry goods store, with a pub in the back. Jeremiah and Kate's eleven children would work there, serving beer and food to thirsty railroad men. The first born son was named for Kate's father: James Lawton Collins.

James was not tall, about 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), but he was agile, athletic, and great with horses. Later in life, he would come to the attention of General John J. Pershing for his aggressive and successful polo playing, and as an excellent judge of horses. There is a letter in the Library of Congress in the Pershing correspondence asking James to go out to the remount station in the Shenandoah Valley and pick out a new horse for the general to ride.

James started out at Tulane University, but his mother's uncle, who was the Mayor of New Orleans, was asked by a local member of Congress if there was a bright young man who could "stay the course" at West Point. They called up James at Tulane and offered him the next appointment. He accepted.

Collins served in the 8th Cavalry during the Philippine Insurrection.He served as aide-de-camp to General Pershing in the Philippines, during the Mexican Punitive Expedition and in France during World War I.

Later in World War I, Collins commanded a battalion of the 1st Infantry Division's 7th Field Artillery

During World War II he commanded the Puerto Rico Department and the 5th Service Command at Columbus, Ohio.

Collins retired as a Major General in 1946.

His younger brother, Joseph Lawton Collins also served in the U.S. Army, finally achieving the rank of full General when heserved as US Army Chief of Staff 1949–53.

Collins did not live long enough to see his youngest son, Michael Collins, serve as the pilot of the Apollo 11 Command Module during the historic first landing on the Moon.

ources

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlcollin.htm "James Lawton Collins Major General, United States Army"]
* [http://www.rmanningancell.com/showarticle-7-bg.html " The Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals and Flag Officers"]