Collins, J. Lawton (Joseph Lawton), 1896-1987

Joseph Lawton Collins (1896-1987) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. After his graduation from West Point in 1917, he commissioned with the infantry. He served with the American forces in Germany from 1919 to 1921. Between 1921 and 1931, he taught at West Point and the Infantry School. He graduated from Command and General Staff School in 1933 and the Army Industrial College in 1937. Upon graduation from the Army War College in 1938, he became an instructor there. In 1941, he left to serve as chief of staff of the Hawaiian Department. He made brigadier general in February 1942 and major general three months later. During World War II, he also commanded the 25th Division, from 1942 to 1943, and the VI Corps, from 1944 to 1945. He rose to lieutenant general in April 1945. His post-war assignments included Vice Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, from 1947 to 1953, and U.S. representative on the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) military committee, from 1953 to 1955. In 1955, he assumed the position of Special Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Vietnam. He retired in 1956. His decorations included four Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, and the Bronze Star. He authored the book War in Peacetime (1969). He married Gladys Easterbrook in 1921. His older brother, James Lawton Collins, achieved the rank of major general in the Army.