William Collins dies at 57

   Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in St Joseph's Church Friday at 10 for William "Chub" Collins, 57, of Butte who died Monday in Olympia, Wash., from injuries received in an auto accident Friday near Chewelah.
   He lived at 724 Colorado.
   Rosary will be said in Dolan's Mortuary Thursday at 7. Burial will be in Holy Cross-Cemetery.
   Born in Choteau Oct. 19, 1914, Mr. Collins attended Browning schools and has lived in this area most of his life. He served three years in an Army paratrooper during World War II.
   Survivors include, three brothers Leonard of Butte, Jess and Gerald, both of Box Elder; and six sisters Mrs. Edith Waisanen, Mrs. Thomas Putra, Mrs. Florence Monteau of Box Elder, Mrs. Mary Campbell of Big Sandy, Mrs. Mae Manning of Nevada and Mrs. "John Desjarlaid of Olympia. 

][The Montana Standard, Butte, MT, 04 Oct 1972, Wed, Page 11]

(courtesy of Larry Collins)

Grave marker for William B. Collins in Holy Cross Cemetery, Butte (Silver Bow county), Montana,

William registered for the draft in Havre (Hill), MT on 16 October 1940 and was inducted into the Army at Missoula, MT on 22 March 1942.

On 31 January 1945, Pvt Collins was transferred from the 551st PIR to Service Company, 508th PIR.

Pvt Collins was wounded in action on 10 February 1945.  He returned to duty on 22 May 1945.

Pfc Collins was transferred the 513th PIR, 17th Airborne Division on 18 August 1945 and was discharged on 19 October 1945.

His military decorations include the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for Southern France Campaign and Airborne Operations,