William Robert Collins (February 5, 1913 – October 16, 1991) was a highly decorated officer of United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general.

This class provided two future Marine Corps Commandants (Leonard F. Chapman Jr. and Robert E. Cushman Jr.), five lieutenant generals (Lewis J.

Collins was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in September 1938 and transferred for the instruction at Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia where he completed the tank course in June 1939.

[2] He was ordered for the gunnery school on Hawaii and following the graduation in May of that year, Collins was appointed commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the cruiser USS New Orleans.

Collins was meanwhile promoted to the rank of major in May of that year and then served as commander of the Tank School, Camp Elliott under Brigadier General Matthew H. Kingman.

[1][2] Lieutenant Colonel Collins was transferred to Camp Pendleton in February 1944 and appointed commanding officer of 5th Tank Battalion, 5th Marine Division under Major General Keller E. Rockey.

Collins took part in the landing exercises on San Clemente Island off the coast of Los Angeles and subsequently sailed with the 5th Division to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii for further training.

[4] They were part of a top secret inter-service Flame throwing tank development group composed of Army, Navy Seabees and Marines.

Lt. Col. Collins aggressively directed his unit in support of the assault and despite heavy hostile fire, mine fields and terrain obstacles, helped establish the beachhead.

Shortly afterward, Collins was transferred to Frankfurt, Germany and attached to the Headquarters of newly activated United States European Command under General Matthew Ridgway.

He returned to well known Marine Corps Educational Center, Quantico as a member of Advanced Research Group, which was tasked with the development of the recommendations on how the MAGTF should evolve structurally to meet the challenges of atomic warfare and new technologies such as helicopters and jet aircraft.

He remained in that capacity until February 1961, when assumed duty as chief of staff, Joint Task Force 4, Atlantic Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Collins was transferred to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and commanded all Marine Ground Forces for eight weeks.

He then served as Task Force commander from August to November 1963 and meanwhile received Master of Arts Degree at George Washington University in June 1963.

[1] He was appointed deputy chief of staff, Atlantic Command under Admiral Harold P. Smith in December 1963, and while in this capacity, Collins was promoted to the rank of major general on January 1, 1964.

[1] This is the ribbon bar of Major General William R. Collins:[7] Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel William R. Collins (MCSN: 0-5182), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Fifth Tank Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands from 19 February to 26 March 1945.

After landing with his Battalion early on D-Day, Lieutenant Colonel Collins aggressively directed his unit in supporting the assault troops and despite heavy hostile fire, mine fields and terrain obstacles, sided materially in the establishment of the initial beach head.

By his courageous leadership and skilled tactics Lieutenant Colonel Collins contributed materially to the successful accomplishment of the Division's mission and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.