1st Lt. Robert W. Collins, 24, of Tyrone, Ga., was killed in action on April 7, 2010, in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 1LT Collins was born in 1985 in Red Bank, NJ, and graduated from Sandy Creek High School , Class of 2004. After high school he graduated from The United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, Class of 2008. 1LT Collins was the first member of the USMA Class of 2008 to die in combat. He was serving as a Platoon Leader in B Company, 1-64 Armor Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He is survived by his parents, LTC (RET) Burkitt (Deacon) Collins and LTC (RET) Sharon L.G. Collins of Tyrone, GA; paternal grandmother, Susan R. Collins of Laurel, MS; aunts, Susan D. Groff of Lancaster, PA; Mary Margaret Anderson and her husband Robert Earl of Ellisville, MS; and Susan G. Stringfellow of Purvis, MS; childhood sweetheart and girlfriend of 8 years, Nicolle Williams of Tyrone, GA; best friend, Andrew Gardner of Miami, FL; his Band of Brothers: 1LT Andrew Collins, 1LT Sean Flachs, 1LT Tim Konze, 1LT Dan McLeod, Greg Maduro, 1LT Phil Raquepau and 1LT Clifford Walker; Battle Buddy, 1LT John F. Parsons; and numerous friends. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Stewart, Ga.