© Picture ~ Copyright Michael V. Drachman 2011-2012-2013 > 2014 >forward ~ All rights reserved

Hiram H. Collins
First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Service ID # 6944432
149th Engineer Combat Battalion
Company B
Entered the Service from: Maryland
Died: June 6, 1944 (D-Day)
MIA - Lost at Sea
KIA when the landing craft he was in (LCI-92) hit a underwater mine as it approached Omaha Beach and was then set on fire by German artillery positions.
Garden of the Missing ~ Army-Air Forces Tablet 10, Line 08
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Citations and Awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart

Presidential Citation Reads:

"On 2 June 1944, during the assault phase of the invasion of occupied Europe, the assigned mission of the Battalion was to clear, organize, develop and operate the assault landing beach sectors in order to insure the rapid movement of personnel, supplies and vehicles across the beach, and to clear and develop a beach exit to permit the egress of wheeled traffic off the beach. A stubborn enemy firmly held and defended strong points in the cliffs commanding the beach, such strong points being made up of concrete pillboxes, gun emplacements and connecting trenches. Heavy artillery, mortar, machine gun and small arms fire on troops on the beaches was maintained from these positions, and additional hazards were encountered in the form of underwater obstacles and the vehicle defense line on the beach itself. Despite the heavy enemy resistance, the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion went ashore and immediately began clearing a path through the minefield to permit the infantry to make use of an exit which had not been worked by any unit. After completion of this project, which had not previously been assigned to this unit, the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion set about opening the exit which had been assigned as its original task. Several times during this action, elements of the Battalion joined the infantry in combating the enemy, reducing his strong-points, and wiping out snipers on the face of the cliff. The outstanding heroism, courage and skill of the men of the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion in successfully completing its assigned misson materially contributed to the successful establishment of the Omaha Beachhead on D-Day"

© Picture ~ Copyright Michael V. Drachman 2011-2012-2013 > 2014 > All rights reserved

The entrance to the Garden of the Missing. To the right are the Army ~ Air Forces tablets, to the left are the Navy and Coast Guard tablets.

American Legion section of Crisfield Cemetery. Notice Inscription "In Memory Of"