CPL - E4 - Marine Corps - Regular

Length of service 2 years
Casualty was on Dec 8, 1965
In QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered

Panel 04E - Line 1 Vietnam War Memorial


∼Home of Record: Eugene, Oregon
Date of birth: Wednesday, 05/24/1944

MILITARY DATA
Service: Marine Corps (Regular)
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Corporal
ID No: 2049439
MOS: 0846 Artillery Forward Observer
LenSvc: Between 2 and 3 years
Unit: C BTRY, 1ST BN, 12TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Not recorded
Cas Date: Wednesday, 12/08/1965
Age at Loss: 21
Remains: Body recovered
Location: Quang Nam, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, died outright
Reason: Gun or small arms fire - Ground casualty

ON THE WALL Panel 04E Line 001

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Obituary-


Viet Fighting Claims 2nd Eugene Man
Robert Knapp Collins, 21-year-old Marine corporal, is the second Eugene resident to be killed in action in Viet Nam
Collins' parents were notified Saturday evening that he was killed last Wednesday.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Collins of 1631 E. 26th Ave. The elder Collins is secretary and budget director of the State Board of High Education.
Young Collins was a forward spotter with a field artillery unit. The notification his parents received - through the Eugene Marine Corps Reserve unit and by telegram - gave no indication of the circumstances of his death, other that it occurred in "action against hostile forces."
Collins became the 14th Oregon man killed in Viet Nam war.
He was killed near the town of Que Son, between Da Nang and Chu Lai. Marine forces have been engaged in heavy fighting with the Viet Cong in that area which is the northern part of South Viet Nam in the past week.
Collins was a 1963 graduate of South Eugene High School. He entered the Marines soon after graduation and would have completed his three-year enlistment next June. He had been in Viet Nam since May.
In addition to his parents, Collins is survived by a sister, Kathy, 18, a University of Oregon freshman.
A memorial service has been set of 10:39 a.m. on 21 Dec (1965) at First Congregational Church. Collins' body is to be sent home some time later.
His parents said that those who wish may make donations in Collins' memory to the First Congrational Church Memorial Fund.
(Eugene Register-Guard, Eugene OR, Monday, 13 Dec 1965)
Posted by: Arnold M. Huskins
Email:
Relationship:
Tuesday, January 10, 2006

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Notes from The Wall:

Miss ya R.K. I think about you quite a bit. The BB twins were not the same after 12-08-65.H. Bilstein
Posted by: R.H. Bilstein
Email:
Relationship: We were close friends
Friday, August 11, 2000

My name is Charlie Brooks,I served with Bob from bootcamp
until he was killed on my birthday Dec.8,1965.Their isn't
a birthday that goes by that I dont think of him.He was a very
good marine and friend.
Posted by: CHARLIE Brooks
Email:
Relationship: We served together
Wednesday, January 31, 2001

It is hard to believe that it has been over 35 years since we last saw you. We miss your smile and gentle heart. Mom and I talk about you often, and feel blessed you were part of our family. We are so proud of you....you will always be our HERO!
Posted by: Cathi Collins Lutz
Email:
Relationship: He is my brother
Monday, February 12, 2001

Richard Watson
[email protected]
Served with, in C/1/12,
8035, 199th, Ave., NE., Redmond, WA., 98053, USA
Collins was on an FO., Team and I was, the wire chief, in Charlie, Battery. His team was over run, Smitty and Collins, were KIA. and Lt., Richtsteig was captured, MIA.. His remains, were found, in 1974.
Monday, May 23, 2005


Corporal, J.T. Bryan, Fellow, Marine Brother
Corporal, Collins, Thank you, for your time, in service. May you rest, in God's loving arms, forever. God bless America & her young, brave men, like yourself. Semper Fidelis, Corporal, Bryan, USMC..
Tuesday, May 24, 2005


Jerry Mollohan "Chewy"
[email protected]
I was there, that day
P.O., Box, 1840/1309, George Washington Way
Richland, Wa., 99352, USA
http://hometown.aol.com/chewybotw/
Semper Fi, Marine.
Friday, October 01, 2004


Mike Collins
[email protected]
Cousin
2150 Mt. View Lane
Lebanon, OR 97355 Linn
God, Family & Country
I was six years old when Bobby was KIA. I don't remember him, but followed in his foot steps. I served in the US Army MP Corp. I just found this site and would like to know more. My family has said little of him. I am proud of this hero and want my children to know him better.
Friday, September 23, 2005

11 Jun 2000

Robert was a very good friend in Okinawa and Vietnam.

I learned of his death years later. We were both on the same
Forward Observer team together, but were split up
when I caught malaria and was sent to Nha Trang, 8th Army Field
Hospital in 1965.

He is sadly missed. I would love to hear from his family.

Semper Fi,
Charlie
[email protected]
27 Feb 2001

RK,
We spent a lot of time together, sure miss ya old buddy.
I think about you all the time and remember the fun we had hanging out together.
I will see ya again one day.

Bob Bilstein
[email protected]
16 Feb 2004

South Eugene High School, Eugene, Oregon will have a Vietnam Memorial dedication Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 2 PM in remembrance of our classmates

* LtCol William R. Andrews, 433rd TFS (09/06/1974)
* LCpl William A. Beckwith, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines (07/04/1968)
* SGT James W. Cartwright, C Co, 3rd Bn, 12th Infantry (05/23/1967)
* Cpl Robert K. Collins, C Btry, 1st Bn, 12th Marines (12/08/1965)
* SP4 Arthur A. Erwin, A Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Infantry (07/10/1967)
* SGT Carlton C. Gray, C Co, 158th AHB (05/18/1970)
* PFC Carl F. Louvring, E Trp, 17th Cavalry (05/13/1967)
* LCpl Dennis E. Mickelson, A Co, 3rd Recon Bn (12/28/1968) (Silver Star)
* PFC William G. Muir, B Co, 3rd Bn, 8th Infantry (11/11/1967)
* PFC Kreg A. Viestenz, C Co, 1st Bn, 5th Cavalry (09/18/1968)

Additional information on these men is available in the Eugene, Oregon, Register-Guard article republished here.

For information pertaining to this event contact
[email protected]

Bruce Dyer - Class of "66"
Vietnam 69-70
[email protected]
27 Sep 2004

08 December 1965 ... I was there that day ...

From a fellow Marine,
Gerald R. Mollohan
Forward Observer, C/1/12
[email protected]
A Note from The Virtual Wall
On 17 November 1965 the 1st VC Regiment overran Hiep Duc District Headquarters, prompting a vicious fight before ARVN forces recaptured the town on 19 Nov. As a result, the US and ARVN commanders decided on a joint operation in the Que Son Valley-Hiep Duc Valley area. The US portion of the effort was termed Operation HARVEST MOON. The concept of operations had ARVN forces moving west up the Que Son Valley, while Marine units would be positioned as blocking and reaction forces.

The joint operation kicked off on 08 Dec with the 11th ARVN Ranger Battalion moving west through the Que Son Valley on the Thang Binh-Hiep Duc road. As the battalion approached Hill 43, about 7 kilometers east-southeast of Que Son, it was hit by the 70th VC Battalion, with the Rangers losing nearly one third of their unit in the first fifteen minutes of battle. A four-man artillery Forward Observer team from C Battery, 1/12th Marines, was with the ARVN Rangers; three of the four Marines were killed in the action:

2ndLt David J. Richtsteig, Cedar City, UT;
Cpl Robert K. Collins, Eugene, OR; and
LCpl Harry C. Smith, York, PA.

Although Collins' and Smith's bodies were recovered, 2ndLt Richtsteig was missing and believed captured. He was continued (and promoted) in MIA status until the Secretary of the Navy approved a Presumptive Finding of Death on 22 Jan 1974, almost a year after the POWs came home. On 30 Sep 1974 the remains of a US serviceman were repatriated, and on 14 Feb 1975 the Department of Defense announced the identification of the remains as those of Major David Richtsteig.


Viet Fighting Claims 2nd Eugene Man
Robert Knapp Collins, 21-year-old Marine corporal, is the second Eugene resident to be killed in action in Viet Nam.
Collins' parents were notified Saturday evening that he was killed last Wednesday.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Collins of 1631 E. 26th Ave. The elder Collins is secretary and budget director of the State Board of Higher Education.
Young Collins was a forward spotter with a field artillery unit. The notification his parents received - through the Eugene Marine Corps Reserve unit and by telegram - gave no indication of the circumstances of his death, other that it occurred in "action against hostile forces."
Collins became the 14th Oregon man killed in Viet Nam war.
He was killed near the town of Que Son, between Da Nang and Chu Lai. Marine forces have been engaged in heavy fighting with the Viet Cong in that area which is the northern part of South Viet Nam in the past week.
Collins was a 1963 graduate of South Eugene High School. He entered the Marines soon after graduation and would have completed his three-year enlistment next June. He had been in Viet Nam since May.
In addition to his parents, Collins is survived by a sister, Kathy, 18, a University of Oregon freshman.
A memorial service has been set for10:30 a.m. on 21 Dec (1965) at First Congregational Church. Collins' body is to be sent home some time later.
His parents said that those who wish may make donations in Collins' memory to the First Congregational Church Memorial Fund.

Eugene Register-Guard, Eugene OR, Monday, 13 Dec 1965
Courtesy of
Darilee Bednar
[email protected]