Cpl. Edward Joseph Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 4, 1909, to William P. Collins and Louise M. Windish-Collins and had two sisters and two brothers. The family resided at 425 South 19th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated from Saint James Catholic School and Proviso Township High School in 1934. After high school, he went Northwestern University and earned his bachelors of science degree in 1934. After completing his schooling, he worked for Armor & Company in Chicago as an accountant.
When the Selective Service Act began law on October 16 1940, Edward registered for he draft and named his father as his contact person. It appears that because was over 30 years old that he was not drafted until February 27, 1942, when he was inducted at Camp Grant, Illinois, and because of his scores on the Army General Classification Test, he assigned to the Army Air Corps. He received the serial number 36 322 224. He trained at the following bases in no particular order: Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri; Lowery Airfield, Colorado; Minter Airfield, California; Scott Airfield, Illinois; and Rapid City Airfield, South Dakota.
At some point he was assigned to the 602nd Bomb Squadron, 398th Bomb Group (Heavy). The 398th was formed on February 15, 1943, and activated on March 1st. The Bomb Group trained with B-17s for combat but from July to December 1943, it had the job of training replacement crews for other bomber groups. The 398th arrived in England in April 1944, and became part of the 8th Air Force. It trained for about a month before it flew its first mission against the Germans on May 11, 1944. The target was the railyard in Thionville, Germany. On the 13th, it flew it’s second mission which was the synthetic oil refinery, Politz, Germany. On May 27th, the 398th bombed the rail yard and chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. On the 28th, the bombing mission was the synthetic oil plant, Ruhland, Germany.
What is known is that he was admitted to the 49th Station Hospital. The records state that he had severe cellulitis on his neck. It also stated he had Septicemia and Staphylococcus aureus which causes cellulitis. Edward was reported to have died on June 4, 1944, in Doddington, England, at approximately 7:15 pm. His body was transported to the Cambridge American Cemetery and at 3:00 pm on June 8, 1944, and buried in Plot E, Row 3, Grave 16. A wooden cross marked his grave with one of his government issued ID tags on it. The other ID tag was buried with his body. It is not known when his parents learned of his death, but it is known it was sometime in 1944. A letter was sent to his parents telling them where Edward was buried on January 21, 1946.
21 January 1946
Mrs. Louise M. Collin
425 South 19th Avenue
Maywood, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Collins:
The War Department is most desirous that you be furnished information regarding the burial location of your son, the late Corporal Edward J. Collins, A.S.N. 36 322 224.
The records of this office disclose that his remains are interred in the Cambridge American Cemetery, plot E, row 3, grave 16.
This cemetery is located approximately forty-two miles northeast of London, England, just outside the university town of Cambridge, and is under the constant care and supervision of the United States military personnel.
Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your son.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
C. L. Corbin
Major General, QMC
Acting The Quartermaster General
Edward’s mother received another letter, dated July 17, 1946, telling them where Edward’s grave was and the location of his grave in the cemetery from the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. It also informed her that she would be receiving information on her options for Edward’s final burial. His mother received the next letter, dated March 5, 1947, providing her with her options for Edward’s final burial. Enclosed in the letter was a form that she was asked to fill out and returned to the OQMG. When the OQMG realized Edward’s father was alive, it made him the next of kin. He was sent the same letter and form and asked to return the form. The OQMG received the form on May 29, 1947, and indicated that Edward should be returned to Illinois.
Edward remains were exhumed and his casket was placed on the USAT Lawrence Victory on June 10, 1948. The ship arrived on June 8th at the New York Point of Entry. The 30th, his remains were sent by train to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8, Chicago, and arrived on July 2, 1948. On August 10th, in a military hearse with an escort, his casket was taken to the Paul W. Senne Funeral Home in Maywood. He was buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois.
