Captain Merlin A. Collier

Biography and Wartime Service

Merlin Andrew Collier was born on March 26, 1914, in Houston, Texas, to Elsie Lydia Loretta Pees and Thomas Edward Collier. He was a graduate of Classen High School and Oklahoma A&M College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce, 1937.

Merlin Collier was commissioned in the Army in 1938. He received his commision as 2nd Lieutenant Infantry through the Officers Reserve Corps and promoted to 1st Lt. in June 1940. He attended the Infantry Refresher Course at Fort Benning, Georgia in November 1940. Upon graduating from The Infantry School he was assigned to the 38th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was relieved from active duty in March 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he returned to active duty in February 1942, and was assigned to the 95th Infantry Division as a Company Commander of Company C, 377th Infantry Regiment. Merlin was ordered to report to the 97th Infantry Division on September 1942 as the Battalion Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion. From September 1942 to April 1944 he participated in training troops for overseas assignments.

On March 1944 he joined the Cadre for overseas assigments and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 15, 1944. He was assigned to the 83rd Divisional Hq from the 15th Replacement Depot on June 9, 1944 as liaison officer. After landing in France as a Captain with the 83rd Division Merlin Collier was shortly assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 329th Infantry Regiment as Company Commander before being promoted to the 1st Battalion of the 329th as the Battalion Executive Officer. He held that postion from July 21, 1944 through out all five major battle campaigns, from Normandy to the Elbe. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. During Occupation, he was promoted to Major in December 1945. Merlin Collier returned to the US on June 1946 and discharged later that year.

In 1950 Merlin Collier once again answered the call to arms and returned to service with the 45th Infantry Division. He received a promotion to Lieutanent Colonel and was assigned to the 279th Infantry Regiment as 3rd Battalion Commander in 1951. With this unit he participated in the 2nd Korean Winter 1951-1952. In 1953, Merlin married Betty Lundberg, together they had three children, Kathryn C. Vail, Reverend Todd A. Collier, and William A. Collier. He was promoted to Colonel and retired from the 45th Infantry Division as Divisional G-3 in 1961.

Merlin Andrew Collier, age 83, died of cancer on January 27, 1998, he was survived by his wife, Betty Collier.

I had the pleasure of meeting and accompanying his son William A. 'Bill' Collier and his wife Gretchen on their journey in his father's footsteps through the Ardens, Belgium and the Hurtgen Forest, Germany.

Gallery

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