Info Sheet - Joe Collins
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After my tour with the Centaurs in Vietnam, I was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corp (MSC). I spent the next 27 years serving on Active Duty in Plans and Operations until my retirement from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in September 1995. I then went to work for the Department of the Army as a civilian employee and served as Division Chef of the Plans and Operations Division for the US Army Medical Command. I retired from that position at the end of June 2014 at 72 years of age.
I was initially listed as excess while assigned to “D” Troop. I attended Armor Crewman training at Fort Knox but when first assigned to the 3/4 Cav I was assigned to HQs & HQs Troop but soon found I was excess. I had been an Assistant Drill Sergeant at Fort Know prior to deployment so I was assigned to assist the Hqs & Hqs Administration and Supply in preparing for an IG inspection.
I was then detailed to “B” Troop to assist that Troop in preparing for their IG inspection. Following that I was told at the end of March 1968 I was being detailed to “D” Troop to assist in their IG inspection preparation.
It was only after my arrival at “D” Troop that the First Sergeant told me I was being assigned. Again, since I was school trained as an Armor Crewman there was no position in “D” troop that required an 11E MOS. Following the “D” Troop IG, I was assigned as overstrength to assist the Troop Supply even though the Troop already a Supply Sergeant. My tour of duty in “D” Troop consisted of my being a detail Sergeant where I worked primarily in Supply, Operations and any other area the First Sergeant directed me. I also spent a lot of time in the Squadron Tactical Operations Center (TOC) at Squadron Headquarters.
Joe E. Collins
“D” Troop, Mar 68 -Sep 68