Rank: Private First Class
Unit: F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 16-Jan-1951
Hometown: Flora, Indiana
Marital status: Married to Glenda K. Collins
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 1-Aug-1968
Start of tour: 26-Oct-1969
Incident date: 15-Dec-1969
Date of casualty: 15-Dec-1969
Age at death: 18
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Roland Charles Collins was killed while driver of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Driver of Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Ronald Charles Collins
CPL Farrish Combs
SP4 Daniel Millard Dawson
PFC James Patrick Nugent
1LT John Roche
Location of fatality: Phuoc Long, South Vietnam, XU 955 265
Place of interment: Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora, Indiana, USA
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