Jack M. Collette
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 28 August 1944, Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette was serving with Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division, Seventh U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, SSG Collette's unit was in action against German forces near Leipheim, Germany when an enemy force of company strength, bearing white flags, advanced to within 200 yards of SSG Collette's platoon and then opened fire. As his platoon was ordered to withdraw, SSG Collette voluntarily remained in an exposed position to provide covering fire. With 5 comrades, he repeated his action after his unit failed to regain the position from the numerically-superior enemy. SSG Collette was killed when he deliberately exposed himself to fire to accomplish his self-assigned mission. SSG Collette's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette (ASN: 20710921), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 25 April 1945, near Leipheim, Germany. On that date, an enemy force of company strength, bearing white flags, advanced to within two hundred yards of Sergeant Collette's platoon and then suddenly opened fire. As the order was given for his platoon to withdraw, Sergeant Collette voluntarily remained in an exposed position to provide covering fire. With five comrades, he repeated his action when his unit failed to regain the position from the numerically superior enemy. Deliberately exposing himself to accomplish his self-assigned mission, Sergeant Collette was killed. His courageous actions and regard for his fellow soldiers, live as an inspiration to the men of his unit and exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States, reflecting great credit upon himself, the 63d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 574 (4 October 1945)

Burial

Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle. Lorraine, France in Plot A, Row 19, Grave 33.

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