Thomas E. Collins, III

By zthanson, 20 December, 2022
First Name
Thomas
Middle Name
E.
Last Name
Collins
Suffix
III
Birthdate
Hometown
Utica, Mississippi
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force suit.
PreCapture Description

Tom Collins was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC Program at Mississippi State University on May 25, 1959, and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings in October 1960. Collins flew the F-102 Delta Dagger and F-4 Phantom II, and was flying combat missions in Southeast Asia while TDY with the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron from George AFB, California, when he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on October 18, 1965. He was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War.

Post Release Image
Man in a suit a tie in front of foliage.
Post Release Description

Colonel Collins was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After hospitalization, Collins went through Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, and then received an AFIT assignment to the University of Southern Mississippi to get his MBA. He served with the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, from January 1974 to May 1975, and as Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Air Force ROTC Detachment 432 at the University of Southern Mississippi from May 1975 to June 1978. His final tour of duty was spent at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from June 1978 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 29, 1980. After retiring from the Air Force, Tom served as Executive Director of the Mississippi Veteran's Farm & Home Board from 1981 to 1987, he was the Republican nominee for Congress for Mississippi's 4th District in 1988, he served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor from 1989 to 1992, and he served on the Board of Directors for the Institute for International Commerce from 1992 to 1993. Tom and his wife Donnie were married for over 52 years until her death on November 14, 2011.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Silver Star (2)
  • Legion of Merit
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Bronze Star
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release