▁the ▁regiment ' s ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion . ▁After ▁his ▁batt alion ▁command ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁regiment al ▁executive ▁officer ▁until ▁being ▁assigned ▁as ▁assistant ▁plans , ▁operations ▁and ▁training ▁officer ▁( G 3 ) ▁and ▁then ▁intelligence ▁officer ▁( G 2 ) ▁for ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁at ▁Fort ▁Sn elling . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁At ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁Collins ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁staff ▁at ▁the ▁U . S . ▁War ▁Department ▁and ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁as ▁an ▁observer ▁and ▁l ia ison ▁officer . ▁ ▁Upon ▁returning ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁Collins ▁first ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁intelligence ▁officer ▁for ▁the ▁IV ▁Corps . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁entered ▁the ▁war ▁on ▁December ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁on ▁Collins ' ▁ 4 6 th ▁birth day , ▁with ▁the ▁Japanese ▁attack ▁on ▁Pear l ▁Har bor . ▁As ▁a ▁full ▁colon el , ▁he ▁then ▁activ ated ▁the ▁ 3 4 5 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁at ▁Fort ▁Car son , ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 8 7 th ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Collins ▁was ▁named ▁as ▁the ▁assistant ▁division ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 9 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁at ▁Camp ▁Van ▁D orn , ▁Mississippi , ▁and ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁one - star ▁general ▁officer ▁rank ▁of ▁brig ad ier ▁general . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁he