Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette 20710921 KIA 

Staff Sergeant Jack Monroe Collette 20710921 US Army KIA DSC.  Monroe Collette was born on June 6, 1921, in Walsh, North Dakota, the son of Napoleon and Rosanna Collette. He entered the US Army on February 20, 1943 at the age of 21. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, he had black hair and brown eyes. He served in Combat with B Company, 254th Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on April 25, 1945. 

On April 25, 1945, near Leipheim, Germany. 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.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Stare Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, The American Theater of operations Medal, The European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal with  two battle stars. the World War Two Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal,  and the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

By direction of the President, the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette, Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment for extraordinary heroism in action on 25 April 1945, near Leipheim, Germany. 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.
Details:
Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 574 (4 October 1945).

 

1- 63rd Infantry Division Records

2- U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949

3- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=20710921&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2032295

4- the 1940 United States Federal Census

5- U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947