Staff Sergeant James Lester Collier, United States Army Air Corps

Originally posted June 18, 2020

James Lester Collier was born 10 May 1918 Near Center City, Mills County, Texas and died 26 January 1945 Mindanao, Philippines.  He was the fifth child born to Hardy Ransom (Vines, Robert, Efford, Isaac, Hardy, James Lester) and Willie Mason Collier. He grew up near Center City in Mills County, Texas, and graduated from Star High School, Star, Mills County, Texas.

In April 1940 he was living in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, where he was employed as a bookkeeper by the South Texas Lumber Company.

On 26 March 1941, James Lester enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was assigned to the  San Angelo Air Corps Basic Flying School at Goodfellow Field, at San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas, as a pilot trainee. At some point during this training he was washed out of the program, reportedly for being “too big of a dare devil.”

On 5 June 1943 James Lester married Aleen A. Simcik in Tom Green County, and at some point in time shipped out to the South Pacific where he was assigned to the Personnel Section of the 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), of the Army Air Corps’ 5th Air Force.

On 18 October 1944 he wrote a letter to his older sister Mable: “Somewhere in New Guinea. Landed safely and I really was glad to get back on land again.” He also stated that when he got there he “received twenty-three letters so all I done this morning was read letters, write some, and watch it rain.”

In another letter to Mable on 23 January 1945, that was posted on the 25th, he wrote: “In the future send my mail to APO 321, the rest of the address is the same. I hope I have some mail there a short time after I get there.”

What he didn’t, and couldn’t say, was that his unit was moving to a base they were opening in the San Jose area, Mindoro, Philippines. On 26 January 1945 Staff Sergeant James Lester Collier boarded a B24 Bomber (J Model, Serial Number 44-41254) along with Lt Truesel’s crew, as a passenger. The plane crashed on the island of Mindanao, Philippines.

In a letter that he wrote on 30 April 1970, the only crash survivor stated: “We crashed near Cantilan, Mindanao. One of the guerilla soldiers that found the wreckage came to the U.S. a few years ago. I knew him pretty well before I left there. Due to my physical condition at the time I was unable to tie everything together and he really was able to tell me much that I did not find out at the time. We crashed about twenty miles inland on the north slope of a Mt. Maharo. The weather was very bad and the Japanese did not see or hear the crash I guess. The guerilla soldiers arrived at the scene first and buried all in a common grave. Later as you know they were reburied in St. Louis, MO. This man also supervised the removal of the bodies from the common grave. I hid from them as well as the Japanese for a few days. I later went to a farm house and they got me to the guerilla army, who had a Doctor and medicine.”

On 10 February 1950, Staff Sergeant James Lester Collier along with seven other victims of the plane crash were reinterred in a common grave at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

90th Bomb Group (H) B-24 Marker

A big “Thank You” to Bobby Carter, nephew of James Lester Collier, for providing this post.

One Thought on “Staff Sergeant James Lester Collier, United States Army Air Corps

  1. Ronnie Collier on September 12, 2024 at 9:26 pm said:

    Salute!!

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Glynn Virden Collier, 1922 – 2020

Originally posted April 18, 2020

Glynn Virden Collier, of Goldthwaite, Texas died March 11, 2020 at the age of 97.  He was descended from Efford Cobb Collier (a grandson of Vines Collier) and Elizabeth Singleton Harris.  In 1857, Efford Cobb left Upson County, Georgia and relocated his family to Texas.

Glynn Virden Collier’s line from Vines is as follows:

Vines Collier and Sarah Elizabeth Williamson

Robert Collier and Martha Marshall Booker

Efford Cobb Collier and Elizabeth Singleton Harris

Isaac Groves Collier and Elizabeth Ann Phillips

Thomas Jefferson Collier and Martha Bell Virden

Glynn Virden Collier

Here is his obituary (courtesy of Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home).

In 2017, Kendel Hopper, a high school student, was awarded a scholarship by the Mills County Historical Commission for a essay that resulted from his interview with Glynn Collier (see below).

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A Collier’s Visit to Caulieres, France

Originally posted on September 14, 2019.

a reflection by Terri Collier

On a recent trip to France, mom Terri and daughter Nellie Collier traveled from Paris to Cauliéres, the village from which the Collier family got its name.  Based on the research gathered at the Collier Heritage Foundation and genealogical records handed down, a 2nd son of a Barony was appointed Magistrate over an abbey and the village it owned in the Somme region of France.  The village was named Cauliéres and having no land of his own, he took the name of the village, thus becoming Johanne Cauliéres (later Anglicized to Collier).

In addition to seeing the home of our ancestors, we hoped to visit the church where, according to records, a number of Collier ancestors served as priest in the 1300’s.  Despite my failed attempts at advanced contact with residents of this small village (209 people in 2006), we arrived in Cauliéres unannounced.  When Nellie asked if we had a plan, I said “Yes.  We’re going to walk around town until someone asks us why we’re here” — and that is precisely what happened!

This lovely lady was on her morning walk when we inquired if we could ask her a few questions about the village.  Thankfully she spoke English and was a very friendly and helpful tour guide.  We explained our connection to the village and ask if it would be possible to see inside the church.  She led us to her friend’s house, the literal keeper of the keys, who immediately demanded to know what we wanted to do in “her” church!

After a five minute discussion (which seemed a bit heated), our second guide joined our procession to the church.  More conversation and a generous donation to the church warmed up the keeper of the keys and we heard much about her church, which is only used for worship one Sunday a year and for weddings and funerals. 

The stone portion of the church dates to the 1300’s and is a quaint, but beautiful tribute to the faith of the generations in this lovely village.  (Shown here with Nellie).

The inside of the church was simple, but well tended.  We were told that the original abbey was a ruin in a nearby field, with its remaining walls only a few inches tall.

Sometimes teaching your children to appreciate their heritage takes you on a wild goose chase.  There were plenty of eye-rolls and a few protests, but I promise you that one day, Nellie will tell her children about the day we went to the home of her ancestors!

Our visit was capped off by an introduction to the mayor, who was out riding his bike, and an inquiry from the police, seen here talking with the mayor.  They were wondering who these strangers were on a Monday morning walking around their small village!

All in all, it was a day well-spent!

When I asked our guides about the history of Cauliéres (which apparently means cabbage), the “key lady” graciously invited us into her home, where she shared these two clippings.  Could someone in Collier-land translate them?

Terri Stagner Collier, wife of Christopher Reid Collier

Nellie’s genealogy from the Barnesville, GA line:

Isaac Cuthbert Collier 1846 – 1908

Jena Cuthbert Collier 1866 – 1944

Durward Cuthbert Collier 1890 – 1979

Jena Cuthbert Collier II 1917 – 2003

Christopher Reid Collier 1958 – present

Nellie Catherine Collier 2000 – present

Here is another view of the Church using GoogleEarth Streetview.

Using GoogleEarth, type ‘Caulières, France’ in the search bar and then ‘enter’. At the village, zoom in on “D92” at the intersection of Rue de’n Haut and Rue de l’Eglise.

4 Thoughts on “A Collier’s Visit to Caulieres, France

  1. Jerome Collier on January 24, 2024 at 5:22 am said:

    Hi Terry,

    I am Jerome Collier, as a French I particularly appreciated your report !
    It is not impossible that we share this common origin.

    As you ask, please find hereunder a translation of the main facts reported in the paper you were given, with my approximative english.

    First sheet :
    Caulières comes from the latin cauliera, field of cabbages.
    Lieutenant Spindler has served bravely during the 1939-45 war in Caulières and died with glory while commanding his unit.
    Desforges family owned 7/8 of the village until french revolution (1789)
    1906 : 38 persons are working in the 3 brush companies, and multiples craftsmen and traders.
    1930 : electricity arrives in the village

    Second sheet :
    Caulières was « Cauliers » in 1169.
    During XII th century, Selincourt abbey established in Caulières a yard called « Saint Nicolas de Caulières », which became the village of Lamaronde.
    In 1846, discovery of a vase containing medals, dated from the roman empire – between IIIrd and Vth century.
    The church was built XVIII th century, except the choir which is from XVI th.
    The village produces forage, grains, beef, pork.
    Saint celebration : July 27th

  2. collierheritage on January 24, 2024 at 9:34 pm said:

    Jerome, thank you so much for your contribution! It is much appreciated. What else can you tell us? For example, what do you know about Lieutenant Spindler?

  3. Jerome Collier on January 26, 2024 at 11:49 am said:

    Hi,
    More details about Lieutenant Spindler, as stated in the paper of Terry:

    Lieutenant Spindler, 49e BCA
    He showed remarkable self-sacrifice and courage during the fighting on June 6, 1940, earning the admiration of all by his disregard for danger. Fell gloriously at the head of his section. This citation is accompanied by the award of the Croix de Guerre with Palm Leaf.

    More generally, the best source document I identified about this origin in Caulieres is the book of Vaughn Ballard “Robert Terrell Collier his ancestors”, which itself does not mention a source that would prove the story (see page 3 of the book “Johannes de Liestes”). The story is beautiful, but the only checkable fact is the citation of one name, Brother Jean de Caouliere (“Frater Johannes de Caouliéres” in the original text) .
    I wonder if somoene has more source, or an email adress to contact the author Vaughn Ballard? He seems to leave in Arlington, TX.

  4. collierheritage on January 26, 2024 at 10:02 pm said:

    Unfortunately, Mr. Ballard passed away several years ago (2013, I believe).

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Robert Collier Family Bible

Originally posted August 4, 2019

In the past year, CHF has had the opportunity to examine several Collier Family Bibles, the oldest of which belonged to Robert Collier (see May 3, 2015 post Robert Collier, Son of Vines and Elizabeth Collier). Robert was born in Virginia in 1783 and died in Upson County, Georgia in 1850, so the Bible is vintage early 1800s.

The Bible is massive with plain front and back covers.

Inside the front cover is a note that “Hambleton was folded 15th of August – 1838”. Hambleton was obviously a horse (foal) and his birth was considered important.

The family history portion is well-preserved and mostly very legible. Based on known handwriting characteristics, the entries in green ink at the end of the “Deaths” section, were added by Jena Cuthbert Collier. The entry of the death of Robert Collier was written by the same person who made most of the entries in the Robert Marshall Collier Family Bible (most likely Robert Marshall himself). The Robert Marshall Bible will be covered in a later post. Martha Marshall Booker, the wife of Robert Collier, signed her name with an “X” (see deed in June 6, 2015 post Robert Marshall Collier’s Papers), so she would not have made the remaining entries in the Family Bible. A comparison of the writing in the initial entry under “Marriages” and the legal document signed by Robert Collier and presented in the May 3, 2015 post, Robert Collier, Son of Vines and Elizabeth Collier, indicate that the entries were made by Robert Collier.

Transcriptions follow each page.

MARRIAGES

Robert Collier and Martha Marshall Booker was married the first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.

BIRTHS

Robert Collier was born the thirteenth of November in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred & eighty three (1783)

Martha Marshall Booker from the best account was born in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred & eighty two (1782)

Edith Louisa Collier was born on Monday the Sixteenth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & seven

William Vines Collier was born on Tuesday the fourth of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight (1808)

Sarah Smith Collier was born on Thursday the twenty eighth of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & nine (1809)

Efford Cobb Collier was born on Saturday the fourth of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eleven (1811)

BIRTHS

Mary Booker Collier was born on Thursday the fourth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirteen (1813)

Robert Marshall Collier was born on Wednesday the ninth of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & fourteen (1814)

Frances Elizabeth Collier was born on Sunday the Twenty sixth of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen (1818)

Isaac Cuthbert Collier was born on Saturday the twenty ninth of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty one (1821).

DEATHS

Isaac Cuthbert Collier departed this life on Thursday about 12 o’clock the 7th of May in the City of Macon in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty (1840) in the triumphs of a saving faith – his diing (sic) words was “glory & honor to God and the Lamb forever & ever.”

Robert Collier Father of This family departed This life on Sunday 1O minutes after 1O oclock in the night being the 6t h day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand and fifty in his sixty seventh year of his age he was a good Husband & Kind Father and an indulgent Master. His last words as understood was “I am done with the world.”

Added in green ink (by Jena Cuthbert Collier:

Wm Vines Collier son of Robt. & Martha Booker Collier died in Columbus Ga on May 11 – 1877 and is buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta Ga on the Raines lot .

Martha Booker Collier died in Upson Co Ga (3 mi south of The Rock) May 27 – 1876

CHF is grateful to Christopher Collier for allowing access to these valuable family treasures.

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Collier Collection at Georgia Historical Society

Originally posted July 27, 2019

This is a followup to The Collier Collection Goes to Savannah, posted July 31, 2016 (click here). After two years of organizing and cataloguing, Georgia Historical Society announced the Collier Collection open for researchers. The announcement was issued in a GHS news release of June 21, 2018 from Atlanta.

Georgia Historical Society Announces The Collier Family Papers Open for Research

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