[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 115 (Friday, July 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     MAJOR GENERAL AUGUSTUS ``LEON'' COLLINS, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF 
                              MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my colleague 
Mr. Moulton of Massachusetts to recognize Major General Augustus 
``Leon'' Collins, commanding general of both the Mississippi Army and 
Air National Guard. Since 2012, Major General Collins has served as the 
Adjutant General of Mississippi and plans to retire at the beginning of 
September.
  Major General Collins has served in the military for 35 years, 
starting as a private with Company B, 1st Battalion, 198th Armor 
Regiment. He completed officer candidate school and later served in 
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. From 2004 to 2006, he 
commanded the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  I have served with Major General Collins at nearly all levels of 
command. As a tank company commander, Captain Collins was one of the 
finest. His troops respected and loved him and accomplished tasks other 
units would not have dared to attempt. As a Battalion Commander, 
Lieutenant Colonel Collins led his Battalion to be one of the best. 
Finally, as a Brigade Commander of a Brigade Combat Team in Iraq, 
Brigadier General Collins continued his path of excellence. Brigadier 
General Collins led the 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Rifles, 
in a full spectrum mission; his unit once again excelled because of his 
leadership and the high level of respect and trust he earned among his 
soldiers. He did this while many of his soldiers were impacted by the 
devastating news of Hurricane Katrina at home in Mississippi.
  During Major General Collins' tenure in Iraq, he led two future 
congressmen. After we were elected to the 114th Congress, Mr. Moulton 
and I realized we had previously met while serving in Iraq with Major 
General Collins. This is representative of the diverse lives Major 
General Collins has led and mentored during his storied career.
  As Major General Collins retires from the military, I know he will 
continue to be a leader in the state and nation. He has been a mentor 
and role model for a generation of soldiers in the Mississippi Army 
National Guard. I am honored to have served with him at all levels of 
command.

                          ____________________