Oh Doug, my sweet old friend. You and I had a falling out which was entirely my fault. We hadn’t spoken in years but you still crossed my mind from time to time and I would wish to God that you were doing well and getting everything you wanted in life. Even after all these years, I still had this idea in my head that we would cross paths again somehow. That I would just happen to be visiting Colorado and that I would just happen to pass by you in a store or something silly like that. This morning a comment of yours popped up on a Facebook memory from 10 years ago. My eyes lit up seeing your name and picture. My heart was crushed when I clicked and saw your profile read, “Remembering Doug Collins.” You’ve been gone for three years. Three whole years. Wow. I just want to say that I love you. I always have since we were kids and I always will. You will always have a special place in my heart, Dougie. Thank you so much for your friendship. I am so very sorry we got out of touch. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the impact you had on my life. During some of the hardest times in my life you were there for me. You were an amazing friend and also just an amazing person. I will absolutely never ever forget you. We never got to meet in person but you taught me that online friends can sometimes be the realest, best, and closest friends you have. I will cherish the memories I have of you forever. Staying up way too late to chat all night on yahoo messenger. Excitedly waiting for you to call me on my house phone and trying to be quiet so my family wouldn’t tease me for it.  Begging my mom for my first webcam so that we could video call each other. We were just kids back then. I was crazy about you. Then when we got older it was texting each other constantly to get through our days. I loved that I could talk to you about anything. You never judged me. I love you forever. I’m so proud of the man you became. Rest In Peace, my dear friend. You are in my heart.

Doug,

I am not sure where to begin. You are missed and loved by many. I loved having you as another brother in my family. You had become such a fine young man and Uncle to my girls. We have many memories of you coming over to my mom's while I was staying there. Hanging out and playing Rock Band on the Wii. My girls adored you. Wrestling around the house, to watching you and Andrew do nerdy stuff. We will never forget you. There isn't  a day that goes by that you dont cross my mind. We love you! Rest in piece. Until we meet again.

Verna

SSG Collins was one of the most caring NCO and friend I have met in the Army as a KATUSA. All the KATUSAs loved working with SSG Collins and we had a wonderful time together. It was always a pleasure to work and hang out with SSG Collins. He was a professional and a friend who taught us so many things we needed to know. I still remember the field exercise we did with SSG Collins. He always wanted Chocolate Milk and I cannot forget his smile when I brought Charlie Mike to him.
SSG Collins spoke Korean very well and most of the times ordered all the KATUSAs in Korean. We had a nickname for SSG Collins in Korean. We called him Master Cat Person and he proudly called himself Master Cat Person in Korean. We had so many inside jokes that most people did not understand. 
I met SSG Collins few times when he came back to Korea last year. We had a great time together eating unlimited meat, some beer and soju. We also went to cat café he wanted to go where he couldn’t keep his eyes off the cats.
I remember us talking about seeing each other when I come to the States. I wish I had a chance to see him in Colorado and go to where he wanted to show me. I cherish every moment that I spent with you SSG Collins. It was truly an honor to get to know you SSG Collins and I will never forget you Master Cat Person.

- Donghwan Kim

Dear Doug, Douggie and Dugawug!    I remember the first time you cried when I picked up Alyssa to come over to my house.  I promised you from that moment, that you could always come over after that....and you did! You were a son to me.....it was always you, Davis and Alyssa.  I remember you all fighting over the gameboy and the playstation.  Remember the road trip when I had to stop in the middle of Nebraska to buy 2 more gameboys so you all would stop fighting?  When you all played playstation, I had to put a time limit on each of you......Alyssa always had to go last because she was the oldest.....I always gave you more time because I knew how much  you enjoyed it....until Davis and Alyssa caught on! lol...  I remember Red Robin Seasoning  and Salt Water Taffy.  I remember when Alyssa was trying to dish "stuff" on you and you got angry and told her to "sweep her own front porch before she started sweeping yours!".  It was funny.  

I remember WWF, I was the announcer and you guys were the wrestlers.  I had to shine the flashlight on you as you came up the basement stairs to wrestle.....you were so small and Davis was so big, he'd just tuck you under his arm or you would jump on his back....it was hysterical...    Funniest Douggie story was coming home from Iowa from a visit and you were sick.  I pulled into the drive through at Burger King to place our orders.  As I'm telling the lady what we wanted, you puked iin the back seat.....I laughed so hard, I had to pull around 2 more times because everytime I tried to order you threw up!  OMG....will never forget!  From the dead gold fish to razor scooters to eating cereal with no milk....we had so much fun! 

Always in my heart!  Love you forever.  Will see you again one day!  Can't wait I'll give you purple  smoochies! I still don't get why you  wouldn't blast  Bruno Mars for me wile riding in the jeep!  :)




SSG Collins was one of the hardest working most dedicated NCOs I've had the privelage of working with. He was serious about his role as a leader, trainer and supervisor of soldiers. He took technical and tactical capability seriously. I respected his professionalism. I'll never forget that one night we had a soldier who communicate that he was thinking about hurting himself. Our 1SG, the PSG and Section Chief all drove like mad and rushed to get there, to find them SGT Collins sitting outside the barracks smoking with the soldier. He wasnt showy about it, but he was always where he needed to be. 

I also consider him a friend. He stopped calling me sir and just referred to me as Overlord. He stole my personal computer in the field and changed the names of my files to things with Overlord in the name. The computer shortcut is still named Overlord. I'm glad I never changed that one back. We were a big fat team if two at NTC, so to get our group together I would yell, "SGT Colliinnnnnsss, Asseeeembllllllllle!" I dont he thought it was as funny as I did, but he humored me. 
We talked about getting a cigar together again some day. I wish i had done it. 
God bless he is in a place with lots of cats and fountains of CM. 

Doug,

There are so many good memories of the times we spent together that I don’t really know where to begin.  First of all, I hope you know how much I loved you, you were like a son to me.  I married well and was delighted to become an uncle to you & Alyssa.  You both were always polite and good kids.  I have very fond memories of a lot of Sunday afternoons spent playing in your grandparent’s backyard in Niwot.  I would swing you around until I was tired and dizzy, then use the excuse that I was afraid I was going to pull your arms out of your sockets if I swung you anymore.  After that we would go inside and play video games.  You were so good at all of the games that the rest of us really didn’t have a chance.  In hindsight, I am sure it was horribly frustrating for you to watch us, but you stuck around and gave us tips on how to get through them.  Amy & I always enjoyed having you and your sister at our house for a couple of days each summer when you were younger and trying to plan fun things to do.  This was definitely one of the highlights of our summer.

I was so happy when I found out you were going into the Army.  My best friend had been in the Army and I knew we could teach you everything you needed to know before you went to boot camp.  I remember like it was yesterday the time we spent in La Veta for the “mini” version of boot camp with my friend David.  You were a quick learner so we were not at all surprised when we found out you had the highest marksmanship scores in your unit a few months later. 

I always looked forward to hearing from you and getting those late night texts when you were deployed in Korea.  I still look at my phone in the middle of the night expecting a text to pop up saying “What’s up uncle?” or something quirky about eagles and/or starships landing.  I am very proud of you and all of your accomplishments.  I am blessed to be your uncle and have had the opportunity to be part of your life.  I miss you & love you!


Doug,
I miss you like you were one of my children.  You came home with Andrew one night it was cool and rainy outside.   Andrew goes mom can Doug spend the night?  You looked like a little kid behind Andrew.  Who was to know you would become a big part of my family.  From all of us going out to IHOP after a band concert to you and Andrew and all of your tomfoolery.  Christmas dinner will never be the same but I will always set you a place.  I will miss talking to my Kiddo on messenger, and hearing " Hi Mom".  The nerdy little Burger King that rode on the hood of your car.    I miss the talks we had when Andrew was still sleeping.
All I can say is I will miss you and love you.
God bless you Doug Collins.

Sandy Burke


Doug Collins, I'm proud of your service and proud to have been given the chance to be your  best friend. I remember when you came up to me, asked me to be your body guard and told me  that you'd pay me lol . You never did pay me, but you didn't have to. We became like brothers to each other.

I remember all the dumb things we did in high school like, painting your car like the enterprise, late night pc gaming, building computers, helping me work out, watching me try to smoke a whole pack of cigarettes to make myself never want to smoke again, taking you to Wyoming and teaching you to shoot, all the laughs we had,  going with you when you enlisted in the Army, the 4th of July before you left for basic when you burnt your foot. I watched you leave and come back more mature, but still Doug. That night you partied so hard, in the first 15 minutes of your own return party you passed out and missed the rest of your party. We still continued our late night gaming and deep talks until the late hours of the night. I remember getting our first rifles together,  my excitement waiting for you to come home once a year, our yearly bonfire and shooting days, watching nerdy movies and Beavis and Butthead. Continuously becoming more and more proud of you as you kept rising in ranks and hearing how good of a leader you were.

The're so many memories  I cant list them all, but at least I will always have them to cherish and share with my son. Hopfully, one day my son will find a friendship like the one we had because it was something else. I will always be happy for the time I got to have with you. Just know, that you will never be forgotten. 

Doug made a huge impact on my life. We did our best to always be there for each other, and to be the best friends we could to each other. I'm so glad to have had Doug in my life.

I love you Doug

Your brother Andrew Green (aka Baker) 

Doug, you were extremely sarcastic, but always friendly, caring, sweet, and willing to help us out if we needed it. You'd stop by the store before you would visit us (obviously making a donut and kick start run haha) but you were always courteous enough to ask if we needed anything and pick up the ingredients to make Andrew's "chili stuff". Really going to miss seeing you walk in, hear you call "Hey baby, I'm home. huh huh What's for dinner?", take over the couch and the TV, and make yourself at home every December. I think some of my favorite memories would be going to the range with you and Andrew, and us all getting online and playing Mech Warrior together. We never got to play monster hunter together but you did give me some pretty awesome tips. I don't know how many times I would have to just shake my head, laugh, and walk away from listening to some of your's and Andrew's super nerdy conversations about Star Trek, Star Wars, Video games, or crazy stuff you guys did in high school. But I wouldn't trade those memories for the world. I am proud and grateful for your service and to be able to call you not only a friend, but family. Love you Doug 

Doug, 
You are gone from this world,  but i will carry with me the many lessons you've taught me. For starters, that i smell 😊, and that cats are better than dogs. I now know how important it is to wear shoes while playing with sparklers, and that flashlights are considered burglary tools. You showed me that the flying levels on spyro are beatable, though i still cant seem to beat them. I learned that it is not acceptable to listen to Usher in a Wrangler, and that while open carry is legal in CO, someone might still call the cops on you in walmart. I know that the smallest things in life matter most, and that stuffed animals are family too. 
You continue to teach me things, like how strong i am, and how much love is in my heart. You teach me each day that i need to live and love to the fullest. 
I still have things to learn, like how to keeps plants alive, and how to be a sharpshooter. And how to beat those stupid flying levels! 
I know you are with me each day, protecting me as the brother and soldier you are, still teaching me things. 
I love you and miss you always!

 I did not have much opportunity to see Doug as a young man. When he was a child living with his grandma and grandpa Smith I would visit my sister, Carol,  every summer. I would spend a week with them and had an opportunity to be with Doug and Alyssa and get to play with them. 

 One of Doug‘s greatest assets was his curiosity! What a wonderful gift! He was curious, intelligent, interested in the world around him, energized by trying to find creative solutions or to fix gadgets, and possessed a wonderful imagination!

 I always savored those days. I am sorry that I did not get to see him as much when he was older. But from the tributes, those wonderful qualities Doug had as a child only continued to grow and become even stronger and more numerous. 

 Doug definitely left his foot prints on this earth and made us all the better for them. Thank you to his wonderful family for all the support you have given him through the years. 

You are much loved, Doug!

     I am so proud of my nephew Doug, not only for bravely serving our great country but also for being such an amazing and outstanding young man.  A respected leader, teacher, and friend to his fellow service men and women.  Genius, artistic, musically talented, always interested in learning, always laughing and having fun.
     I can’t believe I will actually miss the way you would tease me with your high pitched women’s voice or your devious laugh “heh heh heh” whenever you thought you were hiding something.  I can hear it now.
     I’m so glad we got to spend a few days having fun over the summers when you were a kid.  Going to places like Elitches, Boondocks, and Fat City playing laser tag, mini golf, bowling, and video games etc.  Movies and out to eat.  You were always so respectful and just enjoyed having fun. 
     I miss you so much, I love you so much, and I wish so much that things could be different.  I will always find ways to keep your memory alive and honor you in the way you deserve.  Your mom mentioned recently that in middle school you told her you wanted to be a hero.  Well Doug, you’ve definitely succeeded in being everyone's hero.  Thank you for protecting our freedom, you served our country well. 
                 My courageous nephew, my heart, my hero.    Luv ya!  -Aunt Amy


Doug,
I am so happy that you became part of our family and it always made me happy when you would come over to our home. It was normal occurrence for me to come home from work and see Rea and you on the couch playing a new game or watching movies. You always gave me hugs, complimented my dinners and asked me to make sweets, even requesting chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for your birthday cake. I am so grateful that you met Rea and I was able to met you. One of my favorite memories was when Rea was at trade school for a month and you were in Korea. I had just gotten Monster Hunter and I was struggling to understand it so I messaged you for help. We spent probably 4 to 6 hours playing the game that night. You were so sweet and patient with me and explained the game, advised me on the different weapons and clothing, the benefits and disadvantages of different things. It was so much information but it was just another reminder of how sweet and understanding you were. My heart hurts that we won't be able to have you in our home again but I will always remember all the times you were here. I love you so much Doug! I hope you are resting peacefully. 

Love, Alicia and Rea

For the last few years we became as close as we could be. Talking about our histories and our interests I realized just how special you were. You and I were so alike and I was so happy to have met someone just like me. You are and always will be my brother.  I remember the time we drove to Fort Riley together on mission. Hours of just driving and shooting the breeze in the dark. I remember how angry we were when they told us to grab a bunk and we couldn't find any open slots. How funny it is looking back at our decision to sleep in the van together while it was freezing. The whole thing was awful because they forced us to get up after we'd only slept 2 hours and we didnt even leave for another 2 hours. But I always loved that trip because it was just me and you on a mini road trip. Cracking jokes, drinking kickstarts, and having a good time. As much as the mission sucked, it was fun as hell all because I had my best friend with me. I love you brother and I always will, I will never forget you as long as I live. I'll see you again someday.

Signed,
Mr. And Mrs. Lee 

I always looked forward to when you and Alyssa would come to Iowa with Aunt Tammy.  You always played with your Gameboy and you were in to Pokemon cards.  You were fascinated with listening to your cousin Sascha talk as she was from Louisiana.   I wish that I would have stayed in better and closer touch with you!  I love you with all my heart, and now you are gone.  You will be forever in my heart Doug!

You were always goofy, working on tech things, talking about cats or running off to Andrew’s, "Bunker."   You were loyal, generous, honorable and smart.   We started every sentence with, "Uh," because you loved Beavis & Butthead.   Once you asked, "Uh, why do you start every sentence with, "uh?"  I said, "Uh, because you do."  You said, "Uh, well I only do it because you do.”  You loved pulling my leg!  One time people kept asking when I was getting a new minivan since mine kept breaking down.  What?  There hadn't been anything wrong with it, but you were messing with me.  You knew the MomMobile was perfectly fine.  As a kid, you wouldn't go anywhere without your stuffed puppy, Copper.  As a teen, you hardly went anywhere without your black, red feathered pirate hat.  You went everywhere looking nerdy on purpose and didn't care.  I loved that!  You loved playing Crash Bandicoot with Grandpa, word puzzles with Grandma, spending the night with Tammy, teasing Alyssa, shooting with Jason and Andrew, talking tech with David, going on outings with Amy and having Nerf battles with Sean, Joshua, and Arlo.   You played instruments with Samantha.    You loved shopping for guy stuff, sharing videos, making mead, orange Kickstarts, eating Donuts, Red Robin, Burger King and Thai soup.  Sometimes you were challenging and I worried about how you'd turn out, but I needn't have.  Every day I hear new stories of the lives you impacted, what a great man you were and what a great leader.  You were always smiling, telling sarcastic jokes, laughing loudest and making anything you did with others fun.  And your favorite thing of all, pampering your cats, Gilligan and later Vash, Deadeye and Cow, your "babies."  I'm so proud to be your mother, proud of the man you became.   You served your country and gave it your all.  You encouraged me to never become old or boring.  You encouraged everyone to be the best they could.  You will always be honored and remembered by all who knew you.  

In one of the hardest times in my life Doug was there he helped save me from myself and reminded me what I had to live for. Every time in the smoke pit he made sure I was ok he genuinely cared and wanted me to be ok. I went through allot and I felt alone but I knew I was not because my mentor/friend/leader just down right genuine caring person saved me for that I will always be grateful. I will miss our talks about plot holes in star wars and how cute kittens are and how amazing woobies are. He told me to not hide my knowledge and skills with my job and to stop pretending I don't know anything. There is so much more, just to much to share like calling cigarettes dubies to agreeing with me about humans I couldn't even begin to scratch the surface. I will strive to be the best and show everyone how capable I am just like he said I should. He was one of the best humans I ever had the privilege to know I will always remember my time with him.


Last week was a really emotional time. It started with the news of losing one of my brothers in arms on Monday morning. SSG Douglas Collins was an outstanding soldier, and a good man. As hard as this tragic loss hit me and the rest of the Battalion, I can only imagine the immense feelings of sadness and confusion that his family is experiencing. I would like his family to know that I was proud to know and serve with their Son. Collins had this way of just making things work. If their was a problem, he would find a solution even if it meant using his free time to do so. He had this hilariously dry sense of humor which was infectious across the platoon, and made our deployment to Korea a little easier to bare. His soldiers loved, respected, and admired him. I pray that God will be with all of us who knew SSG Douglas Collins. And I challenge us all to remember the good memories we had with Collins, whether it was going out to eat Korean street food in the middle of the night, or sitting in our barracks room talking about our families. We miss you Brother, thank you for making me a better NCO, and thank you for helping to make 1st Platoon the best Platoon in the Brigade. 
God's Speed
- SGT Parker

I’m so very sorry for your families loss. May God bless you and be with you during this difficult time. 

OBITUARY

SSG Douglas "Doug" Levi Collins

September 21, 1991 – December 17, 2018

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

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