THE WALL OF FACES

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” remember one of the 68 * men whose name is chiseled into stone beneath a Gold Star at the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Private Ross Willard Collins Jr., United States Army, on what would’ve been his 74th birthday – 27 June 2022.

* 68th name - for MIA 1LT Larry Lilly - added on 15 November 2018

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us…..

During a "clandestine, spontaneous happening" at the CPT Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day 2020, the "Friends of Rocky Versace" remembered Private Ross Willard Collins Jr., U.S. Army, as well as Alexandria's 67 other Vietnam War Fallen Heroes. A video of the "happening" is available for viewing at this link/URL:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/imz166z2qreygsu/Friends%20of%20Rocky%20Versace%2C%20Memorial%20Day%202020.mp4?dl=0

Private Ross Willard Collins Jr., Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

The Alexandria Gazette in Alexandria, VA located this photograph of PVT Ross Willard Collins Jr. after a thorough and exhaustive search of the newspaper's archives from the late 1960s. PVT Collins was an infantryman in 3rd Platoon, "C" Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL). He served 7 months in combat in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star Medal. His final resting place is Arlington National Cemetery. The "Friends of Rocky Versace" extend our thanks to the staff of the Alexandria Gazette newspaper for their efforts.