Winifred Collins

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Winifred Collins
Born(1911-11-26)November 26, 1911
Captain
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsBronze Star Medal
Legion of Merit

Winifred Quick Collins (November 26, 1911 – May 5, 1999) was Chief of Naval Personnel for Women in the United States Navy, and Director of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from 1957 to 1962.

Early life

She was born Winifred Mary Redden, in Great Falls, Montana, United States. She was the third child of four of Daniel A. Redden and Mary Winifred Redden (maiden name Farrell).[1] When Collins was 10 years old, her family moved to Missoula, Montana, to run a hotel. A year later her parents divorced. When she was 11, she contracted a mild case of polio, but fully recovered without suffering a lasting disability.[1] Soon after this her mother abandoned her, and she spent the next few years living with relatives in various locations. After attending High School in four different states, Collins graduated in 1929[1] while living in Seattle with one of her brothers. In 1930 she received a

Harvard-Radcliffe Training Course in Personnel Administration. In 1938, she was one of five who graduated from the first course.[2]

Military career

Dr. Ada Comstock, the President of Radcliffe College when Collins was educated there, sat on a committee that was looking into the idea of recruiting women into the US Navy. She contacted Collins in June 1942 with a suggestion that she might apply for a commission. On August 4 of that year, Collins graduated from the first female commissioning class held at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, and was commissioned with the rank of Ensign on August 28, 1942.

After the month-long training at Smith College,

Commanding Officer of the Naval Officer School, Captain Underwood, requested that she would stay on as the Personnel Director. Two months later,[1] she was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade). Her next assignment was in the summer of 1943; she was sent to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. She was one of twelve Naval officers tasked with the evaluation of the jobs the WAVES could do within the Navy as a whole, and the skills they would require to do them.[1]

In late 1944, the now

Continental United States when she was sent to Hawaii as the District Personnel Officer. She organised accommodation for 5,000 WAVES who were going to be posted there[1] in January 1945. At the end of World War II, Collins was tasked with the demobilization of the WAVES and their reintroduction into civilian life. For this, she was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.[1]

In 1946, Collins returned to Washington DC and helped plan the eventual inclusion of females into the Navy;

the 12th Naval District; the area of the US comprising Nevada, Utah, and Northern California. In 1953 she was promoted to Commander; one of only two female Commanders in the entire US Navy. Between 1953 and 1956, Collins was Personnel Director of the 12th Naval District, and commanded 350 Navy personnel. This was the highest post ever held by a female Officer in the Navy.[1]

Her next post was to

Captain. She was the only female Captain, making her the most senior woman in the Navy,[1]
until she retired from service on August 31, 1962.

Later life, death and legacy

Upon retirement from the navy, Collins became the first female director of the

Corn Products International, a global consumer food products operation. Further Navy related roles she filled include; the first female trustee of the United States Naval Academy Foundation, in 1977; the first women named in the Navy League's Hall of Fame in 1990.[1]

Collins died at the

spinal cancer. She was buried on May 25, 1999, in section 3 of the Arlington National Cemetery
.

In 1973, the

Captain Winifred Quick Collins Awards for Inspirational Leadership presented to a woman officer and an enlisted woman for exceptional leadership and performance in their military duties.[5]

Personal life

Collins was married twice. She was married after she graduated from college to Roy T. Quick. Their marriage lasted from 1937 to 1941 when they divorced.

step-sons; Howard Lyman Collins, Jr., and John Collins.[1] Collins and her second husband are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[6]

See also

  • List of individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Collins, Winifred Quick, 1911–. Papers, ca. 1913–2000 (inclusive), 1937–1999 (bulk)". Harvard University Library. March 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Guide to Archival Collections". Harvard – Baker library. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  3. ^ C. Peter Chen. "WAVES: Women in the WW2 US Navy". Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  4. ^ Captain Barbara A. Wilson, USAF (Ret). "Accomplished Women Buried at Arlington National Cemetery". Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Awards Manual" (PDF). Navy League of the United States. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Burial Detail: Collins, Winifred Q (Section 3, Grave 1632-C)". ANC Explorer.
Sources

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women
1957 – 1962
Succeeded by