- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant
- Unit:
- Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army (Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army)
By direction of the President, the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to Staff Sergeant Jack M. Collette, Company B, 254th Infantry Regiment for extraordinary heroism in action on 25 April 1945, near Leipheim, Germany. An enemy force of company strength, bearing white flags, advanced to within two hundred yards of Sergeant Collette's platoon and then suddenly opened fire. As the order was given for his platoon to withdraw, Sergeant Collette voluntarily remained in an exposed position to provide covering fire. With five comrades, he repeated his action when his unit failed to regain the position from the numerically superior enemy. Deliberately exposing himself to accomplish his self-assigned mission, Sergeant Collette was killed. His courageous actions and regard for his fellow soldiers, live as an inspiration to the men of his unit.
Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 574 (4 October 1945).