Mike Bio

About Michael David Collins

Mike Collins was born June 3, 1951 at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC.  His father, Henry Williams Collins was an Air Force fighter pilot who flew P-47 Thunderbolts for the 366th Fighter Group in WWII, providing close air support and fighter escort from England and Normandy.  He spent his last 2 years in the Air Force at Dobbins AFB in Marietta, GA, where he retired a Lieutenant Colonel. He died June 1, 2005.  He was number one on Michael's list of heroes.  Number two on his list of heroes is the mother who raised him from the age of six, Suzanne Causey Collins.  He says he could write a book about her influence regarding his religion (United Methodist) and his political leanings.  She still remains a very positive influence to this day and resides in Atlanta, GA. 

Michael was raised from age 6 in Austell, GA until he joined the United States Army in 1968.  He attended basic training at Ft. Benning, GA, Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. McClellan, AL, Non-Commissioned Officers Candidate Course Phase I and II and Ranger School at Ft Benning, GA,  Dahlonega, GA and Eglin AFB in Florida.  He went to Vietnam with the rank of Staff Sergeant and served a one year tour with B Company, 1st Battalion, 5th US Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. 

His unit experienced some of the heaviest combat action of any in the War. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, one for valor, one for meritorious service. He was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Valorous Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Designation. 

After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1971, he attended Grossmont College in La Mesa, CA for two years under the GI Bill and studied electronics. A man who has always loved hard work, war-related adjustment problems, later diagnosed by the VA as severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compounded by residual effects of malaria, led him to work-stints of varying durations in concrete, lead milling, construction, coal mining, industrial electronics and trucking among other industries.

He is open about the fact that after his discharge he was homeless at times and used alcohol and drugs to self-medicate undiagnosed and untreated PTSD until effective treatment ended his most serious post-war symptoms. An over-the-road truck driver beginning in the early '80s, he passed continuous and rigorous drug and alcohol testing for many years and has had no difficulty with the substance use problems since receiving proper treatment.

Michael now works with veterans groups and others to help veterans with physical and mental disabilities, especially those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to ensure they receive the help they need.  He also became politically active during the 2000 presidential race, becoming a precinct committee person in 2002 in HD 42 in Aurora.  He was active in the Draft (General) Wesley Clark then Wesley Clark for President 2004 campaign.  Colorado Veterans for Kerry was formed by Collins and other political activists such as Bill Holen and Jim Hudson.  After the campaign Colorado Veterans for Kerry became Colorado Veterans for America which is still active today. You'll see them marching in parades in Congressional District 6 with Mike Collins this spring.

Mike was raised a United Methodist and finds much solace and wisdom in reading the Bible and prefers the King James Version.  When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the United Methodist Church was instrumental in much of the recovery effort down there and Mike contributes to them as well as Doctors Without Borders.  More on religion later, but for now another source of great wisdom has always been Mark Twain:

"So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: "Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor's religion is." Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it. Divinity is claimed for many religions; but no religion is great enough or divine enough to add that new law to its code."
- Mark Twain, a Biography

Mike is married to Pranee Robinson and has two step children, Channon and Kansinee Adsanatham.  Pranee and Mike married September 1, 2000 and Pranee has her own tailor shop.  Both Channon and Kansinee have Masters Degrees and Channon is working on his PhD in English Composition; he attends and works at the University of Miami at Ohio. Kansinee resides in California and is employed by Google as a graphics designer.  Mike is very proud of all three of them and their accomplishments, but especially their mother for working so hard to get them through college.

Mike lost his larynx to cancer associated with Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam and speaks with an "electro-larynx."  For those Vietnam veterans reading this, you didn't have to be sprayed with it, the ground water was contaminated and that is what many service members were drinking.  Be sure to have yourself checked closely for the many other cancers/medical issues the Institute of Medicine has now concluded are associated with exposure.  It often has been said that when you lose a sense, you gain another or another is enhanced.  Mike says that losing his voice gave him several things he didn't possess prior to removal of his larynx.