James Ford Rustand Collins

[Marilynn Lieurance]

I must have entered the wrong email address and would appreciate if somebody will correct the email address listed above.  The correct address is:  mlrust...@yahoo.com

My brother James Ford Rustand Collins was a Huey Pilot in Vietnam with the Blackhorse  11th ACR.  He made it home from Vietnam and a few year later, at age 36, was killed when the blade flew off the helicopter he was flying while fighting Petroleum Fires in Alaska.  Jim was known by the last name Collins as we used our step-fathers name growing up.  Our birth father was a B-17 Pilot in WWII, and I'm very involved in several military organizations, writing for two of them, researching and finding our WWII MIAs, serve as The White House Liaison for the American WWII Orphans Network (AWON), working to honor our fallen, and part of a private four person team who took an Executive Branch of our Federal Government before Congress to answer for their actions that have hurt 183,000 WWII Gold Star families across our Great Country..

I'm hoping to connect with one or more of the Pilots and/or Crew Members my brother served with, and see your 2027 Blackhorse Reunion is being planned for San Antonio, Texas.  If I knew in advance that I would be able to make a connection with somebody who knew Jim, I'd like to attend your 2027 reunion.  Assuming your organization has a newsletter, I'm wondering if one of your members is willing to place an small article asking if any members remember my brother, and if they're planning to attend the 2027 reunion.

Thanks to all of you for your service to America.  I'm so glad for all who made it home, and I'd very much like you to know I consider every Freedom I enjoy each day from the time I wake in the morning until my head hits the pillow at night is a gift from soldiers like you.  God bless you all!

Warm regards,

Marilynn Rustand Lieurance

(503) 543-6614 - PST

Proud daughter of B-17 Pilot

1LT Hanford "Rusty" James Rustand

KIA 2 November 1944 - Libehna, Germany