Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Michael Lee Collins entered USMAPS in 1980 and USMA in 1981. During his years as a cadet Michael set out to prove that great deeds are accomplished not by strength or talent, but by faith. Michael’s favorite Bible verse, Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” is Jesus’ promise that those who rigorously pursue the kingdom of heaven and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to God’s wise and loving purpose will have nothing to fear because He will provide them with everything they need.
Michael was constantly seeking God and his unwavering faith in God’s love manifested itself in a positive attitude that affected everyone. Regardless of the adversity with which he was faced, Michael carried on secure in the knowledge that circumstances would soon get brighter. His classmates were drawn to him because Michael’s very presence made things better and his strength helped them to get through whatever difficulties they themselves were facing.
Michael’s faith also inspired him to put the needs of others before his own. Whether it be scrapping plans for a trip to NYC in order to stay at West Point to care for a classmate and his passengers who were involved in a car accident or encouraging a young boy with developmental issues that he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to regardless of his disabilities, Michael was a selfless person who loved helping others.
While living in Michigan, Michael mentored a young man who was struggling with the difficulties that life throws at all of us. Michael spoke at length with the young man about faith and character and what he needed to do to carry himself as a man of God. After Michael’s death his wife Lois sent the young man a shell casing from Michael’s funeral salute, which he keeps with him as a constant reminder of the lessons Michael so selflessly taught him.
Michael also demonstrated his devotion to Jesus through a passionate desire to make full use of the talents with which he was blessed. Michael never did anything halfway and his intensity knew no bounds. Several of his classmates still suffer from “PBPTSD” (plebe boxing post-traumatic stress disorder) whenever they recall their time in the ring trying to escape Michael’s fists of fury. Michael pursued his boxing opponents in the same tornado-like ferocity with which the Tasmanian Devil pursued Bugs Bunny!
On the sprint football field or as co-captain of the powerlifting team Michael’s indomitable sense of purpose and commitment to excellence were simply byproducts of his faith in Jesus. It’s hard to imagine that Michael wasn’t thinking to himself “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” whenever he was performing a deadlift or bench press. There was an unmistakable strength in everything that Michael said and did, fueled by his profound belief that Christ was his Rock and his Redeemer.
Michael was also musically gifted. He performed in the cadet band as a drummer, which is fitting, given that drums aren’t really played, but are instead pounded into submission. He also enjoyed singing duets with Lois and their favorite song was “You’re All I Need to Get By”, which was performed originally, but not quite as well, by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Michael’s happiest years were spent at West Point. He loved being a soldier. It was, he said, his calling and it gave him a connection to another great warrior with whom he shared his name, Michael the Archangel. Michael spoke constantly, and with great enthusiasm, about his years at the Academy: the obstacles he overcame, the lessons he learned, and the lifelong friends he made there.
It was a shock to everyone that Michael’s most extraordinary spiritual asset, his heart, would be the very thing that would fail him physically. At one-point Michael’s heart was barely circulating enough blood to keep him alive. With the aid of an LVAD pump doctors were able to stabilize Michael, but only a heart transplant could fully restore his health.
Despite his weakened condition Michael spent his time in the hospital encouraging other heart patients, assuring them with biblically inspired speeches that if they kept fighting and had faith in God everything would be okay. “I have been at the end of myself many times,” Michael would tell them, “and it’s only when you reach that point that you understand how much you need Jesus.”
It was symbolically fitting that, in the end, it was not Michael’s heart that gave out. Despite its significantly weakened state God made sure that Michael’s remarkable, faithful heart kept right on pumping. He died instead of a stroke on April 12, 2019. In addition to his wife Lois Willis, Michael is survived by his daughter Anna, his son Michael Levi, and his granddaughter Kona.
The value of a person’s life is measured not by its length, but by the ideals for which it was lived. Michael’s biblically-inspired ideals—a selfless concern for others, an unshakably positive attitude, and an unwavering faith in God—made him a person of uncommon value. His abiding faith in Jesus was the guiding force in everything he did, and it was the reason that Michael meant so much to so many people. Those of us lucky enough to have been part of Michael’s life were as saddened by his passing as surely as we are better people for having known him.
—Jerome J. Malczewski and classmates