Springs Soldier Ride Team Honors Late WWII Veteran

A group of Springs residents has joined together as a team for Saturday's Soldier Ride in an effort to honor a local World War II veteran and fixture of the close-knit community.

"Team Sam Scram" consists of a dozen riders who have together raised over $12,000 to honor of retired Army Staff Sgt. Tom Collins, a war hero. Collins died in May at age 89, leaving a profound effect on the community that went beyond his time in the military. 

RELATED: COLLINS' STORY WAS CLASSIFIED UNTIL 1998.

The group consists mainly of Collins' fellow members of the Springs Fire Department ambulance squad. 

"Tom Collins was one of the last remaining real gentleman," said Dawn Green. "He just infected everybody's life with his personality."

Rachel Kleinberg, the librarian at the Montauk School who bikes to and from Springs each day, organized the team shortly after Collins died, and despite time constraints has managed to raise almost $10,000. Kleinberg, who is related to the Collins through a cousin's marriage, recruited friends from the fire department.

The riders chose to name the team after a nickname British soldiers gave Collins 60 years ago.

He was a supporter of Soldier Ride and the Wounded Warrior Project, the team said.

For its members, Soldier Ride is a chance to honor one soldier, but also an opportunity to support an entire community.

"These folks knew and loved Tom Collins and are honored to ride in tribute to him and in support such a worthy cause," Kleinberg said. 

For team member Jeanette Caputo, an Iraq War veteran who served as a medic, the ride is particularly special. "It's an honor to ride with the soldiers," she said.

"Once you start talking to them, you're blown away by the strength and courage these guys have, to see them back in real life, back in society on their bikes," Caputo said.

Some members of the group had been involved with Soldier Ride in the past, and those who hadn't were quick to sign on, team members said. The riders joined with Kleinberg because Collins was respected and admired as a citizen and war hero, who together with his family had very close ties with the volunteer ambulance service.

"Most of the people knew my father very well," said Mike Collins of his father. "Even though it hurts that he's gone, it feels good that people are doing this."

Mike noted that two members of the team had been driving the ambulance the night his father passed away.

What people didn't know, however, were of his heroics as a decoder with the US Army in Britain during World War II. Instead, Collins, who lived in Springs since he returned home from the war, was remembered fondly as somewhat of the Springs community's elder statesman. 

"He was remarkable, he was everywhere," Kleinberg said. "His reach was very far."

Many store owners and residents who were avid sponsors of Soldier Ride, doubled and even tripled their donations, Kleinberg said, upon learning of Team Sam Scram's purpose.