RIP 3/75 Ranger John COllett

John and I met during pre-production for the film Black Hawk Down. I had been assisting the technical advisor for a couple of weeks collecting images and a database of rangers and liaised with the public affairs office of the 75th Ranger Regiment and the US Army in Los Angeles (until I became persona non grata- to be told another time). John arrived with longish hair, a necklace and some wrist bracelets and ultimately accompanied production to Morocco for filming. During our few weeks together we hung out a bit here and there and he seemed thoughtful, not anxious and not troubled, but probably more reflective on his experiences in Mogadishu. I think the film was exciting to him but it also asked questions. He was a great addition to the advising team and left for filming with the crew where he also did stunt work. The movie is better because of his contributions during pre-production. Bummer to hear he died so young. Black Hawk Down meant something to him and I am pleased to have met him.

Ranger John Collett Image and text from https://www.dayfh.com/obituary/john-collett

Obituary

John Matthew Collett (January 15, 1972 - July 14, 2026)

After a long and storied career in the military, and a lifelong commitment to giving back to family, friends and those in need, we mourn the untimely death and celebrate the extraordinary life of John Matthew Collett. He passed away July 14, 2026. Born on January 15, 1972 to Matt and Nancy (McCall) Collett, he lived most of his life in Costa Mesa, California, with his beloved parents and his siblings Julie and Jeff.

John was always attuned to the “greater good” and joined the U.S. Army in 1991, a month after graduating from high school in Marshfield, Missouri. His basic training was at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he successfully completed the selection process and served in the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, the U.S. Army’s premier direct-action special operations force. Rangers specialize in high-risk missions such as airborne assaults, direct-action raids, special reconnaissance and the capture of high-value targets, and are held to exceptionally high standards of ethics, physical fitness, tactical skill, discipline and readiness. It takes a rare kind of person to be a Ranger and an even rarer level of strength, sacrifice and commitment to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment, where John served for nine years.

John’s time as an Army Ranger was storied and successful. In 1993, he deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia with the 75th Ranger Regiment as part of Operation Gothic Serpent. During the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3-4, his unit participated in a mission to capture key leaders of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid's militia. For his actions in the battle, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor (upgraded to a Silver Star in 2021) and Purple Heart. After he was medically discharged, he returned to Costa Mesa to participate in the making of the movie “Black Hawk Down” as a technical advisor and stuntman. Subsequently, he spent a year on the college speaking circuit, inspiring students with the drive to serve or study film by sharing his experiences in Somalia and working on “Black Hawk Down.”

In 2006, John began his journey to fulfil a lifelong goal to complete college. He earned an Associates of Arts in music from Orange Coast College, where he was also on the rowing team, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in film from Columbia College, Chicago in 2009.

In August 2014, John founded the Three Rangers Foundation (TRF) and Three Rangers Whiskey (TR). The Foundation’s mission is to assist veterans of the 75th Regiment with counseling, education and transition out of the service, while Three Rangers Whiskey was created to support the organization’s efforts. TRF started as a concept on a napkin for a way to help veterans. In 2018 he stepped away from both organizations he founded to embark on a journey of self-discovery, reflection and spiritual growth. While his path evolved, TRF and TR continued under new leadership, growing into an organization that honors and advances the values, vision and purpose he set in motion.

Following his time leading Three Rangers and the Three Rangers Foundation, John continued to dedicate himself to serving others in quiet but meaningful ways. He assisted a friend in recording stories about the life and teachings of Ramana Maharshi and developed a deep connection to the people of India. During one of his trips there, he asked family and friends to contribute to Project Cow India, raising enough money to provide a family with a cow. He was especially moved by the impact of this gift, often saying with a smile, "The cow will be giving milk to the whole neighborhood." It was just one of the many ways he sought to improve the lives of others.

In early 2020, John set out to hike the Appalachian Trail, embracing the challenge with his characteristic sense of adventure. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the journey to an unexpected end, he quickly redirected his energy toward helping those in need. He traveled to New York City, where he volunteered at St. Barnabas Hospital's morgue during one of the city's most difficult periods. He also devoted countless hours to serving at two local food banks, always finding purpose in helping others during a time of great uncertainty.

From New York, John traveled to Missouri to visit family. What was intended to be a short visit became an 18-month stay, during which he worked alongside his uncle on the family's cattle ranch. Never one to accept inefficiency, John designed a computer system to help track and manage the cattle herds, leaving the operation stronger than he found it—a hallmark of how he approached nearly every endeavor throughout his life.

In April 2026, John returned to Three Rangers with a clear purpose: to restore it to the vision he had as its founder. Inspired by the lifelong bond of the Ranger Brotherhood, John envisioned Three Rangers as more than a whiskey company. He wanted to create a community that welcomed anyone who shared its values. He was deeply committed to ensuring its future remained true to those principles by putting in place leadership he believed would faithfully carry the mission forward, grow its impact and, above all, live by the Ranger Creed.

John dedicated his life to serving others, not because he felt obligated to, but because that was simply who he was. Whether supporting veterans, helping those experiencing homelessness in his neighborhood, contributing to charitable causes or quietly giving to those in need, generosity was woven into the fabric of his daily life. To John, helping others was never an occasional act—it was a way of life.

John was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Edith Collett, John and Georgia McCall; his aunts and uncles Bob and Betty McCall, Clyde and Jo Jean Johnson and Terry McCall; and his cousins Matt and Scott Johnson. He is survived by his beloved parents Matt and Nancy (McCall) Collett; his sister, Julie (Casey) Collett; his brother, Jeff (Marta) Collett; his nephews Eli and Luca; his nieces, Zoe, Amélie and June; and his aunts, Jackie Gates, Ginny McCall, Susan (Jim) McCall and Mary Jane (Curt) Mottesheard. 

John is also survived by the brothers with whom he served in Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, including those who fought alongside him during the historic Battle of Mogadishu, and by countless others in the Ranger Brotherhood. Throughout his life, John also carried with him the memory of the Ranger brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

We end with his lifelong motto, embraced by all who share the Ranger Brotherhood: Rangers Lead the Way.

John will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, date is TBD.