Bronze Star with Combat "V"
Purple Heart
On Feb. 17, 1994, the Secretary of the
Navy announced a new Arleigh
Burke class guided missile destroyer would be named for Col.
Higgins.
The USS HIGGINS (DDG76) was
christened and launched on Oct. 4,1997, at Bath Iron Works in
Maine. It was commissioned Apr. 24, 1999 in Ft. Lauderdale,
and is homeported in San Diego.
The USS HIGGINS has won numerous awards
and decorations, and was instrumental in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins, USMC, disappeared on
Feb. 17, 1988, while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and
Senior Military Observer, United States Military Observer Group, United
Nations Truce Supervision Organization.
Born in Danville, Kentucky on Jan. 15, 1945, Rich Higgins
graduated from Southern High School in Louisville and earned his
bachelor's degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. A scholarship
student in the Navy ROTC, he received the Marine Corps Association Award
and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1967. He later obtained a
master's degrees from Pepperdine University and Auburn University. He
graduated from the Army Infantry Officers Advanced Course, the Air Force
Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
As a lieutenant, he participated in combat operations
during 1968 with C Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in the Republic of
Vietnam as a rifle platoon commander and rifle company executive officer,
and was aide-de-camp to the Assistant 3d Marine Division Commander.
In 1969 Lt. Higgins served at Headquarters Marine Corps
and in 1970 as the Officer-in-Charge of the Officer Selection Team in
Louisville, Kentucky.
Captain Higgins returned to Vietnam in 1972 as an infantry
battalion Advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps, then in 1973 served as a
rifle company commander with B Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines.
From 1973 - 1977, Captain Higgins
served at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy and Officers
Candidates School, both in Quantico, Virginia.
Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in
1977, Capt. Higgins was assigned to the 2d Marine Division at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina, where he again served as a rifle company
commander with A Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines. Upon promotion to
major, he was reassigned as the Logistics Officer for Regimental Landing
Team-2, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade.
After completion of the Air Force
Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1980, designated a
distinguished graduate, he returned to Washington where he served at
Headquarters as a Plans Officer until his selection to the Office of the
Secretary of Defense.
During 1981 and 1982, he served as
Military Assistant to the Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy
Secretary of Defense, then as Assistant for Interagency Matters to the
Executive Secretary for the Department of Defense. After graduation from
the National War College in 1985, he returned to the Pentagon as the
Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, where he served until he
was transferred to his United Nations assignment in July 1987. He was
promoted to colonel on Mar. 1, 1989.
After being held captive by pro-Iranian
terrorists in Lebanon, Col. Higgins was murdered. The exact date of death
is uncertain; however, he was declared dead on Jul. 6, 1990. His remains
were eventually recovered and interred at Quantico National Cemetery Dec.
30, 1991.
Col. Higgins' military decorations
include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service
Medal, Legion of Merit (posthumous), Bronze Star with combat "V", Purple
Heart (posthumous), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal
with bronze star and combat "V", Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with silver star, Staff Service Honor Medal, United Nations
Medal, and numerous unit commendations and campaign ribbons.
On Mar. 18, 1992, President George Bush
awarded Col. Higgins the Presidential Citizens Medal (posthumous).
There to accept the medal were his wife, Robin, and daughter,
Chrissy. Col. Higgins is also survived by
two sisters.
In Apr. 2003, after over 10 years of trying to have Col. Higgins
recognized as a prisoner of war, he was finally posthumously granted a
Prisoner of War Medal.
Medal Array Courtesy of gman@aol.com |