Higgins (DDG 76) - Naval Cruise Book

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Seattle • Montreal New York BAHAMAS MEXICO -CUBA ' JJ V ITI ° 0M REP , BBJZE URUGl Bueno NEW ZEALAND 2000-2001

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HIGGINS ' NAMESAKE I Colonel William R. I liggins, United States Marine Corp 15Januan W45 -6Jul 1990 ss I IK .( .I S is named in honi)[ ul Colonel William R Higgins, I SM who disappeared 01 I the Chief, )bservei ( iroup Lebanon as Senioi Militai States Military ( )bservei Group, I nited Nations rruce Supervision ( hganization (Palesl Born in Danville, Kentucky, on January I II graduated from Southern High School in Louisville and earned his bachelor ' s degree from Miami I fniversit) in Oxford, hio A scholarship student in the Na v Reserve ( MTicersl raining ( orps. he received the Marine Corps Association Award and was commissioned in the- Marine ( ' orps m 1967 He lalei obtained Masters degrees from Pepperdine Universti) and Auburn University. He graduated from the Arm) Infantry ( fficers Advanced Course, the n I orce Command and Stafl College, and the National Wai ( ollege. n .1 1 ieutenant, he participated in combat operations durii u ithC Company, 1st Battalion. 5rd Marines in the Republic ol Vietnam as a rifle platoon commander and rifle compan) executive officer, and was aide-de-camp to the Assistant 3rd Marine I)i ision Commander. In 1969 Lt. Higgins served at the Mai me Corps Headquarters and in 197 hTicer-in-Charge ol the Officer Selection Team in Louisville. HA (aptam Higgins returned to Vietnam in 1972 as an infantrj battalion advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps, then he served as a rifle compan) commander w ithC Company.! st Battalion . 4th Marines From 1973 to 1977, Captain ii is served al the Stafl Noncommissioned ( )fficers Academ) and fficers( ' andidate School, both inQuantico. V Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in l977,Capt. Higgins was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC, where he again served as a rifle compan) commander with A Company, 1st Battalion. 2nd Marines Upon promotion to Major, he was reassigned as the Logistics ( )fficer for Regimental Landing Team 2.4th Marine Amphibious Brigade. ftei completion of the Air Force Command and Stafl College at the Maxwell Air I n 1 980 and designated a distinguished graduate, he returned to Washington, where he served al the I sMt I leadquarters as Plans Officer until his selection to the Office of the Secretar) ol Defense During 1981 and 1982. he served as Militar) Assistant to the Special Assistant to the Sceretar) andDeput) Secretar) ol Defense, then as ssislanlfor Interagenc) Matters to the Executive Secretar) for the Department ol Defense. fter( Iraduation from ihcNational Waj College in 1985. he returned to the Pentagon as the Militar) Assistant to the Secretar) ol Defense, where he served until he was transferred to his 1 nited Nations assignment in Jul) 1987. He was promoted to Colonel on March I, - ttei being held captive b pro-Iranian terrorists in 1 cbanon.Col Higgins was murd laicol death in uncertain; however, he was declared dead on Jul) 6, 1990 I lis remains were eventual I n interred at Quantico National Cemelerv onDecembei U). 1991 tins ' military decorations include the Defense Distinguisl IS Service Medal. Legion ol Merit (posthumous), Bron e Stai with combat V. Purple Mean l posthumous Service Medal. Nav) Commendation Medal with bronze stai and combat V. Combat Action Ribbon S Cross ol (iallantrv with silver star. Stall Service Honoi Medal. I nited Nat commendations and campaign ribbons )n March I - Presidential ( ' itizens Medal (posthumous) II ns is proud to ha ' ns ' wife. Lieutenant Colonel Rob sponsoi