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Presidential Citizens Medal Recipient
Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins, USMC
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 theRepublic of Vietnamas 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.
Commissioned on April 24, 1999, USS HIGGINS (DDG-76) has proven the motto of her namesake, First to Fight. Her war record includes two successful deployments, including one eighteen-month deployment in support of the Sea Swap initiative. The program rotation involved three six-month deployments and two ship turnovers between the HIGGINS, BENFOLD, and JOHN PAUL JONES crews. The teamwork, determination, and ownership of her crews ensured HIGGINS reputation for mission accomplishment in support of OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
The officers and crew of USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53) completed a hull custody turnover of that ship in San Diego in late September 2003. Upon completion of turnover, the crew immediately forward deployed to the FIFTH Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), and assumed custody of USS HIGGINS in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates in early October 2003. Upon custody turnover, USS HIGGINS had been forward deployed for 12 months. The crew will complete the ongoing deployment, return the ship to San Diego, and maintain permanent custody of the ship. While on station within the FIFTH Fleet AOR, HIGGINS was a formidable asset in the defense of U.S. and Coalition interests.
Within 72 hours of Sea Swap hull custody transfer, HIGGINS was on-station in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman conducting Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) and escort operations in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. HIGGINS later transited to the North Arabian Gulf, where the ship assumed responsibilities as the Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) Surface Action Group Commander in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. In this role, HIGGINS led a Coalition of maritime forces, which included Australian, British, and Singaporean Navies in the defense of the Al Basra Oil Terminal and the execution of MIO. For more than three months, HIGGINS coordinated or executed in excess of six hundred boardings, and vigilantly secured U.S. and Coalition interests within the region.
While conducting maritime interdiction operations in the Gulf of Oman in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, HIGGINS received a report of a distressed vessel from a Coalition maritime patrol aircraft and responded immediately. HIGGINS located the disabled vessel, rescued the three Pakistani mariners onboard, and coordinated their tow back to port via the Iranian Coast Guard.
In support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, HIGGINS intercepted a cargo dhow transiting the Gulf of Oman. Upon inspection by another Coalition warship, a cache of illegal arms was found onboard the dhow. As Surface Action Group Commander, HIGGINS took custody of the dhow and detained its crew. While maintaining a vigilant watch over the vessels cargo and crew, HIGGINS coordinated the custody turnover of the dhow to Pakistani authorities.
The homebound transit included a stop in East Timor during which HIGGINS hosted the U.S Ambassador, the Prime Minister of East Timor and multiple cabinet members. Shortly after departing East Timor and transiting the Great Barrier Reef, HIGGINS arrived in Sydney, Australia where the crew enjoyed five days of liberty in one of the worlds most cosmopolitan cities. The final international port visit involved a five day visit to Suva, Fiji. Here the HIGGINS crew enjoyed internationally renowned water sports and cuisine. Commencing in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, HIGGINS organized a successful five-day Tiger Cruise for the families and friends of crewmembers.
Upon returning to San Diego in April 2004, HIGGINS completed a safe and efficient ordnance offload and fuel transfer and headed into a 9-week Selected Restricted Availability. This time in the shipyard enhanced HIGGINS capabilities including the installation of the Tactical Tomahawk weapons system, the refurbishment of the Mk 45/5 Lightweight Gun Mount and Mk 41 Vertical Launch systems, and an enhanced Combat Systems suite.
Upgrades and repairs complete, HIGGINS returned to the Fleet and the NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP. HIGGINS entered the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle in August, with successful completion of 3-M assessment and a complete ship ordnance onload for training. In the spirit of her namesake, HIGGINS demonstrated Force Protection prowess at the FP3 assessment. HIGGINS accomplished surface gunnery exercises in October, scoring a direct hit on the towed catamaran target and sinking it. HIGGINS completed a successful Naval Surface Fire Support FIREX II and smartly demonstrated the ships capabilities during the October Family Day cruise.
Combat-proven, the HIGGINS crew continues to live up to the words of Senator Charles S. Robb: The USS HIGGINS puts the world on notice: those who threaten Americas interest or dare to terrorize its citizens will face Colonel Rich Higgins and the 8,300 tons of pure American steel that now surround his spirit.
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Citizens Medal History
