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|relations=LtCol [[Robin Higgins]], USMC, Ret. (spouse)
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'''William Richard "Rich" Higgins''' (January 15, 1945&nbsp;– July 6, 1990) was a [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] of the [[United States Marine Corps]] who was captured in 1988 while serving on a [[United Nations]] (UN) peacekeeping mission in [[Lebanon]]. He was held hostage, tortured<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0607/29/cp.01.html |title=CNN PRESENTS&nbsp;— Encore Presentation: Inside Hezbollah |accessdate=2008-09-03 |author= |last=Cooper |first=Anderson |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-07-29 |year= |month= |work= |publisher=CNN.com |pages= |language= |doi= |quote=Hezbollah is a suspect in the torture and murder of U.S. Colonel William Higgins. Higgins disappeared in 1988, while leading a U.N. observer group in south Lebanon. A year and a half later, this video appeared on television screens around the world. Higgins, badly beaten body, hanging from a rope. }}</ref> and eventually murdered by his captors.
'''William Richard "Rich" Higgins''' (January 15, 1945&nbsp;– July 6, 1990) was a [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in the [[United States Marine Corps]] who was captured in 1988 while serving on a [[United Nations]] (UN) peacekeeping mission in [[Lebanon]]. He was held hostage, tortured<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0607/29/cp.01.html |title=CNN PRESENTS&nbsp;— Encore Presentation: Inside Hezbollah |accessdate=2008-09-03 |author= |last=Cooper |first=Anderson |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-07-29 |year= |month= |work= |publisher=CNN.com |pages= |language= |doi= |quote=Hezbollah is a suspect in the torture and murder of U.S. Colonel William Higgins. Higgins disappeared in 1988, while leading a U.N. observer group in south Lebanon. A year and a half later, this video appeared on television screens around the world. Higgins, badly beaten body, hanging from a rope. }}</ref> and eventually murdered by his captors.


==Biography==
==Biography==
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[[File:William R. Higgins Headstone Detail Quantico National Cemetery.jpg|thumbnail|right|Headstone detail]]
[[File:William R. Higgins Headstone Detail Quantico National Cemetery.jpg|thumbnail|right|Headstone detail]]
[[File:William_R._Higgins_Headstone_in_Quantico_National_Cemetery_Three_Quarter.jpg|thumbnail|right|William R. Higgins' headstone in Quantico National Cemetery]]
[[File:William_R._Higgins_Headstone_in_Quantico_National_Cemetery_Three_Quarter.jpg|thumbnail|right|William R. Higgins' headstone in Quantico National Cemetery]]
On February 17, 1988, Higgins disappeared while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and Senior Military Observer, United Nations Military Observer Group, [[United Nations Truce Supervision Organization]]. Higgins was driving alone on the coastal highway between [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and [[Naqoura]] in southern Lebanon, returning from a meeting with a local leader of the Amal movement, when he was pulled from his vehicle by armed men.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Military.com
On February 17, 1988, Higgins disappeared while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and Senior Military Observer, United Nations Military Observer Group, [[United Nations Truce Supervision Organization]]. Higgins was driving alone on the coastal highway between [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and [[Naqoura]] in southern Lebanon, returning from a meeting with a local leader of the Amal movement, when he was pulled from his vehicle by armed men.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Military.com |title=Col. William R. 'Rich' Higgins: Spirit Of Murdered Marine Leader Lives On In USS Higgins |author=Bethanne Kelly Patrick |accessdate=2006-11-28 |url=http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent?file=ML_higgins_bkp}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Security Council demands immediate release of UN peace-keeper&nbsp;— Lt.-Col. William R. Higgins |journal=[[United Nations|UN]] Chronicle|date=December 1988|accessdate=2006-11-28 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1309/is_n4_v25/ai_6945292}}</ref> During his captivity, he was interrogated and tortured.<ref name="CNN"/>
|title=Col. William R. 'Rich' Higgins: Spirit Of Murdered Marine Leader Lives On In USS Higgins
|author=Bethanne Kelly Patrick |accessdate=2006-11-28
|url=http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent?file=ML_higgins_bkp
}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
|title=Security Council demands immediate release of UN peace-keeper&nbsp;— Lt.-Col. William R. Higgins
|journal=[[United Nations|UN]] Chronicle|date=December 1988|accessdate=2006-11-28
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1309/is_n4_v25/ai_6945292}}</ref> During his captivity, he was interrogated and tortured.<ref name="CNN"/>


As a reaction to his abduction, the [[United Nations Security Council]] adopted [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 618|Resolution 618]], demanding his release. A year and a half after his abduction, images of his body, hanged by the neck, were televised around the world from a videotape released by his captors. The exact date of Higgins' murder is uncertain; he was declared dead on July 6, 1990. His remains were recovered on December 23, 1991, by Major Jens Nielsen of the Royal Danish Army, who was attached to the United Nations Observation Group in Beirut.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unogilbackgr.html |title=Lebanon{{mdash}}UNOGIL |work=United Nations Peacekeeping Missions |publisher=[[United Nations]] |accessdate=January 19, 2015}}</ref> Higgins' remains were found beside a mosque near a south [[Beirut]] hospital.<ref>Giandomenico Picco, Man Without a Gun, Times Books, New York (1999)</ref> His remains were interred at [[Quantico National Cemetery]] on December 30, 1991.
As a reaction to his abduction, the [[United Nations Security Council]] adopted [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 618|Resolution 618]], demanding his release. A year and a half after his abduction, images of his body, hanged by the neck, were televised around the world from a videotape released by his captors. The exact date of Higgins' murder is uncertain; he was declared dead on July 6, 1990. His remains were recovered on December 23, 1991, by Major Jens Nielsen of the Royal Danish Army, who was attached to the United Nations Observation Group in Beirut.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unogilbackgr.html |title=Lebanon{{mdash}}UNOGIL |work=United Nations Peacekeeping Missions |publisher=[[United Nations]] |accessdate=January 19, 2015}}</ref> Higgins' remains were found beside a mosque near a south [[Beirut]] hospital.<ref>Giandomenico Picco, Man Without a Gun, Times Books, New York (1999)</ref> His remains were interred at [[Quantico National Cemetery]] on December 30, 1991.


==Awards and honors==
==Awards and honors==
Col. Higgins' military decorations include: the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Defense Superior Service Medal]], [[Legion of Merit]], [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [[combat "V"]], [[Purple Heart]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Navy Commendation Medal]] with gold 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.
Higgins' military decorations include: the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Defense Superior Service Medal]], [[Legion of Merit]], [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [[combat "V"]], [[Purple Heart]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Navy Commendation Medal]] with gold 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 March 18, 1992, President George Bush awarded Col. Higgins the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] (posthumous). The medal was accepted by his wife, Robin, and daughter, Chrissy. Col. Higgins was also survived by two sisters.
On March 18, 1992, President George Bush awarded Higgins the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] (posthumous). The medal was accepted by his wife, Robin, and daughter, Chrissy. Higgins was also survived by two sisters.


On February 17, 1994, the [[Secretary of the Navy]] announced a new [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class]] guided missile destroyer would be named for Col. Higgins. On October 4, 1997, the {{USS|Higgins|DDG-76}} was christened by Col. Higgins' widow, [[Robin Higgins]]. It was commissioned on April 24, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navysite.de/dd/ddg76.htm|title=USS Higgins (DDG 76)|work=navysite.de}}</ref>
On February 17, 1994, the [[Secretary of the Navy]] announced a new [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class]] guided missile destroyer would be named for Higgins. On October 4, 1997, the {{USS|Higgins|DDG-76}} was christened by Higgins' widow, [[Robin Higgins]] and commissioned on April 24, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navysite.de/dd/ddg76.htm|title=USS Higgins (DDG 76)|work=navysite.de}}</ref>


In April 2003, he was posthumously granted a [[Prisoner of War Medal]].<ref>See [http://www.mediafire.com/?d04qtp9a19f6ify memo from Secretary of the Navy to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, "Prisoner of War Medal ICO Colonel R. Higgins, USMC," dated January 16, 2003.]</ref> DoD General Counsel Judith A. Miller initially blocked the award in 1998 based on the claim that "circumstances do not appear to meet the criteria established by Congress for award of the Prisoner of War Medal." The Navy later overruled her after it was determined that the 1989 expansion of the eligibility criteria allowed the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/?0uxbx5vdc9t5vnu|title=Simple File Sharing and Storage.|work=MediaFire}}</ref>
In April 2003, he was posthumously granted a [[Prisoner of War Medal]].<ref>See [http://www.mediafire.com/?d04qtp9a19f6ify memo from Secretary of the Navy to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, "Prisoner of War Medal ICO Colonel R. Higgins, USMC," dated January 16, 2003.]</ref> DoD General Counsel Judith A. Miller initially blocked the award in 1998 based on the claim that "circumstances do not appear to meet the criteria established by Congress for award of the Prisoner of War Medal." The Navy later overruled her after it was determined that the 1989 expansion of the eligibility criteria allowed the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/?0uxbx5vdc9t5vnu|title=Simple File Sharing and Storage.|work=MediaFire}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:10, 12 August 2017

William Richard Higgins
William R. Higgins, USMC
Nickname(s)Rich
Born(1945-01-15)January 15, 1945
Danville, Kentucky
DiedJuly 6, 1990(1990-07-06) (aged 45)
Lebanon
Place of burial
Quantico National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1967-1990
RankColonel
Battles / warsVietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
RelationsLtCol Robin Higgins, USMC, Ret. (spouse)

William Richard "Rich" Higgins (January 15, 1945 – July 6, 1990) was a colonel in the United States Marine Corps who was captured in 1988 while serving on a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage, tortured[1] and eventually murdered by his captors.

Biography

William Higgins was born in Danville, Kentucky on January 15, 1945. He graduated from Southern High School in Louisville and earned his Bachelor's degree from Miami University in 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 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, 3rd Marines in the Republic of Vietnam as a rifle platoon commander and rifle company executive officer, and was aide-de-camp to the Assistant 3rd Marine Division Commander.

Returning to the States, Lt. Higgins served at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1969. In 1970, he served 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 to 1977, Captain Higgins served at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy and Officer Candidate School, both in Quantico, Virginia.

Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in 1977, Capt. Higgins was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he again served as a rifle company commander with A Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd 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, Higgins returned to Washington, D.C. 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 March 1, 1989, while in captivity.

Capture and murder

Headstone detail
William R. Higgins' headstone in Quantico National Cemetery

On February 17, 1988, Higgins disappeared while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and Senior Military Observer, United Nations Military Observer Group, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Higgins was driving alone on the coastal highway between Tyre and Naqoura in southern Lebanon, returning from a meeting with a local leader of the Amal movement, when he was pulled from his vehicle by armed men.[2][3] During his captivity, he was interrogated and tortured.[1]

As a reaction to his abduction, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 618, demanding his release. A year and a half after his abduction, images of his body, hanged by the neck, were televised around the world from a videotape released by his captors. The exact date of Higgins' murder is uncertain; he was declared dead on July 6, 1990. His remains were recovered on December 23, 1991, by Major Jens Nielsen of the Royal Danish Army, who was attached to the United Nations Observation Group in Beirut.[4] Higgins' remains were found beside a mosque near a south Beirut hospital.[5] His remains were interred at Quantico National Cemetery on December 30, 1991.

Awards and honors

Higgins' military decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with combat "V", Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with gold 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 March 18, 1992, President George Bush awarded Higgins the Presidential Citizens Medal (posthumous). The medal was accepted by his wife, Robin, and daughter, Chrissy. Higgins was also survived by two sisters.

On February 17, 1994, the Secretary of the Navy announced a new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer would be named for Higgins. On October 4, 1997, the USS Higgins (DDG-76) was christened by Higgins' widow, Robin Higgins and commissioned on April 24, 1999.[6]

In April 2003, he was posthumously granted a Prisoner of War Medal.[7] DoD General Counsel Judith A. Miller initially blocked the award in 1998 based on the claim that "circumstances do not appear to meet the criteria established by Congress for award of the Prisoner of War Medal." The Navy later overruled her after it was determined that the 1989 expansion of the eligibility criteria allowed the award.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Cooper, Anderson (2006-07-29). "CNN PRESENTS — Encore Presentation: Inside Hezbollah". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03. Hezbollah is a suspect in the torture and murder of U.S. Colonel William Higgins. Higgins disappeared in 1988, while leading a U.N. observer group in south Lebanon. A year and a half later, this video appeared on television screens around the world. Higgins, badly beaten body, hanging from a rope. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Bethanne Kelly Patrick. "Col. William R. 'Rich' Higgins: Spirit Of Murdered Marine Leader Lives On In USS Higgins". Military.com. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  3. ^ "Security Council demands immediate release of UN peace-keeper — Lt.-Col. William R. Higgins". UN Chronicle. December 1988. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  4. ^ "Lebanon—UNOGIL". United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. United Nations. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. ^ Giandomenico Picco, Man Without a Gun, Times Books, New York (1999)
  6. ^ "USS Higgins (DDG 76)". navysite.de.
  7. ^ See memo from Secretary of the Navy to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, "Prisoner of War Medal ICO Colonel R. Higgins, USMC," dated January 16, 2003.
  8. ^ "Simple File Sharing and Storage". MediaFire.

References

Further reading

  • LtCol. Robin L. Higgins, USMC (Retired) (1999). Patriot Dreams: The Murder of Colonel Rich Higgins. Quantico, VA:: The Marine Corps Association. ISBN 0-940328-25-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
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