Throughout history, many inventors that go underappreciated. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Philo Farnsworth invented television. Louis Braille developed…Braille.
I am sure in their day, these individuals were the cat’s meow. But how many of you could name any one of these inventors? And no. Just saying Braille doesn’t count. Though their names go unremembered (except Braille again), their legacies live on in their achievements. Another one of these individuals is Andrew Jackson Higgins.
Who Was Andrew Jackson Higgins?
Higgins was born in Columbus, Nebraska on August 28, 1886. He grew up in Nebraska attending college in Omaha and eventually joined the Nebraska National Guard. Higgins then relocated from Nebraska to New Orleans where he started his boat manufacturing company, Higgins Industries. It was a fitting destination considering the legacy of Andrew Jackson in New Orleans.
In 1940, Higgins was making prototype boats out of a small workshop. By 1944, Higgins had expanded his operation to include eight plants with over 20,000 workers. At the peak of production, these plants collectively produced more than 700 boats each month.
What caused such a dramatic increase in business? Two words: Pearl Harbor. Once the US entered World War II, there was an urgent need for military equipment production. There was also the problem of getting this equipment and troops to Europe and the Pacific. Higgins was known for his ability to turn bold ideas into reality. His design and mass production of naval combat boats revolutionized modern warfare strategy.
Thanks to Higgins, the Allies could bypass the need to batter coastal forts, clear harbors of mines, and capture enemy-held ports before landing assault forces. The LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), commonly known as Higgins boats, allowed for the swift transport of thousands of men and hundreds of tons of equipment directly onto less-fortified beaches, eliminating the need for established harbors.
These boats made D-Day and the landings at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Tarawa, Okinawa, Leyte, Guam, and countless other assaults possible. Without Higgins’ uniquely designed craft, mass landings of troops and material on European shores or Pacific island beaches would have resulted in significantly higher Allied casualties.
Still not sure what a Higgins boat is? If you’ve watched the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, then you’ve seen the boats in action. Check out the clip here:
Discovering Higgins
In March, while at the National World War II Museum, I asked a volunteer why New Orleans became the home of this great museum. He told me it was originally a D-Day museum and the boats used during the invasion were manufactured in the city. I found that mildly interesting, but didn’t give it much thought. In fact, my son and I went through the Higgins exhibit pretty quickly. It wasn’t until I got back to Nebraska that my interest was piqued.
I was at a bookstore and saw a book titled 100 Things To Do In Nebraska Before You Die. After strumming through the pages, I found a section for historical/ cultural things. It seemed interesting and I figured it might be good for the blog so I bought a copy. It was in these pages that I found out Higgins was born in Columbus and there is a memorial for him.
I traveled from Lincoln to Fremont on a recent Sunday. Although it wasn’t on the way, I veered over to Columbus to see the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial. I’d actually seen it before, but just didn’t know what I was looking at. From Highway 30, you can see a whole bunch of flags to the west.
It is worth a stop if you are in the area. Besides the flags, there is a to-scale model of the Higgins boat, a statue of Higgins, and good information about the man and his company’s contributions. The memorials don’t stop with Higgins either. There are memorials for the armed services and one called the Freedom Memorial. I actually didn’t give this much attention until a guy there mentioned it was made of steel from the World Trade Center.
The Higgins Legacy
In total, Higgins Industries made 20,094 boats for the Allies during World War II. At one point in 1943, 93% of all US Navy vessels were built by Higgins. Think about that!
General and later President Dwight Eisenhower referred to Higgins as “the man who won the war for us.” Higgins was clearly a well-known figure in his time. Yet, his name hasn’t stuck with us like Eisenhower, MacArthur, and Patton. Higgins is American industry at its finest. I’m grateful to had the chance to learn something of him and share it with you. We wouldn’t have one of the most dramatic scenes in cinematic history without him!
Connecting the Historical Dots
One thing I’ve really enjoyed since starting this blog is all the connections there are in history. I was so excited when I found out about Higgins roots in Nebraska. Way more excited than the people I told (which was everyone). It has led me to learn things and go places I wouldn’t have before. I am excited to visit more places from 100 Places to Visit in Nebraska Before You Die.
Let me know in the comments about the dots you’ve connected!