Gerald J. Higgins

Gerald Joseph Higgins (August 29, 1909 – December 20, 1996) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general. During the Second World War, he served consecutively as the Chief of Staff and Assistant Division Commander, 101st Airborne Division, making him the youngest general officer in the Army Ground Forces at the age of 34.

Major General

Gerald Joseph Higgins
BornAugust 29, 1909
Chicago, Illinois
DiedDecember 20, 1996 (aged 87)
Riverside, California
Place of burial
Riverside National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1927-1930 (Enlisted)
1930-1934 (West Point)
1934-1955 (Commissioned)
Rank Major general
Service number0-19530
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands held82nd Airborne Division
Army Airborne School
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal

He began his career as an enlisted man, ultimately received an appointment to the United States Military Academy and completed his career Major general and Commander of 82nd Airborne Division in 1955.

Early career

Gerald J. Higgins was born on August 29, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois as the son of William Francis Higgins and Martha Martin. Following the graduation from high school in summer 1927, he enlisted the United States Army as Private and was attached to the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Higgins rose to the rank of Sergeant and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in June 1930.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on June 12, 1934 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch. Higgins served with various infantry units until July 1938, when he entered the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia in July 1938. He was meanwhile promoted to first lieutenant on June 12, 1937.[8]

Upon the completion of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in June 1939, Higgins entered Advanced Communications Officers' Course at Fort Benning and upon completion in June 1940, he was promoted to Captain on October 7, 1940.[5]

World War II

Following the United States entry into World War II, Higgins was promoted to Major on February 1, 1942 and to lieutenant colonel on October 1 that year. He then joined newly activated 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, which was part of the 101st Airborne Division under Major General William C. Lee. Higgins participated in the early regimental training at Camp Toccoa until August 1942 joined the general Lee's divisional headquarters as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations.

Higgins was appointed Divisional Chief of Staff in March 1943 and promoted to Colonel on June 1, 1943. He deployed with the division to England in January 1944 and spent next five months with intensive ground training. Meanwhile Major general Lee was relieved of command due to complications of cancer and succeeded by Maxwell D. Taylor. The 101st Division participated in the Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944, during which Assistant division commander, Brigadier General Don Pratt, was killed in a glider accident while taking part in the landing.[9][10][11]

General Taylor chose Higgins as replacement for Pratt and promoted him to the temporary rank of Brigadier general on August 1, 1944, making him the youngest general officer in the Army Ground Forces at the age of 34. Higgins took part in the Operation Market Garden during September 1944 and in the Ardennes operations in Winter 1944/1945 and finished his tenure with 101st Airborne Division in Bavarian Alps. He and general Taylor accepted surrender of German Field Marshall, Albert Kesselring and subsequently participated in the occupation duties in Germany.[12][13]

For his service with 101st Airborne Division, Higgins was decorated with Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. He was also decorated by the Allies and received numerous decorations including Legion of Honour, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian Order of the Crown, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm and Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau.[14]

Postwar service

Higgins returned to the United States in August 1945 and assumed command of the Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was responsible for the training of the Army paratroopers until the end of January 1946, when he was ordered to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York for duty as Commandant of Cadets.

He remained in that capacity until June 1948, when he embarked for Japan and joined the 24th Infantry Division under Major General Albert C. Smith as Assistant Commanding General. The Division was stationed on Kyushu and maintained order during the occupation duties. Higgins was ordered back to the United States in October 1949 and joined the headquarters, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California.

Higgins participated with the division in the training of new recruits until late 1950, when he was ordered to Washington, D.C. for duty as Chief of Organization & Training Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3). He was promoted to Major general in September 1952 and assumed command of 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[15][16][17]

Retirement

Higgins retired from the Army in 1955 and settled in California. He then worked as assistant to the president on military matters for the American Latex Products Corp. of Hawthorne, California and the Dayton Rubber Co., Dayton, Ohio. He also later worked in the management of Piasecki Aircraft.[18][19][20]

Major general Gerald J. Higgins died on December 20, 1996, aged 87, in Riverside, California. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Roach of Chicago, and together they had two children: Robert and Patricia.[2]


Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Gerald J. Higgins:[14]

Parachutists Badge with two combat jumps
1st Row Silver Star Legion of Merit
2nd Row Bronze Star Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with four 3/16 inch service stars and Arrowhead device
3rd Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Legion of Honour, Knight (France)
4th Row French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with Palm Belgian Order of the Crown, Officer Belgian Croix de guerre with Palm Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau, Officer
Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster

References
  5. "Official Army Register 1940". Ia601407.us.archive.org. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  6. "West Point Association of Graduates". Westpointaog.org. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  7. "Gerald J Higgins in Social Security Death Index - Fold3". Fold3.com. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  8. "USMA Office of the Dean". 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  9. "101st AIRBORNE DIVISION - Order of Battle of the United States Army - WWII - ETO - U.S. Army Center of Military History". History.army.mil. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  10. "World War II unit histories & officers". Unithistories.com. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  11. "Personalities and Commanders". 101airborneww2.com. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  12. "UNITS, COMMANDERS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND". History.army.mil. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  13. Mitchell, Colonel Ralph M. (15 August 2014). The 101st Airborne Division's Defense Of Bastogne [Illustrated Edition]. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN 9781782893790. Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via Google Books.
  14. "Valor awards for Gerald J. Higgins". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  15. "Record Journal of Douglas February 2, 1951 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection". Coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  16. "Waco Tribune-Herald from Waco, Texas on January 4, 1953 · Page 37". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  17. "MG Gerald J. Higgins (1909 – 1996) – Find A Grave Memorial".
  18. "Official Army Regsiter 1956". Ia800209.us.archive.org. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  19. "Biography of Brigadier-General Gerald Joseph Higgins (1909 – 1996), USA". Generals.dk. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  20. "Gen. Higgins Is Appointed By Christie - Hollywood Riviera Tribune, Volume XII, Number 2, 23 October 1958". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
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