William Patrick Higgins

William Patrick Higgins was successful academically and athletically while in school. He graduated from Garigan High School in the class of 1961. William Higgins’ father died during WWII while piloting a B-17 over Germany. The younger Higgins attended Creighton University in Omaha and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1967. In the summer of 1967 Higgins graduated college, passed the Iowa bar exam, and enlisted in the Marine Corps. In January 1968 Higgins received an officer’s commission as a Second Lieutenant. Later he earned his “gold flight wings” after completing pilots training in Pensacola, FL. He was stationed at Santa Ana Marine Base in California before he was sent to Vietnam in October 1969. While serving in Southeast Asia 1LT Higgins piloted CH-46 duel rotor helicopters. He was killed on December 28, 1969 in a chopper accident. While returning from a mission with multiple passengers, Higgins and his co-pilot mistook the approach altitude. They inadvertently crashed into the Nui Hoi Mountain. Higgins, three crewman, and six passengers were killed in the crash. The 26-year-old’s body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Saint Michael’s Cemetery in Whittemore.