William R. Higgins
| William Richard Higgins | |
|---|---|
William R. Higgins, USMC
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Rich |
| Born |
January 15, 1945 Danville, Kentucky |
| Died | July 6, 1990 (aged 45) Lebanon |
| Place of burial | Quantico National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1967-1990 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |
| Relations | LtCol Robin Higgins, USMC, Ret. (spouse) |
William Richard "Rich" Higgins (January 15, 1945 – July 6, 1990) was a 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 and eventually murdered by his captors.
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.
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