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USS Higgins History

About the Name "Higgins"

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USS Higgins (DDG 76)

USS HIGGINS is the 26^th ship in the ARLEIGH BURKE - class of guided missile destroyers and the first ship in the Navy named after Marine Corps Colonel William R. Higgins.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: January 19, 1993
	Keel laid: November 14, 1996
	Launched: October 4, 1997
	Commissioned: April 24, 1999
	Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
	Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines
	Propellers: two
	Blades on each Propeller: five
	Length: 505,25 feet (154 meters)
	Beam: 67 feet (20.4 meters)
	Draft: 30,5 feet (9.3 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 8.300 tons full load
	Speed: 30+ knots
	Aircraft: None. But LAMPS 3 electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG/helicopter ASW operations.
	Armament: two MK 41 VLS for Standard missiles, Tomahawk; Harpoon missile launchers, one Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun, two Phalanx CIWS, Mk 46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts), two Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm machine gun systems
	Homeport: Yokosuka, Japan
	Crew: 23 Officers, 24 Chief Petty Officers and 291 Enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS HIGGINS. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS HIGGINS memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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History of USS HIGGINS:

Date	Event
February 17, 1994	The ship was named
November 14, 1996	Keel was laid
July 25, 1997	USS HIGGINS mast was stepped
October 4, 1997	Christening
January 22, 1999	Custody Transfer
March 19, 1999	Sailaway from Bath, Maine
April 24, 1999	Commissioning in Port Everglades, Fla.
June 1999	Arrival in San Diego
July 12 - August 25, 1999	CSSQT Underway Dates
November 2000	Departed on maiden deployment
November 2, 2002 - June 2, 2003	WestPac deployment as part of the USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) Battle Group.

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About the Ship’s Name, about Colonel William R. Higgins:

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

In 1969 Lt. Higgins served at Headquarters Marine Corps and in 1970 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 served as a rifle company commander with C Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines.

From 1973 - 1977, Captain Higgins served at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy and Officers Candidates School, both in Quantico, Virginia.

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

After being held captive by pro-Iranian terrorists in Lebanon, Col. Higgins was murdered. The exact date of death is uncertain; however, he was declared dead on Jul. 6, 1990. His remains were eventually recovered and interred at Quantico National Cemetery Dec. 30, 1991.

Col. Higgins' military decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (posthumous), Bronze Star with combat "V", Purple Heart (posthumous), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with bronze 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 Mar. 18, 1992, President George Bush awarded Col. Higgins the Presidential Citizens Medal (posthumous).

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USS HIGGINS Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by Thomas Heinrich and shows the HIGGINS at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 21, 2009.

The photos below were taken by me and show the HIGGINS at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 23, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the HIGGINS arriving at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 15, 2012.

The photos below were taken by me and show the HIGGINS at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on May 10, 2012.

The photo below was taken by me on October 5, 2012, and shows the HIGGINS moored at Bravo Pier (the Ammunition Pier) at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., after a transit from Port Hueneme, Calif.

The photos below were taken by me and show the HIGGINS returning home to Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 10, 2012, after two weeks of training off southern California.

The photos below were taken by Lydia Perz and show the HIGGINS at Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard for a five-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) on May 3, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the HIGGINS at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 27, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the HIGGINS undergoing a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard on April 18, 2016.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the HIGGINS undergoing her Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard on October 6, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Sebastian Thoma and shows the HIGGINS undergoing her Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard on December 20, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the HIGGINS at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 11, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the HIGGINS undergoing an Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (E-DSRA) at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard, San Diego, Calif., on September 28, 2018.

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