Feature Photo - Andrew Jackson Higgins
Coping of Andrew Jackson Higgins, founder of Higgins Industries and inventor of the Higgins Boat, in Metairie Cemetery.
"Andrew Higgins ... is the man who won the war for us. ... If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower, General of the Army, President of the United States of America
Almost more importantly to me personally, Professor Ambrose agreed 100% with Ike. Amphibious landings were a key component to the Allied strategy in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and Andrew Higgins was the man who made that happen with his design of an easy to build landing craft:
The development of the Higgins Boat came from Higgins' experience building tugboats for use on the Mississippi River and crew boats that serviced the oil industry in South Louisiana. Built of plywood, the boats were easily constructed, and used most notably in the Normandy landings on D-Day.
A fully-restored Higgins Boat is on display at the National World War II Museum.
Mr. Higgins' coping is simple and understated by New Orleans standards. Perhaps this is a reflection of his Nebraska upbringing that he preferred an in-ground burial. The coping's headstone is very modest:
As we honor our active-duty troops and veterans this Memorial Day, let's not forget the hard-working men and women who dedicated their lives to making the tools of victory.