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Pfc. George F. Higgins, my daddy for whom I was named, saw service in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany.
Dad's final mission was as driver of a jeep accompanied by an intelligence officer and a gunner on reconnaissance in advance of troop movements during the closing days of the war near Halsenbach, Germany.
The village was completely destroyed and deserted with exception of an escaped French prisoner in the ruins who was hiding in the hopes of seeing the allied armies.
The intelligence officer and gunner took the Frenchman inside the ruins of a house for interrogation. Dad stayed outside to guard the jeep and trailer.
As the three were talking in the ruins, they heard the loud clattering of heavy shelling and found themselves on the ground covered in a sea of blood.
A plane had strafed their position severely wounding the intelligence officer and killing dad and the gunner. The American pilot had mistakenly interpreted the situation, probably believing Germans in retreat were setting up a gun emplacement to delay the advancing Allies.
Pfc. GEORGE “PETE” HIGGINS was born in LaPorte, Indiana, and graduated from the University of Illinois. He had been an architect in Gary, Indiana prior to service.
Mom, may she too rest in peace, passed away in her home at the age of 76, never having remarried and having lived her entire life in the house dad had built for us in Gary, Indiana.
I was 19 months old when daddy was killed, mom was 26. As do so many others, daddy still serves in memory, from his place of rest in the U.S. Military Cemetery at Hamm in Luxembourg.
We will have always loved you. Thank you for being you. Your proud son, George Higgins, Jr.
