HONOLULU — Richard C. “Dick” Higgins, one of many few remaining survivors of the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, has died, a member of the family mentioned Wednesday. He was 102.
Higgins died at residence in Bend, Oregon, on Tuesday of pure causes, granddaughter Angela Norton mentioned.
Higgins was a radioman assigned to a patrol squadron of seaplanes based mostly on the Hawaii naval base when Japanese planes started dropping bombs on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
He recounted in a 2008 oral historical past interview how he was in his bunk inside a screened-in lanai, or porch, on the third flooring of his barracks when the bombing started.
“I jumped out of my bunk and I ran over to the sting of the lanai and simply as I received there, a airplane went proper over the barracks,” he mentioned in line with the interview by the Nationwide Museum of the Pacific Battle in Fredericksburg, Texas.
He estimated the airplane was about 50 toes (15 meters) to his facet and 100 toes (30 meters) above his barracks. He described “huge pink meatballs” on the airplane, in reference to the pink round emblem painted on the wings and fuselages of the Japanese plane.
“So, there was little doubt what was taking place in my thoughts, due to the issues that had been occurring,” he mentioned.
Norton referred to as her grandfather a humble and type man who would steadily go to colleges to share tales about Pearl Harbor, World Battle II and the Nice Despair. Norton mentioned he wished to show folks historical past so they would not repeat it.
“It was by no means about him,” Norton mentioned. “The heroes have been people who didn’t come residence.”
Higgins was born on a farm close to Mangum, Oklahoma, on July 24, 1921. He joined the Navy in 1939 and retired 20 years later. He then turned an aeronautics engineer for Northrop Company, which later turned Northrop Grumman, and different protection contractors. He labored on the B-2 Stealth Bomber, Norton mentioned.
His spouse, Winnie Ruth, died in 2004 on the age of 82. They’d been married for 60 years.
Not lengthy after he went into hospice final Thursday, he informed his granddaughter, “I am able to go see Winnie Ruth.”
“I mentioned, ‘It’s OK, go residence. Be with Jesus and be with Winnie Ruth,'” Norton mentioned. “’It’s okay to try this. Go away us. You’ve had it’s such a superb and full life.'”
There are actually 22 survivors of the assault nonetheless residing, mentioned Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. Farley mentioned different survivors should still be residing however not all joined the Pearl Harbor Survivors Affiliation when it was fashioned in 1958 and so might not be recognized to her.
About 2,400 servicemen have been killed within the bombing, which launched the U.S. into World Battle II. The united statesArizona battleship alone misplaced 1,177 sailors and Marines, almost half the loss of life toll.
About 87,000 army personnel have been on Oahu on Dec. 7, in line with a tough estimate compiled by army historian J. Michael Wenger.
Higgins is survived by two youngsters, two grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. The household plans to carry a memorial service at a church in Bend on Thursday adopted by a ceremony with full army honors. Afterward his physique might be flown to California, the place he might be buried subsequent to his spouse.
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Related Press researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed.
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