Replica of Higgins boat that was designed by Nebraskan and played key D-Day role is headed to France

[Omaha Steve]

Last edited Wed Apr 8, 2015, 09:48 AM - Edit history (1)

REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD
This replica of a World War II-era steel Higgins boat was built in Columbus, Nebraska, and will be shipped to Utah Beach in France to be part of a memorial. Andrew Jackson Higgins, a Columbus native, designed the ships that ferried U.S. soldiers onto beaches during the Normandy invasion.

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/replica-of-ship-that-was-designed-by-nebraskan-and-played/article_68bb6890-b5d7-59a6-a5d6-4f8b323906e0.html

POSTED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 1:00 AM
By Joseph Morton / World-Herald Bureau

WASHINGTON — A new memorial honoring Columbus, Nebraska, native Andrew Jackson Higgins is set to be loaded on a truck today and sent off to Houston.

From there, a container ship will carry it across the Atlantic Ocean to France, where it will occupy a hallowed spot on Utah Beach.

The plan is to have the memorial in place for a dedication ceremony on June 6, the anniversary of D-Day.

Higgins designed the landing craft that was used so effectively during World War II to land U.S. troops on enemy beaches. Nowhere was its role more crucial than in the invasion of Normandy.

FULL story at link.

To contribute
Donations to the Higgins memorial project can be made at www.rockethub.com, a crowdfunding website. Search “Higgins” to find the project.
Contributions also may be sent to:
Columbus Community Foundation
Attn: Utah Beach Higgins Memorial Committee
PO Box 515
Columbus, NE 68602

[Nitram]

1. Not a "ship". It's a "boat".

I'd suggest revising the headline.

[HereSince1628]

2. Not a just any boat...it's a fear delivery system.

I can't imagine being inside lined up like turkeys on the shelf when the gate dropped.

[Jenoch]

3. ''Ship" instead of the correct term

"boat" is because the headline writer at the Omaha newspaper is ignorant. They would probably refer to a submarine as a ship as well.

"This replica of a World War II-era steel Higgins boat..."

Not surprisingly, the above line is also false. The Higgens boats were mostly made of wood with the hulls made of plywood.

[Jenoch]

4. If anyone reading this thread ever

finds themselves in New Orleans, DO NOT miss a visit the the National WWII Museum. I was there three years ago and it was the highlight of the trip. It's also easy to get to on the street car system.