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Higgins Boat Monument Plaque

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Details:

At the left side near the Higgins sculpture, beside the Columbus, Nebraska plaque. 

Plaque

A large plaque with single bronze border and bronze text inscription mounted on a semi-triangular stone block facing sideways. The plaque narrates the creation and usage of the Higgins boat on the D-Day.

Monument Text:

                    HIGGINS BOAT MONUMENT

 

On June 6, 1944 the majority of Allied troops initially arriving on the

Normandy Beaches landed in one of two craft: the British Landing Craft

Assault (LCA) or the American Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP).

In fact, some 1,089 LCVPs took part in D-Day.

 

  Developed by Andrew Jackson Higgins in 1941, the LCVP was built by

Higgins Industries in New Orleans. The Higgins Boat carried up to 36 troops,

was capable of up to 12 knots and could be outfitted with a pair of Browning

M1919 machine guns. The boats were crewed by four personnel.

 

   By the time of the Normandy landings the LCVP had been used in every

theatre of operations including Operation Torch in North Africa, landings

in Italy, and in southern France. It was also used in the Pacific theatre.

 

 This memorial to Higgins, his boats, and the men who rode ashore in them

has been given to the people of France by the citizens of Columbus, Nebraska,

the birthplace of Andrew Jackson Higgins. The memorial here is a replica of

a memorial built in Columbus in 2001, and is also a celebration of partnership

between Columbus and Sainte Marie du Mont ... two communities tied together

by history and a heritage of freedom.

Commemorates:

People:

Andrew Jackson Higgins

Wars:

WWII

Battles:

Normandy Invasion