Andrew Jackson Higgins was born on August 28, 1886 in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska. He was the son of Andree Higgins Stefferud and Dawn Higgins Murphy. He was an industrialist shipbuilder and owner of the Higgins Industries in New Orleans, when commissioned by the U.S. War Department for a variety of equipment for the Navy. During World War II, he designed and manufactured the ramp-bow Eureka boat, the "LCVP" (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), or simply, the "Higgins Boat" and a larger version, classified as a tank lighter, "LCM" (Landing Craft, Mechanized). His plants also turned out, motor torpedo boat (PT boats), torpedo tubes, gun turrets, and smoke generators. Over 20,000 of his boats were produced during the war and used in all theaters of action. As inventor, he is the holder of 30 patents pertinent to amphibious landing craft and vehicles. General Dwight Eisenhower is quoted as saying, "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." In a White House ceremony shortly before his death, President Harry Truman cited him for his contributions to the war effort. The Fleet Oiler USNS Andrew J. Higgins (T-AO-190) was named in his honor in 1987. Andrew is now buried in the Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA.

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