Honolulu — Richard C. "Dick" Higgins, a veteran who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, has passed away at the age of 102, according to a family member. Higgins died at his home in Bend, Oregon, on Tuesday due to natural causes, his granddaughter Angela Norton confirmed.
Higgins served as a radioman in a patrol squadron of seaplanes stationed at the Hawaii naval base during the attack on December 7, 1941. In a 2008 oral history interview, he recalled being in his bunk on the third floor of his barracks when the bombing started.
"I jumped out of my bunk and I ran over to the edge of the lanai and just as I got there, a plane went right over the barracks," Higgins recounted, describing the close encounter with a Japanese aircraft painted with distinctive red circular emblems.
"So, there was no doubt what was happening in my mind, because of the things that had been going on," he said.
Reflections of a Legacy
Norton reminisced about his grandfather, describing him as a humble and kind man who often visited schools to narrate tales of Pearl Harbor, World War II, and the Great Depression. His main goal was to impart historical knowledge to prevent its repetition.
"It was never about him," Norton emphasized. "The heroes were those that didn't come home."
Originating from a farm near Mangum, Oklahoma, Higgins was born on July 24, 1921. After enlisting in the Navy in 1939, he served for 20 years before transitioning to a career as an aeronautics engineer for various defense contractors, including Northrop Corporation, later known as Northrop Grumman. Norton mentioned his contributions to the B-2 Stealth Bomber project.
"A Reunion in Eternity"
Following the passing of his wife, Winnie Ruth, in 2004 at the age of 82, who he had been married to for 60 years, Higgins expressed his readiness to join her after entering hospice care last Thursday. In a heartfelt moment, his granddaughter reassured him, saying, "I'm ready to go see Winnie Ruth."
"I said, 'It's OK, go home. Be with Jesus and be with Winnie Ruth,'" Norton recounted. "'It's OK to do that. Leave us. You've had such a good and full life.'"
Remaining survivors
There are now 22 survivors of the attack still living, according to Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. Farley mentioned that there may be other survivors who are still alive but did not join the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association when it was established in 1958, so their whereabouts are unknown to her.
Approximately 2,400 servicemen lost their lives in the bombing, which marked the beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II. The USS Arizona battleship alone suffered the loss of 1,177 sailors and Marines, accounting for nearly half of the total casualties.
An estimated 87,000 military personnel were stationed on Oahu on December 7, as per a rough calculation put together by military historian J. Michael Wenger.
Higgins is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The family intends to conduct a memorial service at a church in Bend on Thursday, followed by a ceremony with full military honors. Subsequently, his remains will be transported to California, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife.
