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Hall of Heroes inducts new servicemember into its ranks

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Thomas Trower
  • 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE. N.M. --  When Wayne Henry Higgs was born in Altamont, Illinois on Jan. 27, 1925, he probably didn't expect to be part of a battle that would be held as a sign of freedom for his nation.
His part in securing America's freedom did not go unnoticed by the Cannon Airman Leadership School's Class 2007- B. They inducted Mr. Higgs into the ALS Hall of Heroes on Dec. 7.

The Hall of Heroes program was begun in June 2004 to honor the previous extraordinary services of local heroes. There are eight ALS classes each year, and each class chooses a hero to add to the Wall of Heroes, many of whom were POWs during World War II. Mr. Higgs is the 18th hero to be inducted. He said his time in the military was "full of memories."
On Jan. 19, 1944, Private First Class Higgs was drafted into the military and went through base camp. After taking entrance exams, he was sent to the Army, Navy and finally to the Marine Corp. He was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division as a Marine gunner.
His unit was sent to Iwo Jima to secure three airfields. One of which was still under construction and once completed would be capable of housing a radar station that could give two hours warning of any impending U.S. aircraft. In order to mount a large-scale attack against the industrial centers of Japan, the Marines needed to neutralize the radar station and eliminate the threat.
Private Higgs was one of the first Marines to step foot on the beaches of Iwo Jima.
"That island was pretty rough. But, we went on it and did our jobs," said Mr. Higgs. "When we arrived, we lost several men. I had to be reassigned to a new machine gun platoon."
None the less, they charged on and secured the bottom of Mount Suribachi. After a few days of fierce fighting, Mount Suribachi was successfully taken and became the site for the historic World War II photo by Joe Rosenthal of the raising of the U.S. flag.
Private Higgs and his unit continued to fight for 30 straight days. One afternoon, Private Higgs received multiple wounds to his right shoulder and thigh during a firefight that killed several Marines.
"At about 12 o'clock [noon], I rolled over and an artillery shell hit the fox hole I was in," said Mr. Higgs.
Due to the intense gunfire, he and his fellow Marines could not be evacuated until late in the night. The battle of Iwo Jima ended four days later.
For his efforts in battle, Private Higgs received several military decorations, including a Purple Heart medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with one bronze star and the World War II Victory medal.
"I'm very proud to say I served in the military," said Mr. Higgs. "I would do it again if I could. If I had not been wounded I would have stayed in for a while. I didn't expect anything like this induction to happen because of my service."
After two years of service he was honorably discharged in November of 1945 due to his wounds and returned to his home in Illinois. He came to Clovis, N.M., in 1951 and began working for the state highway department where he retired after 36 years of service. He and his wife Lillian have been married for the last 52 years.

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