CAPTAIN ANDY HIGGINS
Who are you?
I’m Captain Andy Higgins, United States Marine Corps and I’ve had service in several places throughout the years. In the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War the Marine Corps had the responsibility of the I-4 Sector in South Vietnam. We worked with the First Marine Division - Fifth Marines that’s the infantry regiment operating Northwest of Da Nang. I got into Vietnam after the Tet Offensive of 68’, and had a couple of big battles at Hue City and Khe Sanh. We operated all the way up to the demilitarized zone. Prior to our departure I was injured following operation South Da Nang, sent to Okinawa for recovery, and then added to another infantry unit down there for 8 months. Returned to California, then went back to Okinawa to work at the Provost Marshall’s Office for a year, which is essentially the military police. We had responsibility for all the towns and villages inside and outside of the base.
Then I returned to the states, I was ordered to Naval Investigative Service and I worked with the civilian agents. I was deployed aboard the U.S. Enterprise and the Nimitz and I would stay on the ship and handle any criminal counter intelligence matters that involved the crew. Then I went into the Reserves, and while there I coached battalion level football, baseball, and track primarily at Camp Pendleton. When I became a civilian, I returned to my university to get my masters degree, coached, and taught there in the summer months for the State Lifeguard unit. My responsibility was Huntington Beach in Orange County, California.
Eventually with the reserves I went to the San Jose Police Academy and eventually worked with the San Mateo Police Department. Around that time I started working on the Marine Corps Irish Sprint, which was a civilian opportunity particularly for high school and college kids to have a run or walk around Lake Merced in San Francisco. We had brought in Marine Corps musical units and a Cobra gunship from Socal, food, beverages and, T-shirts for the 2,000 plus participants every year for almost 20 years. We had to stop after 2002 because all the vehicles and manpower would be needed for the Gulf in the Middle East. During that time I was called back into active duty and served in Iraq in the Battle for Fallujah where I was injured, and then shortly after treated in the military hospital at UCSF. I’m still undergoing treatment for my injuries now.
I’ve always been involved with coaching and working with kids, in high school and college summer months I was a lifeguard and swim instructor in Pacific Grove. I always tried to teach the kids generally if they have a desire to do something they should go ahead and try to pursue it. Even though they may not succeed in exactly in what they wanted to do, anything they do is good, and anything they learn is always good, especially when working with people or helping them out. Now I try and help people, particularly families of those who’ve immigrated over from Vietnam and China. If you can do that then you can say that you’ve tried to help people out, because generally if you’re operating with the marines in a combat area you don’t have the chance to help people out that much. Now it feels great to give back.
How did the military provide structure in your life and given you strength?
The marine corps gave me a lot of strength, it showed me how to direct my work with people. This was further enhanced by staying in touch with my family and friends, particularly during some harder times. The marine corps will guide you, encourage you, and support you in any activity you engage in. They work very closely together.
One of the terms the marine’s use is “Gung Ho” that comes from the Chinese military which was adopted later by the U.S. Marines. It means working together in rough translation. The term “Oorah” you’ll hear marines telling each other as congratulations or good job. The sound originates from a submarine’s klaxon horn when diving. Marines aboard the sub were sent to hostile beaches during WW2 on rubber boats to report the placement of mines, cut lines, and report back. This was so that when the landing party hit the beach wouldn’t be surprised. Another Latin term that’s used by marines is “Semper Fidelis” which means that you’re always faithful to the corps, to the country, and other people outside of the corps when trying to educate others on what the Marine Corps is all about. It’s a good opportunity for kids, boys, and girls to strengthen themselves through the education, training, and support that they receive. They will learn that anything worth working on or achieving, is worth working on with other people, and you can achieve these goals by working together.
Tell me more about the Marine Corps Irish Sprint.
When I was in the Marine Reserves we decided to create a function to reach out to the community. During the time people were a bit ambivalent and reluctant to be involved with the military, especially the marines. This was also during the stoppage of Fleet Week. Initially it was known as the USMC Irish Sprint in Stride and was later renamed the USMC Irish Sprint. We would invite high school kids from different schools to Lake Merced, to run or walk the 5 mile trail around the lake. We had around 2,200 participants a year during the active years, we would bring music from Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms in Socal, or the Recruit Depot would bring their bands. Prior to the start of the race we would start the race by firing a blank round above Lake Merced from a breach loaded pack howitzer, which is a piece of small towed artillery that has been in continuous service since WW1. We had teams from the Marine Corp to recruit people, the Coast Guard would also show up every year to compete with the marines. The purpose was to show the kids what they could do, awarding runners and pull up bar participants. We ended up talking to Al Davis the owner of the Raiders to use the Raiderettes as cheerleaders for several years. There’s a real symbiotic relationship between the Raiders and the Marine Corps, on the Raider’s helmet it shows a marine raider in his helmet which was modeled after a player that was voted by the 1962 all-marine team in Quantico. The two cutlasses on each side represent the swords of a non-commissioned officer. The mascot was based on the marine raider battalions active in WW2 which engaged in early commando operations to ensure safe landings. Raiders owner Al Davis even organized the collaboration between Toys for Tots and the marines during Christmas time, and convinced other NFL owners to do the same. The last year was in 2002 due to all the assets moving to the Middle East, but last year we were able to get the Silent Drill Platoon and the Drum and Bugle Corp from Washington D.C. to perform a concert at the site of the Irish Sprint.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?
Never give up, always follow your dreams, regardless if it’s a personal thing with a relationship, or something you want to do in life like training or school. Always follow through, even if you don’t get it you’ll never doubt yourself later. At least you’ve looked into it and tried it. Never give up and always remember the term “Gung Ho”, working together.