Harry Stanton HIGDON

22 APR 1921 - 29 NOV 1998

• BIRTH: 22 APR 1921, Des Moines, IW
• DEATH: 29 NOV 1998, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 1941, Des Moines, IW

1.  Harry Dennis HIGDON

• MARRIAGE: 1972, St Patricks Catholic, South Bend, IN

INDEX

[N5902] Birth: Apr. 22, 1921
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA
Death: Nov. 29, 1998
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA

Harry S. Higdon
April 22, 1921 - Nov. 29, 1998

Harry Stanton Higdon, 77, of Coventry Trail, South Bend, Ind., died on Sunday, Nov. 29.
Mr. Higdon was the director of operations for Tucker Freight Lines of South Bend until his retirement in 1981. He served in many managerial positions for the trucking industry, employed by Rock Island Motor Freight and Brady Motor Freight of Des Moines, Iowa. He was an active volunteer in many charitable organizations. Mr. Higdon did volunteer work for the Center for the Homeless and served on the boards of the United religious Community and the Dismas House. He was also a substitute teacher at Saint Joseph High School. Mr. Higdon served as president of the Iowa Motor Carriers Association, president of the Indiana Motor Carriers Association, and president of the Traffic Association. He also served as chairman of the American Trucking Association Area Communications, president of the New London Lake Association, and chairman of the social action committee at his church. He was on many committees throughout his lifelong membership in Rotary International, and was a lecturer at the Chamber of Commerce.
He served in World War II in the U.S. Navy as a chief petty officer in charge of ship navigation. At Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, he was on board the U.S.S. Cruiser, San Francisco (CA-38) as the duty officer when the Japanese attack occurred. Rallying the defense of his ship, he fired at the enemy attack planes as they bombed his ship and the other ships in the harbor. He served with distinction in the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal, winning service awards for his valor. At Guadalcanal he commanded the bridge of his ship, taking the wheel and issuing orders to maintain operations after an explosion had killed all the surrounding officers. Returning stateside to recover from battle injuries, he went on to provide navigational training for officers at the Officer's Training School. He then commanded an LST ship and served in the liberation of the Philippines, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the occupation of Japan.
Mr. Higdon was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 22, 1921. In 1941 he married Kathryn Ann Duffy, who died. In 1972 he married Suzanne Mulvihill, who survives. He is also survived by a son, Harry Dennis (Ellen) Higdon of Mishawaka; two grandchildren, Brian Daniel Higdon and Clare Celeste Higdon; and by a sister, June Eichorn. An evening prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Saint Joseph Chapel Hall at Notre Dame. Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Sacred Heart Basilica. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowres to the Hope Rescue Mission, the Center for the Homeless, the United Religious Community, and to Dismas House. The McGann Funeral Home, University Area Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road, is in charge of arrangements.

Burial: Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA