WWII Veterans History Project, Inc.

SAVING HIGGINS | A RESTORATION BY THE WWII VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT

June 6, 1944, will forever be known as D-Day. Early that morning, thousands of small wooded landing craft, known as Higgins boats, headed for shore poised to change the course of history. The Higgins Boat LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) became famous for the crucial role it played during the Normandy landings, and at nearly every major amphibious operation during WWII. They are often referred to as “the boat that won the war”.

Today, 75 years after the end of WWII, there are only nine surviving original Higgins Boats in the United States, out of only nineteen known originals in the world. Even fewer of these surviving examples are restored and seaworthy. In April 2020, the WWII Veterans History Project  had the privilege to acquire one of these rare boats. Over the coming years, we will be restoring this exceptionally significant landing craft to its wartime condition and bring our LCVP back to the water where it belongs.

But we need your help to make #SavingHiggins possible. Help us on this journey.

Above: Our Higgins Boat LCVP being offloaded in Florida by Bryson Crane  on April 21, 2020.

Built during the height of WWII in the 1940s, our Higgins Boat has seen a lot over the past 75 years. In recent years, the boat was found in California before being brought to Texas in the 1990s. After lying on the ground for nearly 20 years, a call to action was placed looking for someone to save this Higgins Boat. The WWII Veterans History Project  answered that call, and we are working diligently to bring this boat back to life. In April 2020, an incredible team, including several veterans who donated their time, raised the LCVP and sent it on its thousand-mile journey from Texas to Florida to begin its next chapter. Now, we are working to stabilize the condition of our Higgins Boat and prepare it for restoration. On April 21, 2020, the Higgins Boat arrived at a temporary storage location in Florida in preparation for restoration.

Above: The WWII Veterans History Project  reunited a wartime 48-star flag with the Higgins Boat, a vessel built in the 1940s for use during WWII.

Although it is a heartbreaking fact, we must come to terms with the reality that one day, there will no longer be WWII veterans to give firsthand accounts of the war. Historical artifacts, like this original WWII Higgins Boat, combined with our library of hundreds of oral histories, will allow future generations to have a greater understanding of the service and sacrifices of our Greatest Generation. Restoration efforts to make this vessel seaworthy again are urgent to give our nation's last surviving WWII veterans the chance to experience the Higgins Boat one last time.

We need your help to get one of the last surviving WWII Higgins Boats back in the water.  Contribute to #SavingHiggins today and do your part to preserve this rare piece of American heritage for future generations.

All donations are made to the WWII Veterans History Project, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and are tax-deductible. Please join us and be a part of this important project. For more information visit SavingHiggins.com

Above: A Higgins boat carrying US Army soldiers heads for the shore of France during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Above: Our Higgins Boat being loaded onto the trailer for its 1,000 mile journey from Texas to Florida.

Normandy Revisited is an upcoming documentary film by the WWII Veterans History Project. Discover untold stories from history's greatest invasion, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and the battle that followed. Hear firsthand from more than a dozen survivors, explore the sacred battlefields, discover true valor through historic artifacts, and follow veterans on their emotional journey back to the battlefield for the first time since the war. 

75 years after the landings on the Normandy beaches, the stories of this great invasion must be told to ensure they live on for future generations.

This is that story. This is Normandy Revisited.

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The invasion is brought to life through powerful veteran testimonies describing D-Day and the battle that followed. More than a dozen survivors share their stories of heroism, gallantry, and sacrifice, revealing what life was truly like for the soldiers of the Greatest Generation.

Learning about the conditions on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944, from WWII veteran Irving Locker. Staff Sergeant Locker was attached to the 4th Infantry Division on the 2nd wave of the D-Day invasion and fought all the way to Germany without being wounded.

Discover real D-Day history through helmets, uniforms, medals of valor, photographs, and more. Dozens of original historic artifacts are analyzed, providing an inside look at the forgotten stories of Normandy and the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, 75 years ago.

Normandy Revisited analyzes the battlefield as it sits today and explores how the war still defines the landscape of France. Follow the journey of a 94-year-old WWII veteran back to the battlefield where he was wounded, for the first time since the war, and experience his emotional return firsthand.

Captain Jonathan H. Harwood Jr. was killed in action on the first wave of D-Day, at Pointe Du Hoc. For conspicuous gallantry on D-Day, he was posthumously awarded the prestigious Silver Star Medal. His story will be told in Normandy Revisited.

This film will preserve the stories of D-Day veterans, and educate future generations about WWII, veterans, and the importance of history and remembering the past.

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Be a Part of the Journey - Make a Donation Today
Any size contribution or support will help us create this documentary. All donations are tax-deductible. 

More than a dozen veterans have already been interviewed, artifacts have been acquired, and the trip to France has been completed. Thank you to everyone who has helped and donated already; this project would not be possible without you!

Want to partner with us?
We have several great sponsorship opportunities with amazing perks, including VIP film premiere tickets, exclusive D-Day 75th Anniversary t-shirts, personalized autographs from D-Day veterans, as well as verbal, printed, and online advertisement opportunities!

Click for sponsorship opportunities >>

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How Will The Funding Be Used?

• Travel to interview D-Day and Battle of Normandy veterans across the United States. Time is of the essence, and with more than 400 WWII veterans passing each day, it is crucial that we capture their stories for the film as soon as possible.
 
• Travel to Normandy, France, in June of 2019 for the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion to film the journey of a 94-year-old WWII veteran back to the battlefield where he was wounded, for the first time since the war. The 75th will be one of the last major anniversaries of D-Day with WWII veterans still living, making the trip and film extremely important.
 
• Post-Production editing of the veteran interviews, footage from visits with veterans and their family, priceless scenes from the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, as well as videos of the exploration of the beaches and battlefields in Normandy as they sit today.
 
• Marketing, promotional materials, and distribution of the film to schools, libraries, and more.

• Cameras, microphones, and accessories to ensure professional video quality.
 
• Acquire rights for the soundtrack of the film and historic footage, including WWII newsreels.

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Every donation is greatly appreciated and is tax-deductible. Please join us and be a part of this important project.
For more information visit NormandyRevisited.com