Richard C. “Dick” Higgins, was, up until he passed away in March of 2024, one of the last few survivors of the Empire of Japan’s deadly surprise attack on Pearl Harbon on December 7, 1941. When he passed away at his home in Bend, Oregon, Mr. Higgins was 92 years old, according to Angela Norton, his granddaughter. Ms. Norton also commented on faith and heaven when speaking about his passing.
When he was in Pearl Harbor on that fateful day that will live in infamy, Mr. Higgins was working as a radioman for a seaplane squadron based out of the Pearl Harbor base. He was in his bunk when the attack began, and rushed to the edge of the porch on which he was sleeping to see Japanese warplanes flying just meters away from his barracks.
Speaking about the matter in 2008 for an interview with the National Museum of the Pacific War, Mr. Higgins said, “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.” He added, after noting that he saw the planes flying just meters away, “So, there was no doubt what was happening in my mind, because of the things that had been going on.”
Ms. Norton, speaking about her grandfather’s passing, said that her grandpa was humble in life despite all he went through, namely the Great Depression and the full extent of America’s involvement in the Second World War. He served in the Navy for 20 years, then went on to work for the Northrop Corporation, which eventually became Northrop Grumman, a major defense contractor for which he worked on the B-2 stealth bomber as an aeronautics engineer.
Commenting on his humble nature and how he would try to teach people about history in the hope they would not repeat the mistakes of the past, she said, “It was never about him.” She added, “The heroes were those that didn’t come home.”
She also noted that he was a believer who, when dying in hospice, said that he was ready to see his wife of 60 years, Winnie Ruth, in the great beyond. She died at the age of 82 in 2004. Speaking to his granddaughter, Mr. Norton said, “I’m ready to go see Winnie Ruth.” She added, “I said, ‘It’s OK, go home. Be with Jesus and be with Winnie Ruth.'” She said she told him, “’It’s okay to do that. Leave us. You’ve had it’s such a good and full life.'”
There are now under two dozen members of the attack still living, according to Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. She claims that while there could be others who never registered, as of now, only 22 of the attack survivors are still alive.
By U.S. Navy, Office of Public Relations – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID fsa.8e00810.