John Higgins was born and raised in New York City. On October 21, 1966, Mr. Higgins went into active duty with the United States Marines and completed basic training on Parris Island, South Carolina. He was deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam to serve in the Vietnam War. Nearly 70,000 United States Marines carried out large scales ground operations and provided air support from helicopter squadrons.

Mr. Higgins was honorably discharged, exceeding the standards of duty performance and personal conduct in his tour of service. He left the United States Marine Corps as D4 Corporal.

Today, Mr. Higgins is an ecology enthusiast and avid leader in advocating environmental justice. He is also an amateur photographer with focus inspired from his experiences in Vietnam.

Mr. Higgins is passionately pursuing recognition in the form of naming a street for an unsung war hero of Vietnam, Henry J. “Joe” Vad. Joe was a pilot of a scout helicopter flying for the famed First Infantry Division – The Big Red One. In December of 1969, Joe was killed in action flying over the jungle engaging in battle.

Joe was a local guy and the son of Puerto Rican parents. He joined the Marine Corps and completed the US Army Helicopter Flight Training Program. He engaged in several dangerous missions rescuing fellow servicemen in downed helicopters and flying threw storms of gunfire to deliver much needed blood plasma for wounded comrades.

It is Mr. Higgins greatest hope that he will be successful in providing recognition for Chief Warrant Officer Henry Joseph Vad, who Mr. Higgins personally honors for his courage, bravery and integrity.