William Patrick Higgins
First Lieutenant
HMM-364, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Algona, Iowa
May 28, 1943 to December 28, 1969
WILLIAM P HIGGINS is on the Wall at Panel W15, Line 104

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11 Sep 2003

On 28 Dec 1969, an HMM-364 CH-46 (YK-13, BuNo 153379) was returning from Phu Bai on a night IFR flight in heavy weather. In addition to the weather, YK-13 had to contend with radio problems. Although their IFR clearance specified an in-flight altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level they read back and flew at 3,000 feet. Danang Approach Control made every effort to alert the crew to their error, transmitting on all available radio frequencies, but were not able to contact YK-13.

YK-13 flew into Hai Van Pass under IMC conditions and hit a mountain, killing all ten men aboard the aircraft:

  • HMM-364:

  • Passengers:
    • MGySgt Edward Reynold Storm, L Co, Marine Spt Bn, 3rdMAF
    • CTC Robert Sidney Gates, NAVSUPACT, USNAVFORV
    • SSgt Richard David Walsh, MABS-16, MAG-16
    • LCpl James Howard Pence, MABS-16, MAG-16
    • LCpl Leslie Lewis Shelton, MABS-16, MAG-16
    • PFC James Muriel Alderman, MABS-16, MAG-16

Bill Higgins, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends. Those women, the

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Purple Foxy Ladies

continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country.

Visit
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the Purple Foxes
on-line or go to our unit page
on The Virtual Wall

A memorial initiated by the
Purple Foxy Ladies
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