Mitch Landrieu: “I speak today to honor an innovative and patriotic American, a logger-turned-boatbuilder, who single-handedly…”

“I speak today to honor an innovative and patriotic American, a logger-turned-boatbuilder, who single-handedly transformed the concept of amphibious ship design when our nation and her Allies needed it most. Despite some bureaucratic obstacles in America's massive World War II war-machine, Andrew Jackson Higgins skillfully designed and engineered landing craft, eventually winning contracts to build 92 percent of the Navy's war-time fleet of landing craft. Andrew Jackson Higgins' story exemplifies the American Dream, and merits this body's recognition for his ingenuity, assiduous work, and devotion to our country. In the late 1930's, Higgins was operating a small New Orleans work-boat company, with less than seventy-five employees. He quickly earned a reputation for fast, dependable work by turning out specialized vessels for the oil industry, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Biological Survey.”