This week's hero is...
Marguerite Higgins
Marguerite "Maggie" Higgins was born on September 3, 1920 in Hong Kong. She grew up in Oakland, California and attended the University of California, Berkley. She graduated from Berkley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French. She then attended Columbia University School of Journalism where she earned her master's degree in 1941. She was eventually able to secure a job with the New York Herald Tribune.
When the United States entered World War II, Higgins became determined to go out and report on the conflict as a war correspondent. Despite being in woman working in a man's profession she finally got her wish in 1944. She was sent to Europe where she joined an American Army unit that was fighting its way into Germany. She was present during the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp (a visit that had a profound impact on her). When World War II ended, Higgins also covered the Nuremberg Trials. However, it was what she did in the next military conflict that would cement her a memorable role in American history.
In June of 1950, the communist North Korean People's Army swarmed across the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. In response, a large United Nations task force (spearheaded by the United States) was rushed to the South's defense. Among those who arrived with the task force, were a large number of war correspondents (Higgins included). For the next six months, she reported on the conflict to the American public. She would wake up around the same time as the GI's and accompany them to the front lines as they went into combat. In some cases she came under direct enemy fire while covering an assault. Her skills would be put to a major test in one of the Korean War's biggest operations, the Inchon Landing.
On September 15, 1950, American soldiers and marines launched a surprise attack behind enemy lines at the port of Inchon. Maggie Higgins landed with the marines at a point codenamed, "Red Beach". She was in the fifth wave that came ashore under heavy fire from the entrenched North Koreans. Throughout the engagement, Higgins reported on the heavy casualties and the heroism of the marines as they fought their way off Red Beach and through the North Korean defenses. When the battle was over, she submitted her report to the Herald Tribune three days after. This report sent all over the United States and read by millions of people.
Maggie Higgins would go on to cover the liberation of Seoul and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. A few months later, she returned to the United States and received the Pulitzer Prize for international journalism. She was the first woman to ever receive the award and one of only six journalists to receive it for covering the Korean War.
In 1952, Marguerite Higgins married and raised a family. Even then however, she continued to travel the world and cover many historical events. In 1965, she traveled to Vietnam to cover the growing American military presence. Sadly she ended up contracting leishmaniasis and passed away a year later at the young age of 45.
Marguerite Higgins was a brave woman who set a great precedent for all of those who work in news coverage. She showed great courage in risking and ultimately giving her life to let the world know the truth. She truly is someone to be held in high regard.
https://www.pulitzer.org/article/marguerite-higgins-hits-red-beach
https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/higgins_m.htm
http://nedforney.com/index.php/2018/09/15/marguerite-higgins-korean-war-inchon-landing/
When the United States entered World War II, Higgins became determined to go out and report on the conflict as a war correspondent. Despite being in woman working in a man's profession she finally got her wish in 1944. She was sent to Europe where she joined an American Army unit that was fighting its way into Germany. She was present during the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp (a visit that had a profound impact on her). When World War II ended, Higgins also covered the Nuremberg Trials. However, it was what she did in the next military conflict that would cement her a memorable role in American history.
In June of 1950, the communist North Korean People's Army swarmed across the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. In response, a large United Nations task force (spearheaded by the United States) was rushed to the South's defense. Among those who arrived with the task force, were a large number of war correspondents (Higgins included). For the next six months, she reported on the conflict to the American public. She would wake up around the same time as the GI's and accompany them to the front lines as they went into combat. In some cases she came under direct enemy fire while covering an assault. Her skills would be put to a major test in one of the Korean War's biggest operations, the Inchon Landing.
On September 15, 1950, American soldiers and marines launched a surprise attack behind enemy lines at the port of Inchon. Maggie Higgins landed with the marines at a point codenamed, "Red Beach". She was in the fifth wave that came ashore under heavy fire from the entrenched North Koreans. Throughout the engagement, Higgins reported on the heavy casualties and the heroism of the marines as they fought their way off Red Beach and through the North Korean defenses. When the battle was over, she submitted her report to the Herald Tribune three days after. This report sent all over the United States and read by millions of people.
Maggie Higgins would go on to cover the liberation of Seoul and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. A few months later, she returned to the United States and received the Pulitzer Prize for international journalism. She was the first woman to ever receive the award and one of only six journalists to receive it for covering the Korean War.
In 1952, Marguerite Higgins married and raised a family. Even then however, she continued to travel the world and cover many historical events. In 1965, she traveled to Vietnam to cover the growing American military presence. Sadly she ended up contracting leishmaniasis and passed away a year later at the young age of 45.
Marguerite Higgins was a brave woman who set a great precedent for all of those who work in news coverage. She showed great courage in risking and ultimately giving her life to let the world know the truth. She truly is someone to be held in high regard.
https://www.pulitzer.org/article/marguerite-higgins-hits-red-beach
https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/higgins_m.htm
http://nedforney.com/index.php/2018/09/15/marguerite-higgins-korean-war-inchon-landing/
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