Patriot Dreams : The Murder of Colonel Rich Higgins - Softcover

Higgins, Robin

9780940328242: Patriot Dreams : The Murder of Colonel Rich Higgins

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0940328240 ISBN 13: 9780940328242

Publisher: Marine Corp Assn Bookstore, 1999

Patriot Dreams portrays a strong woman in crisis. Amazingly, it reveals a rich and unexpected tapestry of love: love against all odds for her husband who might never return, love for her country, and love for the Marine Corps. It explores the schizophrenic conflict she faced: how to maintain her patriotism in the face of disappointment and seeming betrayal by her own government and the United Nations. It discloses the painful necessity she faced: to conceal her Jewish heritage to protect her husband. And it chronicles the rediscovery and renewal of her faith which sprang from the trials she endured.

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From the Inside Flap:

Colonel Rich Higgins was a dedicated Marine assigned to the United Nations peacekeeping force in wor-torn Lebanon in 1987. In February of 1988, he was pulled from his UN jeep and taken hostage by Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists.

Higgins' wife, herself a career Marine Corps officer, hid her Jewish identity and dedicated her life to finding him and bringing him home. Battling bureaucracy and vindictiveness, Robin struggled to gain Rich's release.

In spite of her efforts, however, Higgins was executed by his captors in retaliation for the capture of a Hezbollah cleric b the Israelis in July 1989. Hezbollah released a videotape of his corpse hanging from a rope, shown on the cover.

As the Air Force Times put it, "Higgins' death symbolized the frustration and impotence of American foreign policy in the Middle East in the late 1980s, a policy laced with flawed relationships, missteps, and a paralyzing inability to deal effectively with terrorist" (June 7, 1999)

Robin's dedication to her husband did not end with his death, however. She has continued to keep her husband's memory alive by speaking and writing about her ordeal. In October 1997, she christened a guided missile destroyer named in honor of her husband.

Patriot Dreams is a story of trust and betrayal. It is a unique look at a woman under siege, fearful of the media and angry at her husband's critics, yet, in the end, Patriot Dreams is really about love, the kind that gives strength and courage, the kind that lives forever.

About the Author:

Lt. Col. Robin L. Higgins has specialized in communication and veterans' advocacy. She retired from the United States Marine Corps after 20 years of service. She is an internationally known speaker on terrorism and military issues who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.

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