Why a World War II boat recovered from the bottom of a lake was brought to Nebraska

SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) – As the nation celebrated Independence Day, one of the boats used to storm the beaches of Normandy in World War II was given some recognition.

The Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward dedicated its Higgins boat on Tuesday.

It was discovered in 2021 in California’s Lake Shasta after prolonged drought conditions lowered the water enough to reveal it.

James Dunsdon said he’s been collecting World War II vehicles and memorabilia for some time.

He heard a rumor that a boat had been found in the lake.

“So I went to find it, and there it was. It was just like a movie prop,” he said. “It was very surreal.”

Dunsdon it looked like it was straight out of “Saving Private Ryan.”

“You could just imagine the noise of battle, and the soldiers that served on it,” he said. “It is kind of a ghost, but it’s a real ghost.”

He thought he knew what it was but didn’t really believe it at first.

“So I reached out to some other experts, and they confirmed it was a Higgins,” he said.

Jerry Meyer, the Nebraska National Guard historian, said the boat is one of only 16 left.

He said the boat is named for its inventor, Andrew Jackson Higgins, who was born in Columbus and grew up in Omaha.

Higgins was part of the Nebraska National Guard and was credited by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower for his role in helping the Allies secure victory.

Meyer said the boats were kind of a utility truck on water during the war.

“This is the bridge between the ships and the shore,” he said. “We had the best trained armies, and the best Navy and the best air force, but you got to get those soldiers that are on those troop transports ashore. And this is the link right here.”

Meyer said it’s made mostly out of mahogany wood, with a ramp and engine made of steel.

Not much is known about its story after the war, but those who recovered it suspect that it was used as a work boat on Lake Shasta before it sank.

They said that it’s incredible the boat managed to survive this long and that the cold waters of the lake may have helped preserve it.

Sen. Jana Hughes said it will be a one-of-a-kind addition to the museum.

“This museum, if you’ve never been, is a gem in Nebraska, and especially in Seward,” she said. “This is one more thing that is doing our best and showcasing what Nebraskans do and so we’re happy to have it.”

After the ceremony, the boat was taken through downtown, where it was showcased in Seward’s annual Fourth of July parade.

It will head to the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial in Columbus on Wednesday before being brought back to Seward.