As anyone who knows me can tell you, I have pretty much always been a practicing Catholic, a former member of the mighty 101st Airborne, and a history buff. I have been trying to get a rosary that the US Army issued in WW II but they have been a mint on ebay and everywhere else. Well my girl found one on ebay wrote the seller and said I was in recovery, etc and she really wanted to get that for me as a birthday present. Apparently the woman sold it directly to her at a very reasonable cost. Keep in mind that this woman had no clue as to who I served with, when, or my history buff's love of that stuff. Here was her note regarding the "history' of my Birthday Rosary:
METAL "PULLCHAIN'" SOLDIER'S ROSARY"
Here is information I have on the estate rosary:
John J.'Moe'Higgins, 1/501 PIR (Geronimo Battalion)
Moe Higgins of New Rochelle, NY, was an original member of the 1st/501st PIR, 101st Airborne. He is not to be confused with 'Pinky' Higgins of the same company, from Detroit. Moe went with Item company from Camp Toccoa to Austria. In Normandy, he was misdropped below Carentan with Lt Robert Saum's stick, which was intended for Drop Zone 'C', (way up near Hiesville). Members of his stick made a precarious journey back to friendly lines which lasted a week. Moe survived the battles at Eerde, Holland and on the Island west of Arnhem. At Bastogne, he survived the costly battle of Wardin. By the time the above photo was made by friend Billy Ogle in Alsace, Moe had been through the wringer. He was a true combat veteran and survivor, whose stance, facial expression and demeanor reflect his status. He wears M43's and is accustomed to never standing around with his hands in his pockets, even when smoking. His left hand is placed with the back side bent against his hip.
Pete Tessoff, a.k.a. 'The Mad Russian' was also a member of Item Company. He told me a funny story about a conversation he heard around VE-Day, between a new replacement 2d lieutenant, and Moe Higgins. The conversation was simple and went like this:"What's your name, soldier?"
"Moe."
"What's your name, soldier?"
"Moe Higgins."
"What's your name, soldier?"
"Private Moe Higgins."
"What's your name, soldier?"
"Private Moe Higgins, SIR..."
Moe died recently in N.Y., and in postwar years, was well-known to the tavern keepers in his neighborhood. This photo is one of my all time favorite 101st pics and gives a classic example that epitomizes the post-Bastogne Screaming Eagle.
Best Wishes,
Gloria
I was floored!!! There were literally millions of these rosaries made and issued. To get one that was from a member of the 101st is bucking the odds. Now for the TRULY miraculous part. The 1st of the 501st PIR (Geronimo!) was the very first non-school unit I was ever attached to. The man who previously owned this had the same MOS as me and was in the same battalion as I was 40 years later. People can write it off as sheer coincidence but I fell it is a true according to Hoyle miracle. Feel free to share this story and PLEASE let me know what you think. I am still stunned. That man was one of our country's 1st paratroopers. To say prayers on HIS rosary, knowing it went from some airfield in England, seen battles the world should never forget, and returned home with the man who carried it humbles me. May 25th will never be the same, now :-)
Sincerely,
Thom
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit who explains everything to me, who lights all paths so that I may reach my goal, who gives me the divine gift of forgiving and forgetting all my trespassers and who is with me every instant of my life, I wish in this short dialogue to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to separate myself from you although the material illusion may seem better. I wish to be with to be with you and all my dear beings in perpetual grace. I thank you for your mercy to me and mine.
Say this prayer for three consecutive days without saying the request. Within three days grace will be obtained, no matter how difficult it may be. To be published as soon as grace is received.
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