Page 61 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs
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PETE HIGA
HIGHLAND SPRINGS RESIDENT, ARMY
My name is Pete Higa. I am one of the many Highland Springs veterans of World War II. Along with my better half—Marie Higa, we currently reside in Fountain View’s assisted living neighborhood at Highland Springs.
We have the distinction of being Highland Springs Pioneers, having moved into the Crestview Terrace building on September 12, 2006. We are entering into our fifteenth year as residents.
I am the eldest in a family that included eight children—six boys and two girls. All of us were born and raised on the island of Kauai, the Garden Island in Hawaii. In descending order, my siblings include: Kensei (deceased); Patsy (deceased); Richard; Tom (deceased); Roy; Jean; and George.
My brothers—Kensei, Richard, Tom, George—and I served in the U.S. Army. As an active-duty police officer, my other brother Roy received a military deferment. After training at Fort Belvoir, VA, I was assigned to the Medical Corps. For approximately eighteen months, I served in the Medical Corp at Mason General Hospital, Brentwood, Long Island, NY and Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, PA.
In honor of the military service of the Higa brothers, there are five bricks with the surname of Higa in the Veterans Memorial Park at Highland Springs. Pete Robertson, along with his four brothers, are also represented with five bricks, the most of any residents have so far. If there are immediate family members of other residents with military service, please consider recognizing their service with additional Veteran Memorial Bricks.
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