Lueford was the son of Jesse P. Higgins and Maud Alva Jacks. He entered the Marine Corps in September, 1944; sailed for Pacific Dec. 2, 1944; killed on Iwo Jima, Valcona Island, on March 14, 1945, while serving with Fifth Marines; posthumously awareded Purple Heart.


MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR PVT. HIGGINS
**********************************


Memorial services for Pvt. Lenford Higgins who was killed in action on Iwo Jima were held last Sunday at the First Baptist church in Portales with Rev. Clarence Moore, pastor of the West Side Baptist church and Rev. E. L. Anson pastor of the First Christian church presiding.

The American flag was presented by Henry E. Taylor, commander of the local post of American legion and G.T. Wise, commander of the post of veterans of Foregin Wars.

Taps were sounded by Joy Hood.

Portales News Tribune 5/9/1945


NEXT THURSDAY FOR PVT. HIGGINS FINAL RITES SET
**********************************************

The body of Pvt. Lueford H. Higgins, son of Jess Higgins, who lives on Cottonwood street in Portales, is arriving in Portales this week and funeral services will be held at the Wheeler chapel Thursday afternoon, December 16, at two o'clock.
The mother has preceded the son in death and the survivors include the father, five brothers and two sisters. The brother, Leon is an employee of the Universal Motor Company and the other brothers are clodus, Alvis, James and Alvern. The two sisters are Faye Phillips and Daisy Higgins.

Lueford was 23 years of age on march 14, 1944 when he gave his life at Iwo Jima.

His two children are Robert Lueford and Elvin Dean Higgins who live in Nashville Tennessee in the home of their mother who has married the second time. She is the former Gladys Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Hall and her father is an employee of the Portales Milling company.

Portales News Tribune 12/16/1945