The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) to Colonel William Richard Higgins, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Senior United States Military Observer (SUSMO) to the United Nations (UN ) Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) (Palestine), United States Military Observer Group, Israeli-Lebanese Mixed Armistice Commission in Southern Lebanon from July 1967 to July 1990. As SUSMO, Colonel Higgins was responsible for ensuring that the members of the United States contingent to the UNTSO assisted the UN in the mission of observing and supervising the armistice agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors. He performed observer and patrol duties along the Israeli and Lebanese border in an outstanding manner, accomplishing the highest degree of mission success. Additionally, Colonel Higgins reported all armistice violations and coordinated the UN interests with various Lebanese insurgent groups, both military authorities and government officials. On numerous occasions, he traveled unarmed into the dangerous and hostile terrorist environment of Southern Lebanon fully cognizant of the risks involved, but ever mindful of the importance of his duties. During such a peacekeeping mission, he was abducted by Shiite terrorists and held hostage until a finding of presumptive death was made. Colonel Higgins’ outstanding leadership, exceptional professional skill, and total devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.