Gerald Joseph Higgins (August 29, 1909 – December 20, 1996) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general.

Following his graduation from high school in summer 1927, he enlisted in the United States Army as a private and was attached to the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Higgins rose to the rank of sergeant and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in June 1930.

[5] Following the United States entry into World War II, Higgins was promoted to major on February 1, 1942, and to lieutenant colonel on October 1 that year.

He then joined newly activated 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, which was part of the 101st Airborne Division under Major General William C. Lee.

Higgins participated in the early regimental training at Camp Toccoa until August 1942 when he joined General Lee's divisional headquarters as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3).

He was responsible for the training of Army paratroopers until the end of January 1946, when he was ordered to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, for duty as Commandant of Cadets.