a boat manufacturer in new orleans, a timber magnate, who had an idea and a design for shallow draft boats used to navigate the swamps and bayous of louisiana. higgins was certain his swamp boats could play a critical role in the world. the navy doesn t know a damn thing about small boats the hard drinking, hard charging irishman insisted. the military resisted higgins overture, nevertheless, in a sign of his confidence, higgins purchased an entire crop of philippines mahogany, one of the last shipments before the war ended trade there. it was an inspired purchase, particularly once the marines finally relented and higgins put his landing craft into production for military use. he would eventually open seven plants in new orleans. employ tens of thousands of people, and build 20,000 landing craft. what made the higgins boat so