Thomas Heggen

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Thomas Heggen's life was a blend of literary achievement and personal struggle. He rose to fame with his novel "Mister Roberts," which captured the nuances of naval life during World War II. Despite his early success, Heggen faced challenges that ultimately led to a tragic end.

Early Life and Education

Born on December 23, 1919, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Thomas Heggen was the son of business owner Thomas O. Heggen and Mina Amelia Paulson. The Great Depression took its toll on his family's business, prompting a move to Oklahoma in 1935. Heggen pursued higher education at Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma A&M University before transferring to the University of Minnesota. Here, he completed his journalism degree in 1941, setting the stage for his future career. That same year, as he started working as an editor for Reader’s Digest in New York City, the United States entered World War II.

Military Service During World War II

With the onset of World War II, Heggen enlisted in the U.S. Navy just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He underwent officer training at Notre Dame and was assigned to the USS Salinas, a tanker patrolling the North Atlantic. A confrontation with an officer led to a serious hand injury, sidelining Heggen in a hospital for six months. Upon recovery, he was assigned to the USS Agawam, operating from New Orleans to the Caribbean. Seeking a change, Heggen transferred to the USS Virgo, a cargo and troop transport ship in the Pacific. He joined the crew at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands on July 12, 1944, and spent the next fourteen months aboard, penning humorous accounts of daily life on the ship.

Literary Career and Success

After his naval discharge in 1945, Heggen returned to civilian life with a treasure trove of stories from his time at sea. Encouraged by his cousin, the novelist Wallace Stegner, he submitted these stories to publications like Atlantic Monthly and Reader’s Digest. With positive reception, Heggen compiled his narratives into a novel, Mister Roberts, published in 1946. The book achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming a bestseller. This triumph inspired Heggen to adapt his novel into a stage play. Dissatisfied with his initial draft, he collaborated with director Joshua Logan. Their efforts produced a Broadway hit, starring Henry Fonda, which ran from 1948 to 1951 and clinched two Tony awards in 1948.

Struggles and Tragic Demise

Despite his literary accolades, Heggen struggled to replicate his success. His personal life was marred by a tumultuous divorce from Carol Lynn Gilmer in 1946, whom he had married in 1942. This period of personal turmoil, coupled with creative roadblocks, led to excessive drinking and prescription drug misuse. On May 19, 1949, tragedy struck when Heggen was found dead in his New York City apartment bathtub, having overdosed on barbiturates. Although no note was left, his death was officially deemed a probable suicide. However, friends speculated it was accidental, attributing it to Heggen's struggles with insomnia and a possible miscalculation of medication.

Legacy

Thomas Heggen's brief but impactful literary career left a lasting legacy. "Mister Roberts" was not only a successful novel but also a cherished play and a classic film adaptation in 1955, featuring Henry Fonda, James Cagney, and Jack Lemmon. Heggen's writings continue to resonate, offering a glimpse into the life and humor of sailors during World War II. Though his life was cut short, his work endures, celebrating the resilience and camaraderie of those who served at sea.

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