If you served in any branch of the United States military, you know Staff Sgt. John Higgins. And chances are, Higgins knows you, too.

Like most military service members, Higgins knows everyone that serves in every branch, so when civilians ask if he knows their cousin’s friend in the Air Force, a buddy from high school stationed at Pendleton, or that guy that went missing at Fort Hood, he does.

“Whenever I see a guy in camouflage, I ask if they know my buddy Barry,” said Justin Pool, a local man who spotted Higgins at the mall food court. “He is a Marine, but I figured you guys all know each other.”