U.S. Patent for Higgins Boat.

"This invention relates to landing boats of particular military significance for transporting trucks, tanks, field pieces, and other equipment to a beach, and landing them on the beach without the benefit of wharves or docks."
United States Patent Office. #2,341,866. Patented February 15, 1944.
The Higgins boat was invented by Andrew Jackson Higgins of New Orleans, LA. It was used for the amphibious D-Day invasion of Normandy.