Honoring Our Heroes

Tech Sergeant Donald Allen Heil: Age 76

Tech Sergeant (TSgt) Donald Allen Heil served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was Telephone Technician Specialist. During his entire military service, he worked as a liaison with the cities where the military bases were located wherever that he served setting up the communications systems. He received the following medals, decorations, citations and ribbons: Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Bronze and Silver Stars, Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, Air and Space Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air and Space Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air and Space Commendation Medal, Air and Space Longevity Service Ribbon, Space Training Ribbon, Army of Occupation Medal in

Germany , National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

TSgt Heil was born November 24, 1947 to his parents, Leonard and Jean Heil at Kankakee, IL. His father served in the Navy’s Seabees in WWI, and his son-n-law served in the U.S. Marines and in the Air Force. He was reared in Marshalltown, IA, where he graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1966. After working at fast food and other retail establishments, he volunteered for military service entering military service November 24, 1967. TSgt Heil began his military service at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), TX, where he had six weeks of Basic Training. He was then sent to Sheppard AFB, TX, for 16 weeks of training in telephone com-munications technology. His first assignment was at Barksdale AFB, LA, for two years. He was deployed to Taegu Air Base, Korea in 1970 for 16 months. He deactivated for a few weeks July 4, 1971, and after a few weeks, he reenlisted for Active Duty and reported to Randolph Air Force Base, TX. His first assignment after reenlistment was at Chanute AFB, IL, for one year. This was followed by an over-seas tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, for four years, and this was an accompanied tour. He returned to the USA and served at Dyess AFB, TX, in 1976-1980. His second accompanied tour to Germany was at the Tempelhof Air Station at Berlin, Germany, in 1980-1983. He returned to the U.S.A. and served at Robins AFB, GA, in 1983-1991 where he retired from military service February 1, 1991.

After his military retirement, TSgt Heil worked in 2001-2006 at fast food businesses, starting up and operating a lawn-sprinkler business and then working in school cafeterias. He enjoys fishing, traveling and visiting with friends. He serves as an Elder at the Community of Christ Church at Warner Robbins, GA. He is a member of the VFW Unit 6126 at Perry, GA. He and his wife, Brenda, have been married 54 years, and they have two children and one grandchild. TSgt Heil’s conclusions about what serving in the U.S. military means to him are: ‘It meant that I was helping Americans to be safe. I was helping further the freedom of people in America. I was serving my country.” He would like people to remember him as a good American who loved his country who wanted better for other people.