Donald Heggan - Lieutenant

Hometown:
Hammonton
D.O.B.:
August 17, 1944
County:
Atlantic
Rank:
Lieutenant
Branch:
Army
Date of Casualty:

July 20, 1968

Casualty Status:
Killed In Action
Country of Incident:
South Vietnam

Donald Ernest Heggan was born on August 17, 1944 to Ernest and Pearl Heggan. His home of record is Hammonton, NJ. Don had one sister, Jacqueline. He graduated from Edgewood Regional High School in 1962. During his school years he enjoyed football, baseball, water skiing and coaching little league baseball. Heggan went on to North Carolina State University where he was a member of the ROTC.

After college, he was commissioned into the US Army and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. Heggan went to Vietnam where he served in Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry. He attained the rank of Lieutenant (LT).

After serving in Vietnam just three months, he was killed on July 20, 1968.

He was awarded the Badge of Qualification for Parachutist, the Basic Marksmanship, the National Defense Medal, the Purple Heart, the Silver and Bronze Stars, the Combat and Infantryman Medal and the Vietnam Service Award.

There is a monument and baseball park named after Heggan in his hometown of Blue Anchor, NJ. The boys he coached raised the money for the monument.

Sources: Jacqueline Gebhard (sister), Tony Perez (friend) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024

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Merlino, Carl - Major

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