Duke Heller Jr; Duke Heller Sr., Scott Heller
 Commandant, General Eric Smith & Corporal Duke Heller Sr. |
 Corporal Duke Heller Sr. |
On August 28, 2024, Duke Heller Jr, HG Logistics’ Director of Operations, attended an award ceremony in Washington DC. Commandant of the Marine Corp, General Eric M Smith, presented Duke’s father, Daniel Leroy “Duke” Heller, with the Navy Cross, the military’s second-highest honor.
Corporal Daniel Heller enlisted in the Marines in 1967 right out of high school. His childhood fascination with the Marines is what inspired him, but nothing quite prepared him for the war he was about to come face to face with. This small-town boy who had never left his little Village of Cleves, Ohio got deployed to the jungles of Vietnam serving as part of the Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. When being handed his flak jacket and helmet, he was asked if he wants his Purple Hearts now. It was then that Mr. Heller knew he had to quickly grow into adulthood. Although he replied, “No, I don’t plan on getting any Purple Hearts,” he would end up with two.
His squad was among 7,000 Marine pulled into Operation Dewey Canyon in the A Shau Valley in the northern tip of what was then South Vietnam. On February 13, 1969, his squad, along with two others, were walking through an area near the Demilitarized Zone that divided North and South Vietnam. It was there that they were ambushed by North Vietnamese forces. Their point man was hit, along with other soldiers. His squad leader directed Heller to help grab the wounded. He did not hesitate to run down to grab first, the soldier wounded the worst who had been shot four or five times. Heller through him over his shoulders and carried him up the hill, and then returned to grab the next man. This time, however, a grenade was launched causing him to hit the ground, leaving him with bleeding shrapnel wounds to the face and shoulder, but that did not stop him. In all, Heller saved the lives of four Marines that day. Not only did he rescue the wounded, but he also returned to help launch a counterattack and firefight to neutralize the threat.
Corporal Daniel Heller sacrificed a lot for his country. Conditions were treacherous. He went 77 days without shaving, showering, or changing his clothes. He never took off his boots. He said his pants literally rotted off him. He even missed the birth of his first son, Daniel “Duke” Heller Jr, who was born on January 22, 1969, the same day he arrived in A Shau Valley.
“It’s been 55 years, but I never expected anything, and I definitely didn’t expect a Navy Cross. What I did that day, I didn’t do it for a Navy Cross. I was just trying to do my job.”
Heller is grateful for the recognition for his service, but he said he would trade it in a minute if it would bring back friends lost in Vietnam.
August 28th was a memorable day for the Heller family and one that they will cherish forever. Watching their husband, father, and grandfather receive such an honorable award was a proud moment. This is a story that they will retell and reminisce about at future family gatherings and one that they will proudly pass down to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
