Richard E. Heister

April 30, 1941 – June 2, 1965

Tragedy for Local Family: Second son Dies in Air Crash, by Bob Lawrence – The second Marine officer son of an Albuquerque couple, like his brother 14 months ago, has died in a helicopter crash. Lt. Richard Heister, 24, was killed in a Vietnam crash Wednesday on his sister Linda’s 18th birthday. His brother, Capt. Ted Heister, died in a Philippine Islands helicopter crash March 20, 1964, on his mother’s birthday. “Richard went to Vietnam gladly and willingly,” his father, Richard Heister Sr. He talked in the yard of his home at 7516 Second NW, where is business, the Valley Garage, carried a mute sign – “Closed.” “There’s kind of an ironic thing about this,” Mr. Heister said describing the tragic coincidence. “I don’t think we’ll have birthdays around here anymore. Richard wanted to go,” the older Heister said. “For one thing he wanted to visit Ted’s grave in Manila. He never made it, though. He got there (to DaNang air base in Vietnam on May 2 and he died June 2.” Further irony: it was Ted, a veteran Marine Corps rescue and survival expert, who taught Richard those techniques after the younger brother completed pilot training at Pensacola, Florida. Richard wrote his parents, in a letter dated May 10, that he already had flown 21 combat reconnaissance connections in a new type of “flying platform” helicopter which carries three rocket pods beneath its fuselage 50 caliber, very rapid fire machine guns on either side of the fuselage. “He’d fly two or three feet above the treetops, go back to base, examine the photos and then lead a squadron of five into the area to hit what they’d found.” Besides his parents, and three sisters – Mrs. Bernice Coddell, Linda, a Valley High School graduate this year, and Dorothy -he is survived by his wife and son, Lance, in Grundy, Virginia. Capt. Ted Heister had served 14 months in Vietnam and was decorated for rescuing a pilot on a mountain so high the usual flight gear for a helicopter had to be discarded so Capt. Heister could reach the scene. The younger Richard Heister admired his Leatherneck brother and “was out catch up to him. He gladly and willingly left for Vietnam,” his father said. His son was a star end on offense, and play linebacker on defense, on the Valley High School football team. Richard graduated in 1959, mindful of his brother Ted’s advice to “get that diploma first.” Richard was given a scholarship to the Colorado University, and sought by other schools, including the University of New Mexico, but left CU after one semester to enlist in the Marines. Ted left Albuquerque High School December 28, 1951, when he turns 17, to a list of the Marines. He fought with Marine Night raiders during the Korean War and earned a commission three years after enlisting as a private.

 Washington, June 1 (UPI). 1st LT Richard C. Heister, Jr., Albuquerque, NM, was buried with full military honors today at Arlington National Cemetery. The flag-draped atop a caisson was drawn to the grave site in the extreme south end of the cemetery by horses. A Marine Color Guard and firing squad stood by during the solemn burial ceremony. A bugler play Taps in the near distance. Heister, a Marine helicopter pilot, was killed in Vietnam June 2. His brother, Marine CPT Ted Heister, also a pilot, died previously in a helicopter accident in the Philippines. The lieutenant’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Heister, of Albuquerque, were brought to the funeral on a Marine Corps plane. They were joined at the ceremony by their son’s wife and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Combs of Grundy, VA, and by about 40 service buddies as well as other relatives. Sen. Joseph M. Montoya, D-NM, also attended.