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First Name
Donald
Middle Name
L.
Last Name
Heiliger
Birthdate
Hometown
Madison, WI
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Don Heiliger enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard on July 15, 1955, and was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC Program at the University of Wisconsin. He completed Undergraduate Navigator Training in July 1959, and served as a Navigator Instructor at Harlingen AFB, Texas and Mather AFB, California, before going through Undergraduate Pilot Training, where he graduated first in his class in March 1965. After combat crew training in the F-105 Thunderchief, Heiliger served with the 36th and then the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan. He was flying combat missions on a temporary duty assignment when he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on May 15, 1967. Captain Heiliger was captured the next day and made a Prisoner of War.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Colonel Heiliger was released during “Operation Homecoming“ on February 18, 1973. After hospitalization, Colonel Heiliger earned a Masters Degree from George Washington University and later served as Air Force Attache to Uruguay, then Chile, and finally as Defense and Air Attache to Israel before retiring from the Air Force on August 31, 1985. Colonel Heiliger is a Senior Pilot with over 3,000 flying hours as a Pilot and Navigator. He and his wife Cheryl had three sons together-Don, Jr., and twins Dan and Dave. Don Heiliger died on March 23, 2016, and was buried at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona, Wisconsin.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star (2)
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit (2)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release