Background
He was the son of George Heyliger, Senior and Augusta Weissent.
He was the son of George Heyliger, Senior and Augusta Weissent.
Heyliger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps there 3 February 1942. Private First Class Heyliger was serving with the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal. On 9 October 1942, when his platoon"s position was attacked by approximately 150 Japanese.
The fighting swiftly changed from automatic weapons to bayonets and then hand-to-hand combat.
Heyliger refused to be dislodged from his position by the enemy and, after exacting a tremendous toll on them, heroically died at his post. Heyliger (Delaware-510) was launched 6 August 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey.
Sponsored by Mistress Augusta Foss, mother of Private First Class Heyliger.
And commissioned at New York 24 March 1945, Lieutenant Commander Arthur F. Chase, United States Naval Reserve, in command.