Good morning. Welcome, distinguished guests, fellow Marines, and especially Corporal “Duke” Heller, his wife Christine, and their family.

Today is a special day.  

It’s not often we get the opportunity to correct an oversight nearly 60 years old – and to honor a Marine who so exemplifies the courage and commitment that define our Corps.

Corporal Daniel Heller’s actions on February 13, 1969, were extraordinary.  And it’s time we give them the recognition they deserve.

Before we get into the details of that day, I want to thank Secretary Del Toro, Congressman Steve Chabot and his staff, and especially First Lieutenant Bob Palisay, for their work in ensuring Corporal Heller receives the recognition he deserves, after so many years.  

Thank you for guaranteeing that this moment could happen. And thank you also to the Marines who served with Corporal Heller who are here with us today.  

We are here to honor his deeds, but we also know that no award truly belongs to one individual. Every heroic action is enabled by the team around the Marine who does the action—leadership, other Marines, friends and family who provide the fortitude to keep pushing. Thank you to each of you for what you did.

Now, let’s turn the clock back 55 years, to the Republic of Vietnam. Corporal Heller was a new father. He had just learned of his first son’s birth while he was participating in Operation Dewey Canyon. And on 13 February, 1969, he was leading Third Squad, of Third Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, on a patrol through a small valley. Visibility was poor, with thick, high grass on all sides.

At around 1400, they found themselves in a well-laid ambush. The enemy had set a trap – a U-shaped ambush, where the terrain and positioning – not to mention superior numbers and firepower – gave them every advantage. The enemy forces had prepared well.

They used the dense foliage to conceal their positions, and once Corporal Heller's squad was fully committed in the valley, the ambush was sprung.  The North Vietnamese opened fire with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, and automatic rifles. It was a well-coordinated ambush, and the situation was dire. 

In this terrible position, Corporal Heller rose to the occasion and displayed the leadership and courage for which Marine NCOs are known. When the call came from his Platoon Sergeant to flank the enemy and relieve the pressure on his pinned-down comrades, Corporal Heller took immediate action. 

Without hesitation, he led his squad in a bold maneuver to the left flank, knowing full well that he would be exposing himself to enemy fire. As they advanced, the point man in his squad was hit, and then another Marine behind him went down. 

In that moment, Corporal Heller made a decision that would change the outcome of the battle. Disregarding his own safety, he ran through the enemy fire, reached his wounded Marines, and carried them back to safety, one by one. 

Each trip across that battlefield was a journey through hell, with enemy rounds snapping through the air all around him, but Corporal Heller’s focus was on his Marines – getting them out, getting them to medical care.

And he didn’t stop there. 

After ensuring his wounded Marines were taken care of, Corporal Heller went back into the fight. He saw that his machine gunner’s weapon was jammed – a critical situation in a fight like this. Without missing a beat, he took the weapon, cleared the jam, and directed the machine gunner to suppress the enemy’s positions. 

This act alone helped to stabilize the situation and allowed his squad to regain the initiative. Still, the fight was far from over. As the battle raged on, more enemy forces emerged, turning the ambush into an attack. 

Corporal Heller, displaying the leadership and courage that define the Marine Corps, continued to lead his squad, directing their fire and their movements. Corporal Heller had been wounded by RPG fragmentation to his face and shoulder, yet he refused medical treatment by his platoon’s Navy Corpsman.

At this point, Corporal Heller sensed an opportunity. He moved ahead of his squad, confronted four enemy soldiers head-on, and engaged them in close combat. He killed all four with accurate M-16 fire, single-handedly preventing them from overrunning his men.  

That heroic action would turn the tide of the battle, and lead to the destruction of the enemy. These actions were not just about survival. They were about saving the lives of his fellow Marines, about refusing to let the enemy dictate the terms of the battle, and ultimately about winning.

Corporal Heller’s leadership and bravery turned the battle. His actions broke the enemy’s momentum and allowed his platoon to regain the initiative, ultimately forcing the enemy to withdraw.

For these actions, Corporal Heller was originally awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. But as we stand here today, it’s clear to all of us that his actions went far beyond the criteria for that medal. 

Today, we rectify that by awarding him the Navy Cross, our nation’s second highest award for valor. This is not just about correcting the record; it’s about ensuring that the legacy of Marines like Corporal Heller is honored in the way it should be. 

We often say in the Marine Corps that we stand on the shoulders of giants. Corporal Heller, your actions that day showed us all what it means to be a Marine. You led from the front, you protected your brothers, and you fought with skill and ferocity. Your courage, your leadership, and your dedication are what make you one of those giants.

And perhaps equally as inspiring as your actions in the Corps, is the life you lived afterwards – how you embodied our motto of Semper Fidelis. It is no secret that we did not treat our returning Vietnam veterans with the respect that they deserved.  

And when Corporal Heller tried to join his local VFW branch, he was turned away.  

But that did not stop him from keeping in touch and caring for his old comrades and their families. Corporal Larry Whitehead was just 19 when he was killed in action on that very same day in Vietnam.  

He was a machine gunner in 3rd platoon.  And for decades, every year after he passed, Corporal Heller visited Larry’s family to honor his memory. And there was fellow Marine, Lance Corporal Eddie Oliver, who was killed in action just a week later, on the 20th of February.  

Years later, Corporal Heller learned that Eddie’s family couldn’t afford a headstone for their family plot. And that just wouldn’t do – not for one of Corporal Heller’s Marines. Eddie has a headstone now, thanks to Duke – to honor his friend and fellow Marine, and to bring some solace to his family.

And those aren’t the only stories of Corporal Heller’s selfless dedication to honoring the memory and valor of the fallen. But they certainly paint a picture of the type of man he is, not only in Vietnam, but every day of his life.

Corporal Heller, on behalf of all Marines, thank you for your service and sacrifices that mean so much to so many. Your actions are now, and will always be, a proud part of Marine Corps history.

Now if you are ready, it is my great honor to present you with the Navy Cross.