No Man's Land

In public ceremonies in Kirksville on November 22, 1919, Dale Heiny, known to most of his men as “Jack”, was presented the Distinguished Service Cross which had been awarded to his “for extraordinary heroism in action near Charpentry, France, September 27, 1918.  In order to secure important information as to the positions of hostile batteries, he passed through the enemy’s artillery fire and was twice severely wounded.  In spite of his wounds he remained on duty throughout the entire engagement and gave great assistance in the location of advance positions.”

Captain Heiny was an officer in the Intelligence Department of the Army.  He enlisted as a private in Company C, but was immediately elected to a vacancy as second lieutenant.  He went with the company from Kirksville to Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma.  He was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the regimental intelligence office while at Camp Doniphan and was promoted to captain in France and was recommended for further promotion just before the Armistice was signed.

He was wounded three times and once severely burned with mustard gas, a wound that did not entirely heal for a year.

Captain Heiny returned to Kirksville after the War and engaged in a retain confectionery and bakery business.  In 1931 he was nominated for mayor of Kirksville, but he was defeated in the April election.  Later he went to Jefferson City and operated a radio station.  Still later her operated a sound truck, which was used in political campaigns.¹

Page Image:

“Capt. Dale Heiny, D. S. C.” Pg. 190, The Echo: 1920. Truman State University Pickler Memorial Library Special Collections.