Captain John Dale Jack Heiny: WWI War Hero and Kirksville Legend

Captain John Dale “Jack” Heiny was a war hero from Kirksville whose life and military service during World War I reflect the experience of a soldier from Adair County.

Born in Kirksville on June 17, 1879, Heiny was the son of Benjamin Franklin Heiny Jr., a prominent local figure who served in the 142nd Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. Jack Heiny’s journey from a small-town osteopath to a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross captures the intersection of personal sacrifice and global conflict.

The Kirksville Daily Express reports that despite being in a “deferred class” due to his marriage, Heiny abandoned his osteopathic practice in Kansas to return to Kirksville upon the U.S. entry into the war in April 1917.

He enlisted as a private in Company C of the 4th Missouri National Guard, which would eventually become the 139th Infantry of the 35th Division. His rise through the ranks was rapid; his fellow soldiers elected him to a vacancy for a second lieutenant, and he eventually served as a regimental intelligence officer.

Heiny’s letters home provide a candid look at the front lines. In an April 9, 1918, letter to his friend Charlie Matthews, Heiny remarked on his arrival in England, noting, “This is the most beautiful country I have ever seen. The whole country is one vast flower garden.” He also expressed a humorous, homesick longing: “I am feeling fine and dandy myself but would give 7 dollars for a chocolate malted milk.”

Captain John Dale Jack Heiny: WWI War Hero and Kirksville Legend — Photo: findagrave.com

The intensity of the conflict is documented in the citation for his Distinguished Service Cross, which he received in November 1919. The commendation honors his actions near Carpentry, France, on September 27, 1918: “In order to secure important information as to the position 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 assistance in the reorganization of advanced positions.”

Beyond the battlefield, Heiny’s service left a permanent mark on his health.

The post-war years saw Heiny undergo several professional transitions. He co-owned the Palace Bakery in Kirksville, worked as a legislative clerk in Jefferson City, and in 1926, became a radio announcer for WOS.

Heiny passed away on July 14, 1970, at the age of 91. He is buried in Rosebud Cemetery in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, alongside his wife, Florence, who had predeceased him in 1962. His life story reflects the broader narrative of the “Great War” generation—men who left behind their civilian professions and family lives to answer a call to service, often returning forever altered by the realities of trench warfare.

While the biographical account highlights his heroism, the record notes his origins in Kirksville and his final resting place in Colorado. For the residents of Adair County, Heiny remains a tangible connection to a time when the world was irrevocably reshaped by the events of 1914–1918.

Keep reading