Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1204 – Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: National Guard
Date of birth: 11-Nov-1940
Hometown: Torrance, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 11-Apr-1964
Start of tour: 2-Mar-1969
Incident date: 18-Mar-1969
Date of casualty: 18-Mar-1969
Age at death: 28
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Isaac Edward Heath was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was engaged. / Track commander on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance in force mission when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 590 536
Place of interment: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
FIRST LIEUTENANT ISAAC EDWARD HEATH, ARMOR
18 MARCH 1969
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Lieutenant Heath distinguished himself for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 March 1969 while serving as a platoon leader with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while Lieutenant Heath’s platoon was conducting a reconnaissance mission it made contact with a well-fortified enemy fore. As the hostile rocket propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire increased he organized his armored element into a line formation and coordinated an aggressive assault against the hostile positions. Disregarding his own safety Lieutenant Heath directed his command vehicle to lead the attack. When his driver was wounded seriously, Lieutenant Heath assumed physical control of the vehicle and continued leading the advance. As the platoon closed in on the enemy fortifications he was mortally wounded by small arms fire. His personal example of aggressive and inspiring leadership enabled his platoon to successfully accomplish its mission. First Lieutenant Heath’s courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 1105 (May 3, 1969)