John Heinmiller

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Conrad Jahn on April 23, 2001:

23 April 2001 (0500) I just woke up from one of the best dreams that I have had in my life.... I am a manager for the army hockey team. The past year I have been there for their triumph and defeat. I have an interesting perspective: I am somebody close to the team, but just outside the bonds that hold the players together. I wasn't especially close to Jack Heinmiller, but he still touched my life as he did everyone he came in contact with. I have good memories of Jack. He was always smiling, and he always wanted to make people laugh, even if it meant telling a joke at his own expense. One time after practice the guys were all getting out of their equipment and cleaning up. I was putting some of the water bottles away when I got blindsided in the back of the head by some balled-up tape someone took off their pads. I spun around, angry at first, but then I saw who it was. It was Jack. He stood there guilty as sin, waiting for my reaction. I made a big seen of yelling and trying to chase him, but I wasn't really mad. I couldn't be mad at Jack, who never had a complaint about anything and was just happy to play hockey. In the end everyone laughed at the site of a 200 pound hockey player running from the 160 pound water boy. ...In my dream the whole team was gathered together in the lounge where the freshmen have spent so much time in the last year. Everyone had a downcast look on there face but one guy. He came up to me, and asked me to sign his card and asked me if he could take a picture with me. He said he wanted a picture incase he never saw me again, and I was a little confused. I looked down to read what he had given me to sign, then looked back up at him in shock. It was Jack. He just grinned and gave me a half wink. He had a surreal glow about him. I reached out to touch him, but he disappeared as I was shocked awake. My memory will forever be etched with the image of Jack winking and saying goodbye one last time. The card he gave to sign had an interesting note on it. Scribbled in the pen of a college freshman were the words: "I've gone to be a light-fighter in heaven..." They were terribly out of place and fitting at the same time. It was Jacks way of saying goodbye and telling one last joke... It left me with the feeling that Jack will always be looking over my shoulder laughing at the funny things and fighting with me when things go wrong. Light-fighters are airborne or air assault infantry soldiers who can deploy on a moments notice. They charge into battle and take it full force just like Jack charged into every aspect of his life. God has taken Jack to be his own, but he is still there for the Army hockey team and for his family and friends, ready to rush to our side at a moments notice... a light-fighter in heaven... To the Heinmiller's I send my deepest condolences... Jack has touched us all.

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