Corporal Heard was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 525th Transportation Truck Company, U.S. Army. On 22 April 1951, he was driving a truck 8 miles from Chrewon, Korea, when it left the road, went over an embankment and overturned killing him.

Heard was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.