Master Sergeant Heyliger was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F7F-3N Tigercat fighter with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On 18 October 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft exploded and crashed. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 15 December 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Heyliger was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.