Corporal Heimbigner was a member of the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 14 October 1952 and died of those wounds later that day.

Heimbigner was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.