Heard played on West Philadelphia High School's varsity football team in his sophomore year. He worked at the Mill Creek Recreation Center before enlisting in the Marine Corps in May 1967. Shortly before his death, Heard wrote to his younger brother, who was stationed in Germany with the military, warn-1118 him not to volunteer to go to Vietnam. Heard, an assistant gunner with the Head-quarters and Service Company of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, took part in many combat operations before dying in Quang Tri Province on June 18, 1968, during Operation Kentucky. The 20-year-old lance corporal was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother and two sisters.