RADM Charles Christian Heid Jr.

RADM Charles Christian Heid, Jr., CEC, USN (Ret) passed away peacefully on December 20, 2022, surrounded by the love of his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marguerite, with whom he reunited in heaven.

Charles was born in El Paso, Texas on November 3, 1925 and was the oldest son of Charles and Lillie Belle Heid. He attended the Texas College of Mines before entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1944 and graduated with the Class of ’48 in June, 1947. Charles was commissioned in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1948-49). He later graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College (1965) and the Advanced Management Program at the University of Pittsburgh (1976) where he was president of his class.

In RADM Heid's 33-year military career, he served extensively with the Navy’s Seabees. From 1949 to 1951, he served with the 124th Naval Construction Battalion on Adak, the Aleutian Islands, AK. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963, he took command of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVEN on deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Roosevelt Roads, PR; Vieques, PR; and St. Thomas, VI. The battalion was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” twice for Best of Type, Atlantic Fleet and was awarded the Peltier Award as the Outstanding MCB in the Fleet.

Following a tour as the Seabee Operations Officer on the staff of COMSERVLANT, Norfolk, VA, then Commander Heid was assigned as the Deputy Commander, 3rd Naval Construction Brigade at Danang, RVN (1967-1968). The in-country strength of the Brigade during this period (which included the NVA Tet offensive) included two Naval Construction Regiments containing a total of 12 Seabee Battalions.

Returning from Vietnam, newly promoted Captain Heid assumed command of both the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center and the 21st Naval Construction Regiment at Davisville, RI (1968-1970). Thousands of Seabees were trained as their battalions were refitted at the Davisville homeport before redeployment overseas to Vietnam, Diego Garcia, and Antarctica.

In later years, RADM Heid served the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in the leadership of three of its divisions. Initially, he was the Vice Commander of the Pacific Division as well as the Deputy Commander for COMCBPAC, Pearl Harbor, HI. He transferred to Philadelphia as the Commanding Officer, Northern Division, NAVFACENGCOM where he was selected for flag rank. His last tour of duty was Commander, Atlantic Division, NAVFACENGCOM, and U.S. Atlantic Fleet Civil Engineer, in Norfolk, VA, (1976-1980).

RADM Heid’s personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, (with a Gold Star and Combat “V”), Meritorious Service Medal, and two Vietnamese Medals.

Following retirement from active duty in 1980, RADM Heid joined Combustion Engineering, Inc. He was a member of the company team which developed the shale oil resources of the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela. Later, working for CE Resources Recovery Co., he was the Project Director for design and construction of the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility.

For six years (1979-1985), RADM Heid also served Widener University, in Chester, PA, on the Board of Advisors, School of Engineering. The last two years on the board he served as its chairman.

After meeting on a blind date, Charles married the love of his life, Ensign Marguerite Shiffler, a Navy nurse in 1952. Marguerite shortly resigned her commission thereafter and became a dedicated Navy wife and mother. Together they raised 5 children and shared in the excitement the Navy afforded them. Eventually, the Heids made the Annapolis area their home for the past 30 years, first in the South River Landing community in Edgewater, and finally in Spring Arbor Senior Living in Severna Park. Charles was a devoted Catholic, an avid supporter of Navy sports, and extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. With his children's families spread across the country, Charles took joy in bringing the all the families together for vacations at the beach to share each other's company and create memories. He was a history buff with particular interest in the U.S. Civil War and had the ability to remember details of everything he read. For entertainment, his classmates might find it amusing that Charles became an avid swimmer, swimming up to a mile a day at the Arundel Olympic Swim Center. He also enjoyed maintaining a meticulous lawn and garden, and taking driving tours to explore the beautiful scenery of our country.

Charles is survived by his five children; CDR Charlotte McCormick RET (Robert), Sheree Wydra (Mark), David Heid (Patti), CAPT Stephen Heid RET (Kei), and Marianne Stack (James), 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the USNA Main Chapel at 10:30 AM; followed by burial at USNA Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association.