R 181222Z JAN 12

ALCGPSC 008/12
SUBJ: DEATH OF RETIRED FLAG OFFICER
A. USCG REGULATIONS, COMDTINST M5000.3 (SERIES)
1. THE COMMANDANT ANNOUNCES WITH REGRET THE DEATH OF RADM ALBERT A.
HECKMAN, USCG (RETIRED), ON MONDAY MORNING 16 JANUARY 2012, AT
ARLEIGH BURKE PAVILION, MCLEAN, VA, OF NATURAL CAUSES.  RADM HECKMAN
WAS 93.
2. RADM HECKMAN WAS BORN ON 29 AUG 1918 IN READING, PA.  ON 19 JUN
1942, HE GRADUATED FROM THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY AND SAW COMBAT
ASSIGNMENTS IN AFRICA, EUROPE, NORTH ATLANTIC CONVOY DUTY, AND THE
WESTERN PACIFIC ABOARD USS SAMUEL CHASE, USCGC TAMPA, AND USCGC
ROCKAWAY.  ON 4 MAR 1960, HE COMMANDED USCGC ACUSHNET DURING AN EPIC
RESCUE OF USCGC GENERAL GREENE AND A MORAN TUG AFTER THEY BECAME
STRANDED IN A BLINDING SNOWSTORM AND GALE OFF CAPE COD, MA.  ASHORE
HE SPECIALIZED IN AIDS TO NAVIGATION, PARTICULARLY LORAN, AND
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING.  HE ALSO SERVED AS AN ADVISOR TO IRAN FROM
1962 TO 1964, THE CHIEF DIRECTOR OF COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, AND AS
CHIEF, PUBLIC INFORMATION DIVISION AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS.  HE
GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE IN 1966 AND EARNED A MASTERS
DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN
1967.  HE WAS THE FIRST DEPUTY CHIEF OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS WHEN THE COAST GUARD TRANSITIONED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
TREASURY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN 1967.  RADM HECKMAN
SERVED FROM 1970 TO 1972 AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE COAST GUARD AND
THEN AS COMMANDER, NINTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT AT CLEVELAND, OH.  HE
RETIRED 1 OCT 1974.  MORE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON
THE USCG HISTORIAN WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HISTORY/PEOPLE/FLAGS/HECKMANABIO.PDF.
3. RADM HECKMAN IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, JANE G. HECKMAN, AND
DAUGHTER, NORAH M. HECKMAN.
4. NO PUBLIC FUNERAL OR BURIAL IS PLANNED AT THIS TIME.  A PRIVATE
BURIAL CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE FAMILY PLOT ON LONG ISLAND, NY,
ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED.
5. COORDINATION INFORMATION FOR HALF-MASTING THE NATIONAL ENSIGN IAW
REF A WILL BE PROVIDED IN A SUBSEQUENT MESSAGE WHEN THE DATE OF
BURIAL IS KNOWN.
6. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, RADM HECKMAN REQUESTED DONATIONS TO COAST
GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE.  CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MAILED TO COAST GUARD
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, USCG MAIL STOP 7180, 4200 WILSON BLVD, SUITE 610,
ARLINGTON VA  20598-7180, OR DIRECTLY ONLINE THROUGH
HTTP://WWW.CGMAHQ.ORG.
7. RADM D. R. MAY, COMMANDER, PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.