Brian Heyman didn’t turn 18 until 1974. “I wanted to enlist sooner, but my parents wouldn’t let me,” he recalled.
By the time he joined the Air Force, the Vietnam War was winding down, and he was never deployed in-country. “Over the years, I’ve been surrounded by Vietnam Veterans and have mentioned wishing I had gone,” he said. “Each time, I’m told, ‘You didn’t miss anything.’”
During his four years of service, Heyman worked in fire protection as a crash firefighter. Much of his time was spent de-escalating and demobilizing after the Paris Peace Accords.
As the military shifted focus from Vietnam to the Soviet Union, he helped keep aircraft primed when threats arose against the United States.
Civilian Years
After leaving the service, Heyman dedicated 40 years to firefighting. He spent 12 years at Lockheed Martin, protecting assets during the stealth fighter project, before joining a San Diego Fire Department. He later worked for a state agency overseeing fire and safety planning for public schools and community colleges, as well as a utility company in Southern California.
Despite never serving in Vietnam, Heyman has remained deeply committed to honoring those who did. He is heavily involved with veteran organizations, particularly those serving Vietnam Veterans.
It was a LinkedIn post featuring the Hero’s Bridge Vietnam Veterans 5K medal that caught his attention. “I admire what Hero’s Bridge is doing and their focus on older veterans,” he said.
The Huey helicopter, an iconic symbol of the Vietnam War and represented on the 2023 finishers medal, resonated deeply with him. “It brought relief soldiers in, took wounded ones out, and rescued them when necessary.” Moved by the tribute, Heyman sent a photo of himself proudly wearing the medal.
Retirement Years
Heyman left the fire service to care for his father, Arthur, during his final years with dementia. Arthur was a WWII Navy veteran and served on a Pacific aircraft carrier. While caring for his father, Heyman learned a lot about the VA and its benefits. Today, Heyman is a VA healthcare patient and, as a result, helps veterans manage their own healthcare.
Heyman serves as the 1st Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 756 in Long Beach, CA. He is the Commissioner for the Los Angeles Board of Supervisor’s member Janice Hahn, serving as Vice Chair. And serves on the Board of Trustees for the Downey Cemetery District, where he honors local veterans.The cemetery is the final resting place of 375 veterans, including some from the Civil War and Spanish-American War. Additionally, he is part of the coordination team bringing The Wall That Heals to his community.
An avid motorcyclist, Heyman enjoys riding his Harley and two vintage BMW bikes passed down from his father. One of those bikes found its way to him in a remarkable twist of fate. “My father had an old BMW that he sold and always regretted. One day, he mentioned it to a friend who worked on vintage bikes. By pure coincidence, that friend had just received a call about the very same bike. I bought it, and while cleaning it, I confirmed—it was the exact bike my father had owned.”
Now retired, Heyman and his wife stay active with his civic duties, the couple’s two beloved dogs and four grandchildren. This year, he is looking forward to rallying a West Coast team to participate in the virtual Hero’s Bridge 5K event.
The 2025 Finishers Medal features the F-4 Phantom II
Platinum Event Sponsor