It was known in the family that Julius enlisted when he was 17, needing his parents' permission to do so. Three months before his death, he wrote to his sister Sylvia: "I’ve started flying but as yet I haven’t told Mom & Pop. Please don’t tell them until I want them to know, and that will be when I stop flying. Don’t let Mom wrangle it out of you and don’t let it slip out accidently, since I don’t want Mom & Pop to worry unnecessarily, and it is unnecessary." A military buddy of Julius, hearing of his death, wrote Sylvia: "Julie wasn’t famous or important in the eyes of other people, but to you he will be an idol who was willing to give his life so that there will be no race prejudice, class distinction, or be denied the right of free worship for the pursuit of one’s happiness —."
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Fatal mid-air collision with B-24 44-10513 during formation assembly near Carleton Rode, 21-Nov-44. Killed in Action (KIA)

Awards: AM (OLC), PH.

Service

Events

Event	Location	Date
Born	Brooklyn, NY	1925
Son of Paul and Esther Heitler.
Enlisted	New York City, NY	March 1943
Someone wrote enlisted date as Sept 21, 1943, but he wrote home several times from military training in March and April 1943.
Based	Hethel	July 1944 – 21 November 1944
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. His letter of Aug. 8, 1944, says he had gotten his permanent assignment (with the 389BS, 566BS) by this time.
Died	Carleton Rode, Norfolk	21 November 1944
Fatal mid-air collision with B-24 44-10513 during formation assembly near Carleton Rode, 21-Nov-44. Killed in Action (KIA)
Buried		22 November 1944
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Plot: Plot E Row 5 Grave 95