Thursday, 4:30 PM
Connecticut soldier killed in Iraq
By David Abel, Globe Staff
After graduating from the University of Connecticut with honors, Keith N. Heidtman had many opportunities.
But it was a time of war, and he felt like he had to do his part, relatives said. So, like his grandparents in World War II, he joined the Army.
On Monday, five months after deploying to a base in Tikrit, the 24-year-old first lieutenant from Norwich, Conn., died when the OH-58D Kiowa helicopter he was piloting came under heavy fire and crashed.
One crewman also died in the crash, and six servicemen who attempted to rescue the crash victims were killed by enemy fire.
As of May 30, 3,459 US servicemen have died in Iraq, according to the Pentagon.
“We were totally against him joining the military, but it was something he always wanted to do, and we supported him,” said Arthur Robidoux, his stepfather. “I think he had more maturity than I had, and I’m twice his age. He was very mature, very goal oriented. He was well loved and well respected by a lot of people.”
Born and raised in Norwich, Heidtman graduated from the Norwich Free Academy, where he played first base on the baseball team and guard on the basketball team, in 2001, his parents said.
He studied resource economics at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, they said.
As a college junior in 2004, Heidtman enlisted in the campus ROTC program. When he graduated the following year, he went to boot camp and then the US Army Aviation Warfighting Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he learned to be a helicopter pilot.
Relatives said he was motivated to join the Army, in part, by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“He wanted to serve his country and make a difference,” said Jeffrey Cassis, his uncle. “I’m really proud of him, but it’s also quite a tragedy. He had a whole life ahead of him. I really miss him.”
Wanted to make a difference
