Here is some professional analysis from a colleague based upon the photos:
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"That's a great pix of 1st Sgt. Heister. Compare with the attached crop from the Ft. D. A. Russell site, which enlarges the 1st Sgt. of H Co., 11th Inf. (the company supply sergeant is sitting next to him).
Sgt. Heister and the H Co. troops are all wearing the same uniform. This style uniform was authorized from 1902 until WWI. However, I notice from your USMF post that the trim on Sgt. Heister's uniform is light blue, which was the approved color for Infantry for piping, cords, and chevrons on this uniform from 1902 - 1910. The Infantry trim color was changed to white in 1910. So, we know for sure that Heister's uniform was of the type approved for wear between 1902 and 1910. On the other hand, it is impossible to conclusively date either his photo or the H Co. photo as either light blue or white trim would appear as white in these black and white images.
1st Sgt. Heister's portrait answers my earlier question as to whether he was at Ft. D. A. Russell. He undoubtedly was, as the frame of his picture is embossed "Cheyenne, Wyo" which was Ft. D. A. Russell's location.
Another factoid: 1st Sgt. Heister's E Co. was part of 2nd. Battalion, 11th Infantry, along with companies F, G, and H. From the brief chronology related on the Ft. D. A. Russell Web page (see below), it appears that Heister's picture would have been made between 1904 - 1906, or ca. 1909 until ?
"In 1898, War with Spain broke out. The 11th was transferred to Port Tampa for further duty in Puerto Rico where it served until 1900. With the outbreak of the Philippine Insurrection discussed on the preceding page, the 11 was transferred to the Philippines where it served first on Leyte and later at Manila. In 1904, the 11th was stationed at D. A. Russell until it was transferred to Cuba in October of 1906...Following service in Cuba the regiment was returned to D. A. Russell where it remained primarily stationed with the exception that some troops from D. A. Russell were moved to the Mexican border in response to the revolutions in Mexico."
Has Heister's relative attempted to get records from NARA?"
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Is that helpful?