Army Pfc. Timothy J. Hines Jr.

Died July 14, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Fairfield, Ohio; assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas; died July 14 at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of wounds sustained on June 19 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Baghdad.

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Fort Hood soldier dies of Iraq wounds

Associated Press

A Fort Hood soldier has died of injuries from a bomb explosion last month in Baghdad, the Pentagon confirmed Sunday.

Pfc. Tim Hines, 21, of Fairfield, Ohio, died Thursday night at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. His grandmother, Florence Thomas, said Friday that his wife, mother and other family members were with him.

An anonymous donor has given $130,000 to pay private school tuition for Hines’ two-year-old daughter and unborn son, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported in Monday’s editions.

Family members said Hines was the gunner on a Humvee in a convoy when a bomb detonated on a Baghdad highway on Father’s Day. He suffered kidney and tissue damage and internal bleeding, and his right leg was amputated in a Baghdad hospital. He was having emergency surgery Thursday when he died.

Hines enlisted in December 2003 and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 720th Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, 64th Military Police Unit, before shipping out to Iraq in February.

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Hundreds mourn soldier who died of Iraq injuries

SPRINGDALE, Ohio — If Pfc. Tim Hines Jr. could have held on for another few weeks, he would have been able see his second child.

The 21-year-old from Fairfield died last week at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., after battling injuries he received in a bomb explosion in Baghdad for almost a month.

More than 400 family members and friends gathered for his funeral Friday in this Cincinnati suburb. They watched a slide show of his life from childhood to high school to his wedding.

Hines met his wife, Katy, at Cincinnati Christian School. They had a 2-year-old daughter, Lily, and Katy expects to give birth to their second child in about two weeks.

“Tim was a fighter. He fought hard for his country, family and ultimately, his life. He was a loyal husband and father and an incredible American,” a tearful Katy Hines said at the funeral. “There is a price for freedom and Tim paid the ultimate price. Now he is in the loving arms of God.”

Family members said Hines was the gunner on a Humvee in a convoy when a bomb detonated on a Baghdad highway on Father’s Day. He suffered kidney and tissue damage and internal bleeding, and his right leg was amputated in a Baghdad hospital. He was having emergency surgery when he died.

“Tim understood the importance of sacrifice,” said Jay Madigan, pastor of St. Paul Crossroads New Hope Church of Eaton.

Hines’ flag-draped casket was illuminated by a spotlight during the funeral.

Army Brig. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly presented Hines’ mother a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. Family members also received a visit from President Bush at the medical center earlier this month.

Hines was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati with full military honors.

Less than 24 hours later, however, the family’s mourning was interrupted by an incident of vandalism. Fairfield police and fire department investigators were called to the home of Hines’ mother-and father-in-law about 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

A group of American flags that had been lining the lawn were piled under the car of Hines’ sister-in-law, Sara Wessel, and set on fire, police said. The fire spread to the car, which was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

“What has happened to this family is a tragedy; what occurred this morning is despicable,” said Fairfield police Chief Mike Dickey. “We will take every step to identify the persons responsible and hold them accountable.”

Police were asking anyone with information about the vandalism to call them.

Hines’ father-in-law, Jim Wessel, said he believes the fire was a random act of vandalism.

“If it wasn’t random vandalism, what statement were they trying to make?” he said.

By Saturday afternoon, the 20 flags had been replaced by more than 200 given by family, friends and neighbors.

In addition to the acts of kindness from their friends and neighbors, the family also had reason to be grateful to an anonymous donor. The donor gave Cincinnati Christian $130,000 to cover tuition for Hines’ two children last week.

— Associated Press