marinefamily5
07-29-05, 01:40 PM
SPRINGDALE, OHIO (AP) -- The family of a soldier who died from injuries he received in Iraq had to deal with an act of vandalism less than 24 hours after his funeral. The funeral of Army Private First Class Tim Hines Junior was held Friday in the Cincinnati suburb of Springdale. Early Saturday police and fire investigators were called to the Fairfield home of Hines' mother- and father-in-law where someone had piled American flags under the car of Hines' sister-in-law and set them on fire.
The flags had lined the lawn of the home. The fire damaged the car beyond repair. No one was injured. "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 By Saturday afternoon, the 20 flags had been replaced by more than 200 given by family, friends and neighbors.
If PFC Hines 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 after battling injuries he received in a bomb explosion in Baghdad for almost a month.
His funeral on Friday attracted more than 400 family members and friends. During the service, 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.
In addition to the acts of kindness from their friends and neighbors, the family also had reason to be grateful to an anonymous donor this week. The donor gave Cincinnati Christian School $130,000 to cover tuition for Hines' two children last week.
The flags had lined the lawn of the home. The fire damaged the car beyond repair. No one was injured. "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.
If PFC Hines 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 after battling injuries he received in a bomb explosion in Baghdad for almost a month.
His funeral on Friday attracted more than 400 family members and friends. During the service, 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.
In addition to the acts of kindness from their friends and neighbors, the family also had reason to be grateful to an anonymous donor this week. The donor gave Cincinnati Christian School $130,000 to cover tuition for Hines' two children last week.