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1st Lt Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund
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Amesbury, Mass. 01913
The 1st Lt. Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund was formed July 26, 2007 as a charitable nonprofit organization, and is registered in Massachusetts with the Secretary of State. It is also classified as a 501(c)(3) charity under the Internal Revenue Service. Federal Tax ID #26-0752782
Derek Hines
July 9, 1980 - September 1, 2005
Derek Hines: July 9, 1980 – September 1, 2005. Derek is survived by his parents, Steve and Susan, and his younger siblings Michael, Ashley, and Trevor.
A 2003 graduate of the United States Military Academy, 1LT Derek S. Hines, 25, died on September 1, 2005, in Baylough, Afghanistan. His unit was conducting security operations and came under attack by enemy forces using small arms fire. Even after he had been fatally shot, 1LT Hines continued to fire at the insurgents. Derek showed that same fortitude in everything he did.
Growing up in Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts, he attended Immaculate Conception School until the fourth grade. He went to the Nock Middle school through eighth grade at which point he decided to attend St. John’s Prep School in Danvers, MA.
Derek thrived at St. John’s both academically and athletically. He was a four year starter on the varsity hockey team and a three year starter on the lacrosse team. He participated in a number of service projects at St. John’s distinguishing himself amongst his peers. He graduated as a member of the National Honor Society having made the honor roll through most of his career at St. John’s. In the spring of 1999 Derek made the difficult decision to attend the United States Military Academy.
At West Point Derek encountered many of the typical hardships felt by new students. He did not use the hardships as an excuse, however. Derek used any setback as motivation to eventually succeed. He succeeded in the classroom and as a member of the hockey team. By his senior year Derek was captain of a team that at one point he wasn’t sure if he would make. All who knew Derek were not surprised. He possessed the inherent ability to triumph even though odds might be against him. He was strong in every sense of the word.
September 11, 2001 changed the complexion of the world for everyone, especially those in the military. This did not deter Derek from seeking positions that might put him in harm’s way. Upon graduation from West Point, Derek continued his training with completion of Ranger and Airborne School after briefly serving as the Graduate Assitant to the Army hockey team.
Soon after completing the rigorous test of Ranger School, Derek joined the 173rd Airborne Division in Vicenza, Italy before being deployed to his unit in Afghanistan. After arriving in Afghanistan Derek joined his unit in their attempt to eradicate the country of terrorists and insurgents.
 
 
“He stands in that unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Our Fallen Brother
14 SEP 05
To our Battle Company Family,
On September 1, 2005, elements of 1st Platoon and Headquarters Platoon, Battle Company, were on patrol in the district of Daychopan. We were on the hunt looking for the Taliban fighters that had planted an IED the previous week. About two hours after sunset, we received information that the leader of this IED cell was in a nearby village resting for the night.
Battle Company Paratroopers, accompanied by Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, approached the suspected compound to capture or kill the Taliban leader. In the ensuing firefight, the Battle Company Fire Support Officer, LT Derek Hines, was killed by small arms fire.
Derek’s death has left a whole in our ranks and in our hearts. He was a genuine friend to those lucky enough to know him. He was a leader, able to touch people in a special kind of way…able to provide that sense of purpose and motivation so desperately needed on the field of Battle.
On 9 September we memorialized Derek as a Company and as a Battalion at a unit memorial ceremony. Below, in red text, are my comments from that service:
In the early 1920s, General Douglas Macarthur was appointed as the Superintendent at the United States Military Academy, at West Point. Shortly after he arrived to his new duty assignment, he addressed the Corps of Cadets, and in his speech he proposed a new doctrine of leader development. He drew the first correlations between the lessons learned in hard core athletic competition and the lessons learned in battle. He said, “Upon the fields of friendly strife, are sewn the seeds, that upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” I think it is safe to say, without question, that 1LT Derek Hines validated Macarthur’s opinion of athletics.
For those of you who knew Derek, you know well that he defined himself as an Army Hockey Player. And to him, in the paradigm of his own life, he quantified his hockey and athletic experiences as a set of great memories, memories that may have helped to shape who he was and what he did. But to me, a regular guy who had the opportunity to walk next to greatness for 12 short months, there should be no doubt, that the lessons and values that Derek Hines learned on the field of athletic competition absolutely shaped and sculpted him into one of the finest men I have ever known.
Within a month of meeting Derek, it soon became absolutely apparent that he was a team builder. It was also immediately apparent that I had an Army hockey player on my hands. Supremely competitive, absolutely fit, exceptionally intelligence, with a work ethic that was unmatched. That being said, Derek didn’t take himself too seriously, and he didn’t really take the nuances of garrison life too seriously either. To be quite honest, it was hard as hell to make him focus on the knuckleheaded things we distract ourselves with in the rear Army. But somehow I knew, I just knew that this new and reckless addition to Battle Company would absolutely excel in combat. He was that guy. He was my “break glass” in time of war guy. And I loved him for it.
Derek and I fought together, side by side, more times than I care to remember. And it’s strange, we talk about the bonds and connections forged in the caldron of combat. And while Derek did absolutely distinguish himself under fire, time and time again; the mark he made on me, and on this company of men, was after the fighting. Derek made his mark on us during the sitting around part of the war, the quiet jabs and jests between squad mates and long conversations of home and family on radio guard. Derek Hines, I can honestly say, was a true and loyal friend to every person he met, and with a friendship that transcended rank and position, he was equally comfortable sitting with his battalion commander as he was the newest Soldier to the company, showing each a genuine respect that was hard to turn away from.
Derek used to tell me about his little league games. And I had to laugh, as he described his dad as a tough old state police trooper, and he’d describe how his dad would send his brother down to the bench, with some smart ass question like, “Derek, dad wants to know if you are going to participate today, or if you are going to play today.” For those of us that knew him, I don’t think there can be any doubt that Derek played this game hard, and played it to win.
The true tragedy in Derek’s death is that it’s so damn early. We’ll all die, every one of us, but for Derek, it’s just so early, so many things left undone, so many lives left untouched. Most men live their entire lives, and don’t stand for a thing. We stumble along, absorbed in our own little worlds, paying our bills, and concerned only about what we can see, and concerned only about that which impacts us, that which touches our own little spheres of influence. Not Derek. Derek Hines was a believer. There should be no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that Derek Hines died doing something he loved, died on a mission that he believed in, along side men that believed in him. Derek Hines was an absolute believer. As our company civil reconstruction officer, I would say, with absolute confidence, that Derek Hines believed more passionately in his mission to make this place 1% better, only 1% better, than the rest of us put together. Will the District Headquarters in Baylough, that Derek personally designed, and resourced, and contracted, will that building make a difference. You bet your ass it will. Will the school reconstruction initiatives in Khakeran, that Derek started a month ago, that we’ll break ground on in three days, will that school make a difference? Absolutely. How will it make a difference? Why will it make a difference? Because maybe, just maybe, some kid will go to that school, and learn something other than the teachings of radical Islam, a doctrine of hate and intolerance. And just maybe, that kid will choose to work for the betterment of his own country, and not be a terrorist retard – threatening safety and security around the world. This is what Derek believed, and this is where Derek was making his difference in Afghanistan.
Why did Derek Hines have to die? I don’t know. I do know, however, why Derek Hines lived. Derek lived so that he could touch our lives, however briefly, and make us better people. Derek Hines lived so that he could show us what right looked like. Teach us how to treat each other, how to be a friend to each other, how to love each other. Derek lived to inspire us to be better Soldiers, and better people.
As I close, I want to close with Derek’s own words. About two months ago, he wrote an article for his hometown newspaper. In typical fashion, he didn’t tell anybody, he just did it. Derek wrote, “I wanted to write this article to tell America of the war in Afghanistan. The press has slowly made people think this is a humanitarian assistance mission. This is false. Coalition forces are on the fast track to rebuilding this country, but there is fighting here too. The men who surround me are America’s hero’s. They are between the ages of 18 and 21. Most of them are just back from Iraq and are making the ultimate sacrifice for another year. Day in and day out, they amaze me with their perseverance and determination. Their mission, secure the most contentious areas in this country, Arghandab, Dechopan, and Khak Afghan. In the past four months, these brave men have successfully met ever challenge presented to them. There are no days off. Recently, the fighting has been as intense as it was when Special Forces and the Rangers initially came in to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaida in the Tora Bora mountains. These Soldiers make every day I am here worth the trip. As a young officer, I am beginning to understand why our Army is the best in the world. All the men are respectful when pushed to the edge, and willing to take on any task, humble about their huge accomplishments.
Derek Hines, you were my friend. I pray that I can live out my days in such a way to deserve your sacrifice.
Go Army, Beat Navy.
Our mission continues. To lessen our pace, or hesitate in our step, would be an injustice for the values and ethos that Derek held so dearly. We will continue to look for, find, and destroy the oppressive forces that threaten our way of life.
We will never forget Derek.
We will never forget Josh.
We will never forget Michael.
We will never forget Christopher.
We will never forget Blake.
For these men are our fallen brothers, and will provide us the strength and overwatch so that we may continue to fight and win in their names.
The war continues. Battle Company continues to hunt, to patrol, and to fight the thug terrorists that threaten our way of life. For us, this is the greatest memorial that we can give our five heros. They did not die in vain. Their sacrifice, while painful for us to endure, will only strengthen our resolve and fortitude.
We pray for our fallen brothers, and ask that you pray for us, for tonight somewhere in the mountains; there is a Battle Hard Paratrooper on patrol, hunting the bad guys, seeking vengeance.
Battle Hard!
CPT Mike Kloepper
Commanding
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