U. S. Air Force Master Sergeant Daniel “Reese” Hines was born in Charlotte, NC, on December 15th, 1980. MSgt Hines grew up with a passion for playing sports, such as baseball, football, and Tae Kwon Do. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. MSgt Hines struggled with classes for the first time and realized his drive to succeed had waned. He yearned for a challenge that would help prove a direction in his life that college and working 40-hour weeks could not provide.
In October 2000, MSgt Hines took the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and maxed the score, enabling him to select whichever career field he pursued. After carefully considering each avenue presented by the Air Force, MSgt Hines chose to enlist as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) apprentice. EODs are responsible for rendering safe conventional, improvised, chemical, biological, and nuclear explosive threats and providing security to the US and foreign diplomats by assisting the US Secret Service, Department of State, and other government agencies.
After being stationed and participating in competitive rugby at Eglin AFB, South Korea, Guam, and deployed to Al Dhafra AB, UAE, he was deployed to FOB Mahmuhdiyah, just south of Baghdad Iraq. During this deployment, MSgt Hines lost a close friend in action, Tony Capra, on April 9th, 2008. Three years later, while deployed in Kandahar, Afghanistan – also known as the birthplace of the Taliban – MSgt Hines was critically injured during a large, planned operation. An IED remotely detonated, and roughly 20 pounds of explosives activated less than 2 feet away from him. His near-mortal wound considered him killed in action during the initial confusion following the explosion. MSgt Hines suffered damage to both eyes, and his right eye had to be surgically removed due to extensive, irreversible injury. Additionally, his right hand was nearly severed and had to be pieced together. Unfortunately, he lost his right index finger.
Though the long list of injuries doesn’t stop there, his right wrist was fused in the blast, with some of his knuckles fused to his right hand and thumb. He suffered from a brain bleed, a traumatic brain injury, a broken jaw, ruptured eardrums, a bolt in his skull, nerve damage in his leg, and soft-tissue damage to both arms. He was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The former EOD troop has undergone nearly 30 to 40 surgeries post-injury. Six years later, weekly medical appointments continue, and a potential complete amputation of his right arm below the elbow is still possible.
To help make him feel safe and more independent at home, Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors and KB Home purchased land in San Antonio, TX. They built a mortgage-free, 100% accessible, and custom home for the Hines family.
On February 21st, 2020, Master Sergeant Hines and his family received the keys to their new home. He and his wife (Kyle) are grateful for the added security and independence the home brings to their family.
Please take a moment to honor MSgt Hines’ service and sacrifice by signing his guest book and leaving a message of support below. Consider donating today to help JAH4WW continue its mission of supporting combat-wounded Veterans. Your generosity makes a difference.
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