Derek Steven Hines

West Point, 2003

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by LTC Roy S. Lombardo, Jr. on September 7, 2005:

Dear Trooper and Mrs Hines, I am writing to introduce myself and to extend my condolences in the loss of your son. I was the Commander of Company B, 2-503d Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1964-1965 when the company deployed from Okinawa to Vietnam. I had the same job that Mike Kloepper has today in Afghanistan. In November of 2005, I traveled to Vicenza with 5 members of the old Company B to meet the new members of Company B, known as Battle Company. We presented our old guidon and other mementoes to the young paratroopers of which your son was one. He had a bright shining smile that lit his face and he was one of several, who sought to speak to us, the veterans, of yesteryear. We had a memorial service for our KIA from 1965-66 in the Vicenza Chapel, which he and all the youngsters of Battle Company attended. I had a print of the jump into Iraq, which he signed along with the others from Battle Company. We shook hands in farewell as we left to return to America and they prepared to deploy to Afghanistan. As I shook his hand and those of his comrades, I was aware that perhaps I was seeing some of them for the last time. Now Derek is gone. I don't know why he is gone and I am still here to grieve his loss. Perhaps we might agree that the good die young. Who can fathom God's will?? On behalf of myself and the 65 veterans who remain from Company B of yesteryear, I offer our condolences and ask that God grant you peace in his loss. May Saint Michael, the patron of all paratrooprs, ease your burden and guide Derek into God's presence, /s/Roy S. Lombardo, Jr. LTC, Infantry Former Commander of Company B and a soldier who knew and respected Derek

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