World War II Honoree

Roy Albert Hines

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Vallejo, California

Honored By

Kenneth C. Hines

Relationship

Son

He was inducted into the U.S. Army as a private on November 12, 1943, in San Francisco, California and entered into active service on December 3, 1943. He was stationed at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for basic training. He was part of the 1st Platoon of Company M of the 261st Infantry Division. He was trained as an expert M1 rifleman and was promoted to private first class on February 28, 1944. After completing basic training in Mississippi, He was shipped out on October 21, 1944, on the SS Normandie, a French luxury cruise liner that had been commandeered for the war. He arrived in the United Kingdom on October 28, 1944. He was stationed near Wolverhampton, England. He was transferred to the Army Air Forces’ 106th Infantry Division and was trained as a heavy machine gunner, rising to the rank of corporal. He was sent to fight in the Ardennes Forest, serving with the 106th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations. He manned a 30 caliber machine gun, providing support to the movement of infantry troops. He participated in the liberation of the town of St. Vith, Belgium, from the Germans. In December 1944, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944 through January 25, 1945) and suffered severe frostbite in his feet that nearly led to his feet being amputated. He experienced severe nerve damage and permanently lost most of the feeling in his feet. He entered the 15th General Hospital in Belgium in late December 1944 to recover from his severe frostbite and to keep his feet from being amputated. His feet had turned black and he had to learn to walk again. To assist in his rehabilitation, he was transferred to the warmer climate of North Africa, spending time in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, helping to guard those French colonies until the end of the war and the return of the French. He was shipped back to the U.S. on January 21, 1946, arriving on February 6, 1946. For his war service, he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, a Marksman Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, an American Campaign Medal, and a WWII Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged on February 15, 1946, at Camp Beale in California. He had actively served his country overseas for one year, three months, and sixteen days. He had been in the Army for two years, three months, and four days. He received a commendation from U.S. President Harry S. Truman. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation for his war service from General Henry 'Hap' Arnold, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Many years later, on July 29, 1992, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during WWII in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.