Reservist returns from Afghanistan Doctor away from Maine for 3 months

BANGOR – As the door opened on the eight-passenger C-12 plane, Col. Richard Hines waved to the small crowd that gathered for his arrival at the Army Aviation Support Facility Wednesday afternoon.

The Blue Hill doctor’s eyes remained steady on his family as he walked toward them, with a smile that revealed how happy he was to be back home.

His family felt the same. There were hugs and kisses all over the place.

“It feels good,” said daughter Mallory Hines, 17, as her dad mingled with fellow Guard members. “It’s a pretty big relief [to have him home].”

Hines, 51, an Army reservist, was deployed Feb. 2 to Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed some training before he was “grounded” for three months in Afghanistan.

“I had an extremely interesting deployment there,” he said. “It’s a fascinating country.”

Hines spent the majority of his time in remote areas of Bagram and Loghman provinces, doing humanitarian-type missions.

The physician has run a family practice at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital for 18 years and did much of the same work in Afghanistan, spending time as surgeon with an Italian infirmary.

Doctors, medics and veterinarians gathered in those two provinces to assist local residents and other people, providing medication and vitamins to people and immunizations to animals in need.

Hines said more serious cases were referred to local hospitals.

“My primary mission was in Task Force Victory,” Hines said, referring to a specialized army unit. “Our job was to perform cooperative medical assistance.”

During his time away, Hines kept in touch with his family, wife, Daune Lord, sons, Harrison, 18, and Nate, 14, and Mallory, via e-mail and a phone call home once per week.

“My wife has become very good at e-mailing,” Hines said jokingly, as he mentioned that she was quite foreign to the technology beforehand.

Although Hines enjoyed the scenery in the Middle East, which included “beautiful mountain ranges” and “lush valleys,” he said it is nice to be home.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to see all of the faces here,” he said, adding that he didn’t expect the group of nearly 15 eager friends and family who met his arrival.

Hines grew up in New Jersey and now resides with his family in Blue Hill. He joined the Army National Guard 21 years ago.

Asked what was the first thing he would do when he left base, Hines replied:

“I’m going to take a shower, get in to comfortable clothes, and find some good Down East food.”