Photo By Sgt. William Begley | Spc. Jason Taylor, 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade...... read more read more
HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. – You can usually find her at the Tuttle Army Health Clinic on Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, on Mondays and Thursdays serving a “spot” of coffee and handing out donuts to the patients and family members there. However, the “Hugging Grandma” as she is locally known, has been known to appear when the Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade and 3rd Infantry Division leave or return home from deployments.
Angela Hines was born July 18, 1937 in the town of Nuneaton in Warwickshire County, England. She grew up during World War II during the Luftschlacht um England, which literally translates into “Air battle for England.” Incendiary bombs fell all around her neighborhood. In her back yard there were anti-aircraft guns, and she recalled that they managed to shoot down a German aircraft just about half a mile from her village.
A great storyteller with a vivid memory, she clearly recalled the nights when air raids were imminent.
“I remember the sirens, and even today when I hear them on a film, I think back and remember when we would run to the air raid shelters. Sometimes we didn’t make it so we would just have to hide underneath the table and pray to god that one of the bombs didn’t hit us,” Hines said.
Clearly, it was a scary time to grow up. Hines said she is thankful she made it through safely and that all things happen for a reason.
“As I look back on it I think I was being prepared for other assignments,” Hines said with a smile.
Hines has spent a great deal of her 77 years serving others. Sometimes it was as the wife of a United States Air Force pilot named Herman, other times it was with the United Service Organization where she earned the nickname of the “Hugging Grandma.” She is currently volunteering for the American Red Cross. Her life is a truly a tale of resiliency.
Angela met her husband during a beauty contest he was tasked to judge while stationed in England. Many service members might think they had died and gone to heaven being given a duty such as that, but Herman didn’t want to do it. Ironically, Angela didn’t want to be in the contest either.
“He tried to get out of it and I did too,” Hines said laughing. “Destiny brought us together. He was really special and we were married 44 years”
After retiring from the Air Force, her husband got restless. A friend of his was flying for a company called Air America who flew operations in Southeast Asia. Shortly after meeting with his friend, Herman went to Washington and landed a job as a pilot with Air America. The job had Angela and Herman living in Laos during the Vietnam War. It was here where her life of service truly began.
“We supplied the villages with food and supplies,” Hines said. “The children literally thought that rice came from the sky.”
Angela did not work for Air America. She made it clear that her role was to support her husband. While doing so she worked with the Laotian people. It was her passion to help people she said. Even if doing so put her in harm’s way.
“I loved doing it. I really loved doing it. I loved the people. I really did. I thought that’s where we should be,” Hines said.
Fast forward to 2005. After her husband Herman passed away in 2003, Angela continued dedicating her life to service. It was at this time she earned the title of the "Hugging Grandma.”
“It just came natural to me and I wanted to thank the Soldiers for the sacrifice they give to us,” Hines said.
Her voice cracked ever so slightly with emotion as she talked about hugging hundreds of Soldiers returning home.
“We were out there all night or day – sometimes there would be weather – it didn’t matter. Because you just enjoy doing what you’re doing,” Hines said. “It comes from here (she said tapping her heart). I feel that inner peace because I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Robinson, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd CAB met the Angela during her “Hugging Grandma” heyday. Both were attending a welcome home ceremony when the two met.
“She will talk to you all day,” Robinson said. “She absolutely loves Soldiers.”
On this particular day she is serving coffee and donuts with a co-worker and lifelong Savannahian. William Faust shared his experiences on his co-worker and friend in one small statement.
“She is one of the sweetest people you would ever want to meet,” Faust said.
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2015 09:22 |
| Story ID: | 160949 |
| Location: | SAVANNAH, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 142 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Angela Hines: A lifetime of selfless service, by SGT William Begley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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