NAVY
1970-1974

Joseph “Joe” Hines was born in 1952 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the 3rd of 8 children to Jack and Rosemary Hines.  Joe grew up in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Washington High School in 1970.  Joe enlisted in the US Navy in 1970 at the age of 17 and served honorably for 4 years during the Vietnam War.  During his enlistment he was stationed in various locations in Asia, with the Philippines and Guam being his favorites.  Joe was assigned to the amphibious assault ship (helicopter carrier) USS New Orleans LPH-11 and toured the Pacific as a Radioman during several Western Pacific deployments of the early 1970s.  He was on board this ship when it participated in the support operations for the Skylab 3 and Skylab 4 missions to space, including the recovery of the astronauts on board.  Joe completed his enlistment period with an Honorable Discharge in 1974 and went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (later US West and then Qwest) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, until his retirement in 2005. Joe proudly raised 3 children and now has 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  He married his wife, Edie, in 1984 and they reside in Cedar Rapids; except during the winter months when they “Snowbird” in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Joe continues to be very proud of his time in the Navy.  He loves sharing stories of his experiences with anyone who will listen.  And those stories are usually quite entertaining when he tells them!

Honored by: Your proud family! We love you!