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Liberty Homeless Coalition celebrates 10 years of service
Coalition Award
Coalition President Jim McIntosh presents Rev. Katrina Deason with the Liberty Regional Homeless Coalition Samaritan Award. Deason is the Director of Liberty County Manna House. (Photo/Katrina Goforth)

In the wake of a national financial crisis, the last thing anyone would expect is a group of people to step up to meet the needs of the homeless and suffering, but in 2009, 19 people did just that. 

Sunday night, the Liberty Regional Homeless Coalition celebrated its 10-year anniversary at Victory Assembly of God in Hinesville. President Jim McIntosh said it has been a journey and the coalition has changed in the last 10 years, but the goal has been the same – to help those who are in need.

What began with 19 people now has a board and 250 members. In 2018, the coalition had served over 1,055 people, logged over 2,600 volunteer hours, and received over $2,000 in donations. At that time, McIntosh said the coalition was worth approximately $108,000. They help shelter, clothe, and feed the people of Liberty County and the surrounding area with the help of other local entities including Liberty County Manna House, the Liberty County Ministerial Alliance, and city, county, and federal government agencies. 

“When I came on as president three years ago, we had a wish list,” McIntosh said. “Now, we have a to-do list.”

And they do so much with plans to expand so they can do more.

For the last three years, the coalition has held a clothing drive for the children of Liberty County. According to McIntosh, in 2018 there were 320 students considered homeless – either living on the streets, doubling-up with another family, or sleeping on a couch. The coalition was able to provide clothing and backpacks for those students with clothing and uniforms to spare. It isn’t enough. McIntosh hopes to expand services to Wayne County in 2019.

Likewise, the coalition is thinking ahead in the wake of hurricanes like Dorian that could have so easily impacted coastal Georgia with the kind of devastation it had in The Bahamas. McIntosh said the last two weeks have shown him the need for a shelter system, and he has added it to the coalition’s to-do list. With the coalition’s help, Liberty County Manna House will be sending a shipment of food and supplies to The Bahamas.

Rev. Katrina Deason, Director of Manna House, spoke at the celebration ceremony of the need to help those people impacted by Hurricane Dorian. She recalled the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in the Gospel of John when the loaves of bread and basket of fish were multiplied so that everyone had plenty. 

“What we make happen for others, God makes happen for us…touching the lives of others, touches the heart of God,” Deason said. “Heaven is celebrating with us.”

While looking to help those in need outside of coastal Georgia, the coalition is also turning its focus on military veterans in the area. On September 28, the coalition is sponsoring the first conference dedicated to the needs of veterans, regardless of their housing situation.

Lt. Col. David Beavers, Chaplain at Marne Chapel at Fort Stewart spoke of the impact one act of kindness has on the person receiving it. He told the story of a boy throwing starfish back into the sea to save them from the sun. While there were thousands of starfish and only one boy, he continued to help as many as he could. 

“It made a difference to that starfish,” Beavers said. “The coalition may not help everyone, but it makes a difference for those it does help.”

Liberty Regional Homeless Coalition Vice President Temperance West said, “It takes a village, and we have a large and giving village.”

As the coalition looks forward to the next 10 years of service, they rely on donations and volunteers to help those in need.

If you would like more information call (912) 877-5293.

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3rd ID, Army, allies mourn four soldiers lost in accident
Farewell ceremony set for Thursday morning in Lithuanian capital
four soldiers

The four U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania have been identified.  

The Army has confirmed the four soldiers who died when their vehicle sank into a bog as Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, 25, PFC Dante Taitano, 21, and Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, 28.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

Knutson-Collins, Duenez Jr., and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2018 and was assigned to 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion.

Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Master Technician Badge.

“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander, Foxtrot Company, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”

“The pain we feel from this loss is insurmountable,” said Lt. Col. Erick Buckner, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion commander. “Staff Sgt. Knutson-Collins was well loved throughout our unit and a brother to all. He was an expert, an incredibly talented mechanic and a warrior. We will never forget his dedication to his unit, his family and his country.”

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers will be held Thursday morning in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

“Every soldier is also a Lithuanian soldier, and their families’ pain is our pain,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

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