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THOSE WHO SERVED: Helping others a way of life for Army vet, Re-Entry Coalition director Daisy JonesEditor’s note: If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please email Mark Swendra. WATCH VIDEO from interview with Daisy Jones. Fourteen years after she retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army, Daisy Jones still gets choked up and is as proud as ever to see someone in uniform.May 9, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Hal Behnke's love of aircraft led to top secret satellite missionEditor’s note: If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please email Mark Swendra. WATCH VIDEO of Hal Behnke describing his days in the Air Force. Each year, Hal Behnke gets to share stories and reunite with a group of guys who had the challenging task of retrieving (while in midair) film canisters, about the size of a garbage can, that had been ejected from some of the earliest spy satellites.April 12, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Army veteran leans on lessons learned from ScoutingEditor’s note: If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please email Mark Swendra. Native Liberty Countian George Ginter has one word to describe the trait he exemplified as a lifelong Eagle Scout and Army soldier, for more than 20 years: Loyalty. “You have to take an oath to be loyal to your supervisors when you go in the Army in order to serve and defend your country,” Ginter said.March 29, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Retired Army squad leader coaching, making an impact on local athletesEditor’s note: If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please email this reporter. As a squad leader, Jeff Eastlake spent more than 20 years in the Army making sure soldiers under his command arrived home safely. Now retired, Eastlake takes the same care in helping youngsters be the best they can, showcasing his mentoring skills as a coach and instructor for youth bowling and high school softball.March 15, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Retired Navy chief has fond memories of life at seaWATCH A SHORT VIDEO of Ernie Mitchell. Editor’s note: If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please email this reporter. Wearing “cool uniforms with bell bottom pants,” and traveling to tropical locales, Ernie Mitchell’s career with the Navy afforded him the chance to see the world and record adventures, while serving his country for 26 years.February 28, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Decorated veteran finds comfort from family, service dogWATCH VIDEO of Hamilton Kinard talking about the effects of PTSD on soldiers. EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile of an area veteran is part of a series of articles titled "Those Who Served," appearing monthly in the Bryan County News. If you know a veteran who should be included in this series, please e-mail the reporter.February 14, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Musician/artist Rodney Riley a voice of the Vietnam soldierIt was cold one morning when they dropped me off The brand new uniform free of cost The gun that they gave me had been used before By somebody’s baby out there … somewhere... in someone else's war --- From the song “Soldier” written by Rodney Riley. The year was 1970, and Rodney Riley was fresh out of high school and living it up in a rhythm and blues band called Approximately 5. “We played a lot around this area, from Savannah, down to Brunswick,” said Riley, a guitar player and singer.January 31, 2018 -
THOSE WHO SERVED: Local couple's military service was a game changerWATCH VIDEO of Sandra and Ron Elliott EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile of an area veteran is part of a series of articles titled "Those Who Served," appearing monthly in the Bryan County News. For the past five years, the Richmond Hill community has recognized Sandra and Ron Elliott for their numerous charitable efforts and as leaders in promoting health and fitness through their Game Changers complex on Ford Avenue. But for those who know their back story, today’s narrative is a continuation of community involvement and service that began in the Army, totaling a combined 61 years of uniformed and civilian duty.January 18, 2018 -
Army veteran Dennis Fitzgerald doesn't shy away from serviceWATCH VIDEO of Dennis Fitzgerald EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile of an area veteran is part of a series of articles titled "Those Who Served," appearing monthly in the Bryan County News. There’s an old joke where if you ask someone to reveal details about their top-secret job, they respond, “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” No such worries when speaking to Dennis Fitzgerald about his 25-year Army career, one that took him to dangerous locales, such as Vietnam and Korea, serving in various covert operation and intelligence-gathering capacities.December 27, 2017 -
Paul Spence: Portrait of the artist as a soldier, Vietnam veteranWATCH the VIDEO of Paul Spence showing his art at his Hinesville gallery. EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile of an area veteran is part of a series of articles titled "Those Who Served," appearing monthly in the Bryan County News. Spend a few minutes inside Paul Spence’s cozy art studio in downtown Hinesville and you’ll meet a soft-spoken 81-year-old who prides himself on doing things a little differently.December 13, 2017