Army identifies fourth soldier killed in Lithuania
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - The fourth soldier found dead after a training accident in Lithuania has been identified.
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division identified the fourth soldier Wednesday as Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Knutson-Collins, an artillery mechanic, served in the Army for more than seven years and deployed to Korea in 2020, according to The Associated Press.
The 3rd Infantry Division identified on Tuesday the three other soldiers as Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois, Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California, and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam.
The four soldiers had been stationed at Georgia’s Fort Stewart and were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, according to an AP report.
The soldiers were conducting a mission to repair and tow a tactical vehicle on March 25 when they and their vehicle were reported missing.
Their armored vehicle was found the following day, submerged in a swampy area.
The bodies of Duenez, Franco and Taitano were recovered on March 31, while Knutson-Collins’ body was found in April. 1.
“Although we are relieved to have found all our Dogface Soldiers, it does not make the pain of their loss any less,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general.
The 3rd Infantry Division said their focus now “remains on the care and support of the families and loved ones during this tragedy. It’s time to bring them all home.”
The Associated Press reported a formal dignified departure ceremony for the soldiers will take place on Thursday in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, before they are transported to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
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