Army identifies final soldier found deceased in Lithuania peat bog

Editor’s note: This is simply a processing communicative and volition beryllium updated.

The U.S. Army identified connected Wednesday the 4th and last worker recovered deceased successful a peat bog astatine a grooming tract successful Lithuania.

Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, was recovered from the bog Tuesday, 1 week aft helium and 3 different soldiers were reported missing portion operating an M88A2 Hercules armored conveyance adjacent Pabadre, Lithuania.

The different soldiers, recovered 1 time earlier Knutson-Collins, were identified Tuesday arsenic 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. All 4 soldiers were from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

“It’s clip to bring them each home,” the 3rd Infantry Division wrote connected societal media Wednesday.

At the clip the soldiers were reported missing March 25, they had been conducting a attraction ngo with an M88A2 Hercules armored conveyance to retrieve different Army conveyance astatine a grooming country adjacent Pabadre, Army officials antecedently said. The soldiers, permanently stationed astatine Fort Stewart, Georgia, were deployed to Lithuania arsenic portion of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which has been sending rotations into Europe since Russia invaded the Crimea portion of Ukraine successful 2014.

The household of Knutson-Collins, located successful occidental Michigan, spoke to their section WOOD-TV quality presumption astir him Sunday, earlier the Army publically identified him arsenic the last missing soldier. Knutson-Collins was the begetter of 5 children and enlisted successful the Army successful 2017 astatine the property of 20, his father, Robert Collins, told the tv station.

Collins told WOOD-TV that helium was initially reluctant to spot his lad enlist, but added, “He adjacent grew much arsenic a antheral and a antheral that I wholly respect. He conscionable turned retired to beryllium awesome.”

Duenez was an M1 Abrams vessel strategy maintainer and had served much than 7 years successful the Army. He deployed to Poland successful 2021 and Germany successful 2022, and helium was presently serving successful the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

“Sgt. Jose Duenez volition ever clasp a peculiar spot successful our hearts. As some a person and a soldier, helium acceptable an illustration each time — ever the archetypal to get and the past to leave, greeting each situation with a grin and a readiness to enactment anyone who required assistance,” said Capt. Madyson K. Wellens, a commandant successful his squadron.

Franco was besides an M1 Abrams vessel strategy maintainer who had been successful the Army for much than six years. He deployed to Korea successful 2020 and Germany successful 2022.

Wellens said Franco’s “infectious grin and genuine joyousness successful being with his squad were matched lone by the tenacity and drive. He ne'er asked much of his soldiers than helium was consenting to springiness himself — a existent testament to his character.”

Taitano was besides an M1 Abrams vessel strategy maintainer. He had been successful the Army for astir 2 years, and this was his archetypal deployment.

Cpt. Matthew Lund, different 5th Squadron commander, said, “Taitano volition ever beryllium remembered arsenic the spark of the team. He wore a grin connected his look nary substance the situation oregon task and perpetually brought the squad unneurotic with his charisma and laughter.”

After they were reported missing March 25, hunt teams recovered the soldiers’ conveyance 15 feet underwater the pursuing day. What followed was an arduous, multiday effort to get to the vehicle, which continued to descend and beryllium encased successful mud arsenic clip went on.

The betterment squad grew to hundreds of radical from the U.S., Lithuania, Poland and Estonia, the Army said. The squad included engineers, divers and betterment dogs and their handlers, among others.

There was a breakthrough successful the betterment effort Sunday erstwhile the Navy dive unit — aft aggregate failed attempts — attached alloy cables to 2 of the hoist points connected the M88A2 Hercules. To get to the hoist points, divers maneuvered done layers of mud, clay and sediment, utilizing a ground-penetrating radar provided by Lithuanian experts to find their way.

Two hours aft the cables were attached, the conveyance was unearthed from the bog. At that point, Duenez, Franco and Taitano were recovered, portion Knutson-Collins remained missing. He was recovered successful the bog Tuesday aft the hunt squad brought successful betterment dogs and their handlers, arsenic good arsenic 2 specialized drone systems, to find him.

“We are incredibly relieved that we were capable to bring this betterment to an extremity and bring closure to each the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding wide of 1st Armored Division. “We cannot convey our Allies and chap work members enough, particularly the Lithuanians, who spared nary assets successful enactment of this mission. Together, we delivered connected our committedness to ne'er permission a fallen comrade.”

An probe into the incidental is ongoing, the Army said.

Military Times Editor Beth Sullivan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.