4th GA Soldier Found Dead In Lithuania Identified

GEORGIA — The fourth soldier from Fort Stewart who died during a training exercise in Lithuania, Europe was identified Wednesday.

The U.S. Army Europe and Africa identified the soldier as Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan, the AJC reported. He was an artillery mechanic.

The Army on Tuesday said Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Private First Class Dante Taitano, 21, of Glendale, California; and Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, of Dededo, Guam, also died in Lithuania.

Duenez, Franco and Taitano were all M1 Abrams tank system maintainers, according to the Army.

All soldiers had nearly 22 years of experience between them and were from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, the U.S. Army stated.

“Although we are relieved to have found all our Dogface Soldiers, it does not make the pain of their loss any less,” Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general. “We will continue to care for and support the soldiers’ families and loved ones as we bring them home and honor their memory.”

The soldiers disappeared early on the morning of March 25 while supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve, the Army stated.

They were found dead after their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle was located submerged in water near the training area in Pabradė, Lithuania, military officials said.

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The Hercules was removed Monday from a peat bog, or a wetland containing decomposed vegetation, military officials said.

They added it took six days to fully recover the 63-ton vehicle due to the "unstable ground conditions" and an "engineering challenge."

The search for the fourth soldier included the use of recovery dogs, drones, ground-penetrating radar, the Lithuanian Armed Forces and personnel from ally Estonia on Tuesday, military officials said.

Details leading to the disappearance of the soldiers were not immediately known.
Military officials said the accident is being investigated by the U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities.