Remains of 4 American soldiers who died in Lithuania will return to US
The remains of the four American soldiers who were found dead after a scheduled training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania, will be honored by the Lithuanian government with a dignified departure before returning to the U.S.
Lithuania's president, Gitanas Nausėda, and other civic and military leaders will provide tribute to the Army soldiers as the vehicles carrying their remains transit from the morgue in Vilnius to the airport through Gediminas Avenue and past Cathedral Square.
At the airport, the remains will be transferred to a U.S. Air Force transport plane bound for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, according to U.S. officials.
The soldiers, who were all based with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, have been identified as Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam; and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan.
The soldiers went missing on March 25 while operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, the Army said, and the next day, their 63-ton vehicle was found submerged in about 15 feet of water and mud in a training area.
"Most likely, the M88 drove into the swamp," and the vehicle "may have just gone diagonally to the bottom," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told ABC News via phone last week.
The bodies of three soldiers were recovered on Monday and the fourth soldier's remains were found on Tuesday, the Army said.
"The Soldier was found after a search by hundreds of rescue workers from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, Estonian Armed Forces, and many other elements of the Lithuanian government and civilian agencies," the Army said in a statement Tuesday.
"This past week has been devastating," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement. "Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them."
The soldiers' vehicle was removed from a swamp early Monday morning after six days of work to retrieve it, the Army said.
The search effort -- which included law enforcement and military personnel from several countries -- was complicated by the muddy conditions and unstable ground, officials said.
"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," Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general, V Corps, said in a statement Tuesday. "Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Tuesday's briefing, "The president, the secretary of defense and the entire White House are praying for the victims, friends and family during this unimaginable time. This is another stark reminder of the selfless sacrifice of our brave military men and women who risk their lives around the world every day to keep us safe. God bless them."
