Army Identifies Fourth Soldier Killed in Lithuania Tragedy \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The U.S. Army has identified the fourth soldier killed during a training accident in Lithuania. Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, was recovered after an extensive weeklong search. He and two others received posthumous promotions following the tragic incident involving a submerged armored vehicle.
Lithuania Training Tragedy Quick Looks
- Fourth Soldier Identified: Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins of Battle Creek, Michigan.
- Posthumous Promotions: Knutson-Collins, Jose Duenez Jr., and Edvin F. Franco were promoted to staff sergeant.
- Recovery Efforts: Involved U.S., Polish, and Lithuanian forces; vehicle found submerged in 15 feet of water.
- Training Accident Details: Incident occurred during a tactical exercise on March 25 in a peat bog.
- Unit Info: All soldiers were part of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
- Tributes: Capt. Jackson Patillo described Knutson-Collins as an “irreplaceable” member of their unit.
- Ceremony Plans: A dignified departure ceremony is scheduled in Vilnius with Lithuanian officials.
Deep Look
The U.S. Army has identified the final soldier involved in a deadly training accident in Lithuania, concluding an emotionally charged weeklong recovery mission that involved hundreds of U.S., Polish, and Lithuanian military personnel. The soldier was named as Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, a 28-year-old artillery mechanic from Battle Creek, Michigan, who had served in the Army for over seven years.
His body was recovered alongside those of Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois, Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California, and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam. All four soldiers were members of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, part of the 3rd Infantry Division, and were conducting a tactical training exercise when their M88 Hercules recovery vehicle disappeared into a peat bog on March 25.
The tragedy unfolded at the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training ground near Pabradė, a military site just six miles (10 kilometers) west of the Lithuania-Belarus border. The site is part of a broader NATO training initiative and a key area for joint exercises aimed at strengthening allied defense capabilities in the region. According to Army officials, the soldiers and their 63-ton armored vehicle were reported missing during routine training activities. The following day, the submerged vehicle was located in approximately 15 feet (4.5 meters) of water inside a marshy bog, but due to the soft and unstable terrain, extraction proved to be incredibly complex and time-consuming.
It took multiple nations’ military forces and civilian rescue teams to recover the vehicle and its occupants, highlighting not only the scale of the accident but also the multinational solidarity and coordination involved in the search. Heavy machinery, underwater diving teams, and soil stabilization efforts were required to reach the vehicle. The recovery mission lasted nearly a week, culminating in the final recovery on April 1.
In a statement released by the 3rd Infantry Division, the Army confirmed that Knutson-Collins, Duenez, and Franco were all posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant, a gesture that honors their dedication, service, and sacrifice.
Knutson-Collins was remembered as a key figure within his unit. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, he had previously deployed to South Korea in 2020. His comrades described him as not only technically skilled but deeply compassionate.
“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, a commander within the battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member of our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”
His sentiments echoed the deep grief felt across the Army and military community at large, with tributes pouring in for all four soldiers who were described as dedicated professionals and loyal teammates.
The M88 Hercules vehicle is designed for heavy-duty recovery operations of other military vehicles. Though armored and robust, its immense weight made it especially vulnerable in unstable environments such as peat bogs, which are soft and saturated with water. The specific conditions of the terrain — including its depth and the nature of the bog — likely contributed to the accident’s severity.
Lithuania, a NATO member bordering both Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, has become a significant training and rotational site for U.S. and allied forces, particularly in the wake of heightened tensions with Russia since 2022. The Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training area has hosted numerous multinational exercises, including joint operations between U.S. and European allies. While these exercises are essential for interoperability and preparedness, they also expose soldiers to rugged and unfamiliar environments.
To honor the soldiers, a formal dignified departure ceremony will be held on Thursday in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. The ceremony is expected to be attended by high-ranking Lithuanian officials, U.S. military leaders, and NATO representatives. From there, the soldiers’ remains will be transported to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where families and officials traditionally gather to receive the fallen with military honors.
The loss has prompted both internal reviews and renewed attention to safety measures during overseas training missions. While training environments must replicate the demands of real combat, this incident underscores the importance of balancing realism with risk assessment—particularly in complex or hazardous environments like marshlands.
For the families, comrades, and communities of these four soldiers, the pain is profound and enduring. But the military is also emphasizing the unity, dedication, and heroism shown by all involved—from those who served beside the fallen, to those who worked tirelessly to bring them home.
Army Identifies Fourth
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