Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 US soldiers who died during training exercise

Vilnius, Lithuania —- A procession bearing the coffins of four US soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania will continue along the capital of the Square Cathedral on Thursday.

Government officials and religious leaders are expected to give their last respect before the bodies are taken to the airport to be returned to the United States

The soldiers, part of the combat team of the 1st armored brigade, the 3rd Infantry Division, were tactical when they and their vehicle disappeared a week ago, the army said.

Lithuanian, Polish and American soldiers and rescuers searched through the forests and swamps in the training ground of General Silvestras Zhukuskas in the city of Pabrad, 6 miles (10 kilometers) west of the border with Belarus. The armored vehicle of the M88 Hercules was drawn from a peat swamp on Monday and the final body was restored on Tuesday.

The US Army identifies the four as an employee SGT. Troy S. Knutson-Callins, 28, by Battle Creek, Michigan; SGT employee. Jose Duenes, Jr., 25 -year -old from Joliet, Illinois; SGT employee. Edwin F. Franco, 25 years old, from Glendale, California; and PFC. Dante D. Taitano, 21, from Dededo, Guam.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausa, the Minister of Defense and the Archbishop of Vilnius is expected to attend the ceremony on Thursday.

The platoon of honor from the 3rd Infantry Division will also pay tribute to the soldiers, told The Associated Press.

Lithuanian non -profit purpose, which helps the Ukrainian wars refugees, asked the residents of Vilnius to attend the ceremony and pause for a moment when the coffins pass by to give their respect. “Although it is a working day, let’s not remain indifferent … worship your head and honor the US soldiers who lost their lives during a workout while preparing to protect our freedom, to stand true to our oath, give our best, at the very end,” writes Stip Carte, or strong.

About 3,500 soldiers from the 1st armored brigade of a combat team were deployed in January in Poland and the Baltic States for a nine-month rotation as part of the Atlantic resolved operational determination, which supports NATO allies and partners after the invasion of Russia in Ukraine in 2022.