April 1, 2025
This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier. Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, announcing Tuesday that the fourth U.S. soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was confirmed deceased in Lithuania.
Why It Matters: The news comes just one day after the U.S. Army confirmed that three soldiers were found deceased in Lithuania upon recovering their armored vehicle. Hundreds of emergency personnel from the U.S. military along with partner forces in the region — including military K9s — worked together to locate the final missing soldier. U.S. Army V Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza expressed gratitude for those who joined in the search, saying: “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. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.”
The identities of the deceased soldiers have been released by the Army:
Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois
Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California
Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam
Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan
The Army is investigating the accident and its cause.
Read More: Fourth missing U.S. soldier found dead in Lithuania (NBC News)
Image Credit: CIA World Factbook
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
