Four dead in lithuania

The political and religious leaders of Lithuania along with thousands of citizens came together on Thursday to bid farewell to the four fallen U.S. soldiers who died during a training exercise early last week.

The soldiers, part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle went missing last week, the Army said. Three bodies were recovered Monday, with the fourth recovered on Tuesday.

President Gitanas Nausėda and other dignitaries were among those who stood in respect as hearses carried the bodies of the four Americans to Vilnius airport before being flown to the United States for burial. Schoolchildren accompanied by teachers waved Lithuanian and U.S. flags to honor the soldiers.

A fundraising campaign for the families of the four US soldiers, initiated by the Lithuanian private news channel, Laisvės TV, has raised over 200,000 euros.

The Army identified the following as the fallen soldiers:
Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28
Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25
Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25
Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21