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

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U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald acknowledgment radical who travel to wage their past respect to the 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

U.S. nationalist flags, candles and flowers are connected the crushed successful representation of 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Lithuanian rescuers wage their past respect to the 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Lithuanian Army soldiers clasp flowers successful representation of 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A pistillate and her kid airy candles successful representation of 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

This operation of images shows from left, Army Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, Calif., and Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Ill., 3 of the 4 soldiers who were killed successful a grooming mishap adjacent Pabrad, Lithuania, successful March 2025. (Department of Defense via AP)

This operation of images shows from left, Army Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, Army Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, Calif., Army Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Ill., and Army Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Mich., who were killed successful a grooming mishap adjacent Pabrad, Lithuania, successful March 2025. (Department of Defense via AP)

Germany's Army soldiers airy candles successful representation of 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

People with U.S. nationalist emblem travel to wage their past respect to the 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Lithuanian soldiers salute arsenic they travel to wage their past respect successful representation of 3 soldiers recovered dormant connected Monday astatine a grooming scope successful Pabrade, adjacent the U.S. Embassy successful Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

VILNIUS – A procession carrying the coffins of 4 American soldiers who died during a grooming workout successful Lithuania volition proceed past the capital's cathedral quadrate Thursday.

Government officials and spiritual leaders are expected to wage their past respects earlier the bodies are taken to the airdrome to beryllium returned to the U.S.

The soldiers, portion of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were connected a tactical grooming workout erstwhile they and their conveyance went missing a week ago, the Army said.

Lithuanian, Polish and U.S. soldiers and rescuers searched done the forests and swamps astatine the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas grooming crushed successful the municipality of Pabradė, 6 miles (10 kilometers) westbound of the borderline with Belarus.

The M88 Hercules armored conveyance was pulled from a peat bog Monday and the last assemblage was recovered Tuesday.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, the defence curate and the Vilnius archbishop are expected to be the ceremony.

An grant platoon from 3rd Infantry Division volition besides wage tribute to the soldiers, Maj. Nicholas Chopp, the lawman media main for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, told The Associated Press.

A Lithuanian nonprofit that besides helps Ukrainian warfare refugees has asked residents of Vilnius to be the ceremonial and intermission for a infinitesimal erstwhile the coffins walk by to wage their respects. “Even though it’s a workday, let’s not stay indifferent ... bow your head, and grant the US soldiers who mislaid their lives during grooming portion preparing to support our freedom, lasting existent to their oath, giving their all, to the precise end,” Stiprus Kartu, oregon Strong Together, wrote connected Facebook.

About 3,500 soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team deployed successful January to Poland and the Baltic states for a nine-month rotation arsenic portion of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which supports NATO allies and partners pursuing Russia’s penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

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