West Michigan family hopes soldier missing in Lithuania is found safe

Yahoo

01-04-2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan family says their son and brother is the fourth soldier crews are looking for . Officials say the team was attempting to repair and tow a military vehicle.
Robert Collins remembers that his son, Troy Smith Knutson-Collins, seemed to be destined to work with machinery from a young age.
'I was thinking back and stuff when this happened the other day, and I was like 'Man, I got a picture of him holding the wrenches and everything' and he is a mechanic today,' he said.
Family said Knutson-Collins went into the Army in 2017 at the age of 20. Collins said he was reluctant to see the young man enlist but said it was an opportunity for his son to find a path of structure and focus.
'He even grew more as a man and a man that I totally respect. He just turned out to be awesome,' Collins said.
Now a sergeant and father of five, family said he's stationed in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Army officials said on March 25, an M88A2 Hercules crew assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was sent was out to retrieve a tactical vehicle that had broken down during a scheduled training in the Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania.
In Lithuania, 3 US soldiers found dead in an armored vehicle. 1 is still missing.
Collin said he spoke with his son briefly the Sunday before the mission.
'For 34 seconds. That's not normal, but his wife called. And to me, he has a family and children, I'll wait. And it looks like I will have to wait a long time,' he said.
The armored recovery vehicle was found on March 26. Officials say it was under approximately 15 feet of water and mud.
The six-day operation to free the 63-ton vehicle took more than 150 personnel from the US Army, Navy, Poland and Lithuania — both service members and volunteers.
Collins said the family appreciates the international effort during the search as well as the how the Lithuanian Minister of Defense and Army personnel have treated them during the recovery.
'Different nations coming together for four guys, for four people I mean, they really, really are putting in the work. I mean, coming from United States and I believe Poland and the volunteers in Lithuania, the list is huge,'
Early Monday morning, Army officials announced they found three soldiers dead and are still looking for the fourth.
Collins said when an Army official told him that his son was still considered missing, it was a wave of relief, along with the feeling of anxiety for what's next.
'I've already thought about all the possible, inevitable situations that it could be 'Hell yes,' that we have a chance that he's still out there. But then the other thing steps in, 'Well, where is he now?'' said Collins.
Every day since the initial notification that his son was missing, loved ones have rallied around the family. Knutson-Collins' brother, Trevor Collins, says he would hug him as tight as his brother did when he graduated boot camp.
'I'd want to hug and I'd want to know, 'How was it?'' he said.
US and Lithuanian forces struggle to drain swamp to recover 4 soldiers in submerged armored vehicle
Officials said a Navy dive team is searching the bog along with the help of Lithuanian K-9 teams.
U.S. Army in Europe and Africa officials have adopted the phrase 'We will not rest' throughout the recovery process. American soldiers joined European counterparts over the weekend in a Mass dedicated to the soldiers.
Support continues closer to home. A spokesperson with the 3rd Infantry Division said families are being kept updated on the search and recovery efforts daily with leaders at every level.
'The 3rd Infantry Division and the U.S. Army has provided resources to the families and soldiers to support them through this difficult time. Chaplains and counselors have prioritized the mental and emotional wellbeing of those affected by this tragedy, to include soldiers both forward deployed and here at Fort Stewart, Georgia,' said a division spokesperson.
Army officials are not releasing the names of the soldiers found dead pending next of kin notification.
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