Flags Lowered to Honor Illinois Soldier Killed During Mission in Lithuania

SPRINGFIELD – Flags across Illinois will be flown at half-staff from sunrise Tuesday, April 15, to sunset Thursday, April 17, to honor U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez, Jr, of Joliet, who died during a mission in Lithuania. The 25-year-old was a M1 Abrams tank system maintainer with more than seven years of service and was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He previously served with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. His unit was involved in an operation on March 25 when their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle sank into a bog, leading to a nearly weeklong rescue effort.