A member of the Canadian Armed Forces who was reported missing while on duty in Latvia has been discovered deceased, as confirmed by the Canadian military on Saturday. Warrant Officer George Hohl’s body was located three days after he was reported missing. The Canadian Armed Forces are cooperating with Latvian authorities in investigating the circumstances surrounding Hohl’s death, emphasizing that there is no immediate threat to the safety of other deployed personnel.
Hohl, who had served in the military for nearly two decades, held the position of a vehicle technician for a helicopter squadron in Edmonton. He was deployed as part of Operation Reassurance with the aviation battalion in NATO’s multinational brigade in Latvia. General Jennie Carignan, the chief of the defence staff, expressed deep condolences to Hohl’s family, friends, and colleagues, highlighting his dedicated years of service and the impact of his loss on the entire Canadian Armed Forces.
The Canadian military has approximately 2,000 troops stationed in Latvia under Operation Reassurance, which is Canada’s most significant overseas mission. These troops have been in Latvia since 2017 to enhance Europe’s eastern defense and act as a deterrent against potential Russian aggression in Baltic countries. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced an extension of Canada’s mission in Latvia until 2029 to continue supporting the region’s security efforts.