The bodies of three US soldiers who went missing during military exercises in Lithuania have been found in a swampy area near Pabradė. The soldiers had been missing for six days, and their recovery was confirmed by the US Army.
Rescue teams are still searching for a fourth soldier who has not yet been located. Major General Christopher Norrie, representing US Army Europe and Africa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating that these soldiers were part of their family. He emphasized that the search would continue until all soldiers are accounted for.
The soldiers were participating in a training mission on March 25 when they disappeared while trying to repair and tow a disabled vehicle. Their armored M88A2 Hercules, designed for recovering military vehicles, was discovered submerged in a bog the following day. The recovery operation involved US Navy divers and multiple heavy vehicles, including bulldozers and excavators, to extract the sunken vehicle from the mud.
The operation was challenging due to difficult conditions, including zero visibility underwater. Along with the US Army, Lithuanian and Polish forces contributed significant resources to the search and recovery efforts.
On Sunday, a memorial service was held in Vilnius, attended by military personnel and Lithuania’s defense minister. Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nausėda, extended condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and the American people.
The soldiers were part of the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which supports NATO’s presence in the region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their home base is Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Authorities from both the US Army and Lithuania are investigating the incident to determine what caused the accident.