The bodies of three US soldiers, who went missing during military drills in Lithuania, have been recovered from a muddy bog, with efforts still ongoing for a fourth soldier.
Tragic Discovery: Bodies of Three Missing US Soldiers Found in Lithuania
Tragic Discovery: Bodies of Three Missing US Soldiers Found in Lithuania
Rescue operations continue as search for a fourth soldier remains underway.
The tragic incident unfolded near Pabradė, where the US Army confirmed the soldiers were lost while participating in a training exercise involving an M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle. They had been working on towing a damaged vehicle on March 25 when they went missing.
The soldiers' vehicle was eventually located submerged in the bog on March 26, prompting a complex search and rescue operation that involved not only the US Army and Navy but also the Lithuanian and Polish Armed Forces. "Our combined forces have deployed tremendous resources to bring our soldiers home safely," stated Maj Gen Christopher Norrie of the US Army Europe and Africa.
The recovery was challenging due to the terrain, requiring the expertise of US Navy divers who navigated thick mud and zero visibility to attach cables to the submerged vehicle. As recovery efforts progressed, additional heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, was called in to assist as initial recovery vehicles also began to slip into the bog.
A mass was held in Vilnius to honor the fallen soldiers, attended by military leaders and Lithuania's defense minister, showing solidarity and shared grief. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed condolences to the American nation, emphasizing the bond between the two countries.
The identities of the deceased soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are being withheld pending notifications to family members. They were in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO initiative responding to regional tensions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The US Army and Lithuanian authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident to determine its cause.
The soldiers' vehicle was eventually located submerged in the bog on March 26, prompting a complex search and rescue operation that involved not only the US Army and Navy but also the Lithuanian and Polish Armed Forces. "Our combined forces have deployed tremendous resources to bring our soldiers home safely," stated Maj Gen Christopher Norrie of the US Army Europe and Africa.
The recovery was challenging due to the terrain, requiring the expertise of US Navy divers who navigated thick mud and zero visibility to attach cables to the submerged vehicle. As recovery efforts progressed, additional heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, was called in to assist as initial recovery vehicles also began to slip into the bog.
A mass was held in Vilnius to honor the fallen soldiers, attended by military leaders and Lithuania's defense minister, showing solidarity and shared grief. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed condolences to the American nation, emphasizing the bond between the two countries.
The identities of the deceased soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are being withheld pending notifications to family members. They were in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO initiative responding to regional tensions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The US Army and Lithuanian authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident to determine its cause.
