Tragic Discovery in Lithuania: Bodies of U.S. Soldiers Recovered
A fourth U.S. Army soldier’s body was discovered on Tuesday in Lithuania, marking a somber conclusion to a week-long search that began when four soldiers went missing after their armored vehicle sank in a bog. The U.S. military confirmed the recovery, although they have yet to release the name of the deceased soldier.
This tragic incident occurred shortly after the soldiers were reported missing on March 25, when they failed to return from a training mission involving an M88A2 Hercules—a massive 70-ton vehicle primarily used as a military tow truck. The soldiers were on a mission to extract another Army vehicle when circumstances took a dire turn.
According to an Army official stationed in Europe, it appears the soldiers inadvertently drove off the road and became trapped in a deep bog as the vehicle sank, leaving them unable to escape. An extensive international search operation was launched, involving hundreds of personnel from Lithuania, the United States, Poland, and Estonia, who worked tirelessly to locate the missing soldiers.
Rescue teams managed to identify the submerged vehicle on March 26, but retrieving it from the viscous mud proved to be an engineering feat fraught with challenges. Heavy machinery was deployed to dredge the bog, while divers, search dogs, and drones—some equipped with ground-penetrating radar—were utilized in the recovery efforts.
The U.S. Army has not disclosed the specific location where the body of the fourth soldier was found. The soldiers had been engaged in training activities near Pabrade, a city situated in eastern Lithuania close to the Belarus border.
General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, expressed profound gratitude for the support provided by Lithuanian allies. In a statement, he remarked, “I can’t say enough about the support our Lithuanian allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian allies — and our own sailors, airmen, and experts from the Corps of Engineers — have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers.”
In light of the incident, Lithuanian leaders have emphasized the importance of international collaboration, particularly among NATO allies, amid growing concerns regarding the strength of the alliance. President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania, who visited the site of the tragedy, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the U.S. military and the families affected by this loss.
He stated on social media, “Lithuania has been praying for all four missing soldiers, and now, with all our hearts, we stand with their families. We are deeply grateful to everyone who dedicated immense efforts to find the one remaining soldier still missing under such challenging conditions.”
