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Thursday, Apr 03, 2025
Outside the box.
Bodies of Three Missing US Soldiers Found in Lithuania
The soldiers were participating in military drills when they went missing; search efforts continue for a fourth soldier.
The bodies of three US soldiers, who had been missing for six days, have been discovered in a swamp near Pabradė, Lithuania, during a military exercise, according to a statement from the US Army.
Rescue operations are ongoing to locate a fourth soldier who remains unaccounted for.
Major General Christopher Norrie, representing US Army Europe and Africa, expressed sorrow over the loss, stating, "The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers - they were a part of our family...
But the search isn't finished until everyone is home."
The extensive search and rescue operation has involved collaboration between the US Army and Navy, alongside Lithuanian and Polish Armed Forces, employing significant resources to facilitate the effort.
The four soldiers were reported missing on March 25 while engaged in a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle using their M88A2 Hercules, an armoured vehicle designed for battlefield recovery operations.
The vehicle was located submerged in a bog near Lithuania's border with Belarus on March 26. The extraction process was notably complex, necessitating the engagement of US Navy divers to secure cables to the sunken vehicle.
The divers encountered challenges due to poor visibility amid thick layers of mud and sediment.
Following the initial recovery attempts, two additional M88A2 Hercules vehicles also became bogged down, prompting the deployment of bulldozers and other heavy construction equipment, including excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, as well as technical experts to assist with the operation.
Furthermore, several hundred tons of gravel and earth were utilized in the recovery efforts.
In a tribute to the fallen soldiers, a mass was held on Sunday, attended by military personnel, commanders, and Lithuania's defense minister in the capital, Vilnius.
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda conveyed condolences through a statement, addressing the American nation and extending sympathies to the loved ones of the deceased.
Lithuania, as a NATO and European Union member, hosts over 1,000 US troops on a rotational basis.
The identities of the four soldiers assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, have not been disclosed pending notification of their next of kin.
The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a military initiative responding to the geopolitical tensions arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway by both US Army and Lithuanian authorities.
Rescue operations are ongoing to locate a fourth soldier who remains unaccounted for.
Major General Christopher Norrie, representing US Army Europe and Africa, expressed sorrow over the loss, stating, "The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers - they were a part of our family...
But the search isn't finished until everyone is home."
The extensive search and rescue operation has involved collaboration between the US Army and Navy, alongside Lithuanian and Polish Armed Forces, employing significant resources to facilitate the effort.
The four soldiers were reported missing on March 25 while engaged in a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle using their M88A2 Hercules, an armoured vehicle designed for battlefield recovery operations.
The vehicle was located submerged in a bog near Lithuania's border with Belarus on March 26. The extraction process was notably complex, necessitating the engagement of US Navy divers to secure cables to the sunken vehicle.
The divers encountered challenges due to poor visibility amid thick layers of mud and sediment.
Following the initial recovery attempts, two additional M88A2 Hercules vehicles also became bogged down, prompting the deployment of bulldozers and other heavy construction equipment, including excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, as well as technical experts to assist with the operation.
Furthermore, several hundred tons of gravel and earth were utilized in the recovery efforts.
In a tribute to the fallen soldiers, a mass was held on Sunday, attended by military personnel, commanders, and Lithuania's defense minister in the capital, Vilnius.
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda conveyed condolences through a statement, addressing the American nation and extending sympathies to the loved ones of the deceased.
Lithuania, as a NATO and European Union member, hosts over 1,000 US troops on a rotational basis.
The identities of the four soldiers assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, have not been disclosed pending notification of their next of kin.
The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a military initiative responding to the geopolitical tensions arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway by both US Army and Lithuanian authorities.
