Three of the four US army soldiers disappeared during a training mission near Pabradė, Lithuania, last week they were found dead on Monday, but the search is ongoing for the fourth soldier, the army said.
His identities were not released.
The American soldiers attend a Holy Mass for the four American soldiers who disappeared during the exercises carried out by the United States in the Pabrade training field, in the basilica of the Cathedral in Vilna, Lithuania, March 30, 2025.
Kulbis/Ap Mindaugas
The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle in which the soldiers were when they disappeared was removed from a swamp at dawn on Monday after six days of work to recover it, said the army.
The soldiers, all based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, disappeared on Tuesday during a training exercise, said the army.
On Wednesday, his 63 -ton vehicle was found submerged in approximately 15 feet of water and “clay -shaped mud” in a training area, said the army.
The United States Army is looking for four soldiers that disappeared during a scheduled training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.
United States Army
“Most likely, the M88 led to the swamp,” and the vehicle “may have gone diagonally to the bottom,” said Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, ABC News on the phone last week.
The search effort of several days was complicated by the muddy conditions of the swamp, authorities said.
The United States Army is looking for four soldiers that disappeared during a scheduled training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.
United States Army
The army said last week that it brought assets that include “a large capacity grout bomb, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel and experts in the field.”
“The Polish Armed Forces have also offered a unit of military engineers, which is bringing an additional water pump, tracked recovery vehicles, other additional equipment and supplies necessary together with 150 personnel,” said the army.
A soldier is next to Cordon Tape in the scene of a rescue operation in Pabrade Training Ground, in Lithuania, on March 31, 2025.
Lithuanian Armed Forces through Reuters
The US Marine divers arrived at the site this weekend, and on Sunday night ” [recovery vehicles]”The Army said.
He took about two hours of lifting the cables to recover the vehicle of the swamp soldiers, said the army.
“The diving team has made the transition to the reduction of the area to allow a systematic search and the equipment is using a soil penetration radar provided by Lithuanian experts to help in the recovery operations ongoing,” the Army said on Monday.
The United States Army is looking for four soldiers that disappeared during a scheduled training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.
United States Army
“The soldiers that we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers, but were part of our family,” said Major General Christopher Norrie, third infantry division under the command of the general.
“The search is not finished until everyone is at home,” Norrie added. “Words cannot express our gratitude to those who still work 24 hours during these extensive search and recovery efforts.”
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, said the army.
