U.S. soldier's discovery marks sombre end to Lithuania search
The U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa shared in a special statement that the body of the fourth American soldier who had been missing since March 25 has been recovered, expressing deep sorrow over the news.
- Four soldiers went missing on March 25. Their armoured vehicle—Hercules—sank in the Lithuanian swamp during exercises at the training ground in Podbrodzė.
- The bodies of three soldiers were found in the vehicle. The search for the fourth soldier continued. On Tuesday, it was reported that his remains were found.
- The Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the soldiers' deaths.
The fourth soldier of the United States Army, assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was found dead on the afternoon of April 1 near Pabradė, Lithuania, according to an urgent statement by the U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa.
The soldier's identity will not be disclosed until the soldier's next of kin are informed of the matter.
The fourth soldier found in the United States Army was assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. The soldier was in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, aimed at land deterrence in cooperation with allies and partners. He was permanently assigned to a unit at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Tragic end to the search for American soldiers
General Christopher Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, expressed his sympathies to the families of the fallen soldiers, according to the statement.
- 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. He said this is a tragic event, but it reminds us what it means to have true allies and friends.
Let us recall—four American soldiers went missing on March 25 during exercises at the training ground in Podbrodzė, located about 14 to 19 kilometres from the Lithuanian border with Belarus. Their tracked vehicle, M88A2, was found in the swamps.
Lithuanian and foreign servicemen and helicopters from the Lithuanian Air Force and the State Border Guard were deployed for the search and rescue operation. Rescuers from Poland also joined.
- This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier, said Major General Christopher Norrie, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. - Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them, he said.
American soldiers are dead. tragedy in Lithuania
The operation to retrieve the vehicle sunken in the swamp was completed early Monday morning. The car was located about 4 metres below the water surface, under approximately a 2-metre layer of mud.
On Monday morning, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence reported that the armored vehicle was brought ashore at 5:40 AM Eastern Time, successfully completing the towing operation. At the same time, the Lithuanian Military Police and U.S. investigators began their work. The U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) later confirmed that the remains of three soldiers were discovered inside the vehicle.
On Monday, the Lithuanian prosecutor's office announced that it has launched a preliminary investigation into the matter. The investigation is being conducted by the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office.
The U.S. Army is also investigating the cause of the accident. As the investigation progresses, more information will be available.
