The body of the fourth American soldier, who had been declared missing, was found near Pabrades, Lithuania, as confirmed by the U.S. Army in a statement on April 1st.
The search-and-rescue operations, supported by international cooperation and advanced technology, lasted several days after a military vehicle carrying four U.S. soldiers sank in a swampy area on March 25th.
The bodies of three American soldiers and their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle were found the day before.
Major General Christopher Norrie stated, “This week has been devastating. Today, our hearts carry the weight of unbearable grief with the loss of our soldier.”
The search efforts intensified over the past 24 hours with the arrival of personnel and specialized equipment. Rescue dogs and two advanced drone systems assisted in the search operation.
Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, along with U.S. Navy divers, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish engineers, Estonian military police, multinational civil agencies, and technical experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers participated in the search operation.
The names of the deceased soldiers have not been made public until official notification of their families.
Investigations into the tragedy have begun, with authorities examining the circumstances leading to the incident, including terrain, weather conditions, and the state of the vehicle.
The disappearance of the vehicle and soldiers prompted a wide international rescue operation. Major General Curtis Taylor expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the operation, saying, “We cannot thank our allies and colleagues enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resources in supporting this mission. Together, we kept our promise to never leave a fallen soldier behind.”
Lithuania, a NATO and European Union member, hosts over 1,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Baltic state on a rotational basis.
