Three of the four American soldiers who went missing in eastern Lithuania last week have been found dead, while the search for a fourth continues, the U.S. military confirmed Monday.
The four soldiers — part of the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Stewart near Savannah — were reported missing during tactical training in the European country. The military has not yet identified them.
The M88A2 Hercules vehicle they were operating was later discovered submerged in a bog near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade. The vehicle was pulled out Monday, The Associated Press reported.
“The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers — they were a part of our family,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division’s commanding general. “We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time.”
Hundreds of U.S. soldiers, Navy divers and others were involved in the rescue effort. The M88A2 had sunk about 4 meters below the water’s surface and was encased in about 2 meters of mud, U.S. military officials said Sunday.
“It is highly complex trying to get to the vehicle itself with the terrain out here and where the M88 is sitting in a bog swamplike area, below the waterline,” Brig. Gen. John Lloyd, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, said Sunday.
Lloyd added that “divers were in the water trying to get to the vehicle. We were unable to because of the amount of mud. We continue to work on the excavation and pumping all the water out of the bog and also using excavation equipment to try to get to the vehicle.”
Col. James Armstrong, who commands the division’s 1st Armored Brigade, said he was grateful for the support his unit has received from fellow U.S. service members and Lithuanian and Polish allies during the recovery efforts.
“We will never forget the dedication, commitment and teamwork that enabled us to recover our soldiers and provide closure for their families,” Armstrong said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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