Tragic discovery: Fourth missing U.S. soldier found dead in Lithuania
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that the body of the fourth missing U.S. soldier from March 25 has been found, the U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa announced in a unique statement.
- Four soldiers went missing on March 25. Their armored vehicle, a Hercules, sank in a Lithuanian swamp during exercises at the Podbrodzė training ground.
- The bodies of three soldiers were found inside the vehicle. The search for the fourth soldier continued, and 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 U.S. Army, assigned to the 1st Armored 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 has not yet been disclosed until the soldier's next of kin has been informed.
The fourth soldier found was part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and was in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an initiative 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
First and foremost, we extend our condolences to the families of our soldiers, said General Christopher Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, as cited in the statement.
I cannot express the immense support shown to us by our Lithuanian allies. We relied on them, and together with our allies from Poland and Estonia, sailors, airmen, and engineers from the Corps of Engineers, they enabled us to find and bring our soldiers home. 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 Podbrodzė training ground, located about 9-12 miles from the Lithuanian border with Belarus. Their tracked vehicle, an 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.
The last week has been devastating. Today, our hearts bear the weight of unimaginable pain at the loss of the last of our soldiers, said Major General Christopher Norrie, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. He said that although we have achieved closure in some sense, the world without them is darker.
American soldiers are dead: Tragedy in Lithuania
The operation to retrieve the sunken vehicle was completed early Monday morning. The vehicle was located about 13 feet below the water surface, under approximately a 6.5-foot layer of mud.
The armored vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 AM, and the towing operation was completed. Lithuanian Military Police and U.S. investigators are working, said the Lithuanian Minister of National Defense on Monday morning. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) reported that the bodies of three soldiers were found inside.
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.
