According to the US Army, three out of the four soldiers from the United States who went missing in Lithuania last week were found deceased after rescuers retrieved the soldiers’ armored vehicle from a swamp.
Authorities in Lithuania received a report last Tuesday indicating that the soldiers had gone missing during a military exercise at a training ground located in the eastern city of Pabrade, close to the Belarus border.
Search and rescue teams utilized heavy machinery and excavators to clear the silt from the water body where the vehicle had been discovered, eventually towing it out of the swamp early yesterday morning.
“Three US Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were found deceased in Lithuania today, March 31,” stated the public affairs office of US Army Europe and Africa.
In the United States, President Donald Trump confirmed the fatalities of three soldiers and one missing individual, describing the incident involving the armored vehicle.
“It was a very heavy truck,” he remarked to reporters in the Oval Office, “but I mean really heavy, able to lift the heaviest equipment. It appears that the bank of a lake collapsed. You know, the weight is immense.”
“The incident occurred at night in very cold conditions. There was a lot of ice, and it likely slipped due to the enormous weight,” Mr. Trump added.
The identities of the soldiers are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin, as per the Army’s statement.
“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow that resonates throughout the entire Marne Division, both forward and back home,” expressed the division’s commanding general, Christopher Norrie.
“However, the search will not conclude until everyone is accounted for,” he stated.
“Words cannot adequately convey our appreciation to those who continue working tirelessly during these extensive search and recovery efforts, showing unwavering commitment until all are found,” he remarked.
Hundreds of local and foreign troops, along with engineers and divers, participated in the rescue operation aimed at recovering the M88 Hercules armored vehicle.
Lithuania, a member of both NATO and the EU, hosts more than 1,000 American troops stationed on a rotational basis.
