Rescue operations revealed the locations of all four soldiers, prompting investigations into the incident while honoring their memory.
Four Missing US Soldiers Located in Lithuania: Recovery Efforts Concluded
Four Missing US Soldiers Located in Lithuania: Recovery Efforts Concluded
The tragic discovery of the fourth soldier's body has brought closure to the harrowing search operation.
The military community is in mourning following the recovery of a fourth US soldier who went missing in Lithuania. The soldier was part of a contingent conducting training exercises near the city of Pabrade when their group of four soldiers became unaccounted for during a military drill with an M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicle. Initial search efforts led to the recovery of the three other soldiers, whose bodies were discovered entombed within a submerged peat bog earlier this week.
Rescue crews comprising members from the US Army and Navy, along with military personnel from Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia, worked tirelessly to recover the vehicle and locate the soldiers’ remains. Maj Gen Christopher Norrie expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, "This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain... the world is darker without them." Lt Gen Charles Costanza described the event as a "tragic accident," remarking on the dedication and coordination of the recovery teams from various nations.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident remains ongoing. Although the statement did not disclose the specific location of the final soldier's body, it confirmed that the recovery efforts took place near the proximity of the Belarus border. The M88A2 Hercules, known as one of the US military’s largest recovery vehicles, was instrumental in retrieving the sunken apparatus from the bog, requiring additional conveyors and bulldozers to facilitate the operation.
These soldiers were part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission established in response to heightened tensions stemming from Russia's ongoing military actions in Ukraine. The identities of the deceased have not been released to the public as the military honors their sacrifice amidst the investigation into this heartbreaking incident.
Rescue crews comprising members from the US Army and Navy, along with military personnel from Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia, worked tirelessly to recover the vehicle and locate the soldiers’ remains. Maj Gen Christopher Norrie expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, "This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain... the world is darker without them." Lt Gen Charles Costanza described the event as a "tragic accident," remarking on the dedication and coordination of the recovery teams from various nations.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident remains ongoing. Although the statement did not disclose the specific location of the final soldier's body, it confirmed that the recovery efforts took place near the proximity of the Belarus border. The M88A2 Hercules, known as one of the US military’s largest recovery vehicles, was instrumental in retrieving the sunken apparatus from the bog, requiring additional conveyors and bulldozers to facilitate the operation.
These soldiers were part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission established in response to heightened tensions stemming from Russia's ongoing military actions in Ukraine. The identities of the deceased have not been released to the public as the military honors their sacrifice amidst the investigation into this heartbreaking incident.
