The U.S. Army's ongoing investigation sheds light on a somber event during multinational training exercises in Lithuania, where the safety of military personnel is now under scrutiny.
Tragic Discovery: Fourth Missing Soldier Identified in Lithuania
Tragic Discovery: Fourth Missing Soldier Identified in Lithuania
A week-long search for missing soldiers culminates in the discovery of a fourth body amidst military exercises.
The body of the fourth missing U.S. soldier was located in Lithuania, concluding a heart-wrenching week after the disappearance of four servicemen during military drills. The soldiers were operating an M88A2 Hercules, a large armored recovery vehicle, when they vanished near Pabrade. Earlier, the vehicle and the remains of three other servicemen were discovered submerged in a peat bog.
The recovery mission involved hundreds of personnel from the U.S. Army and Navy as well as support from the Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian Armed Forces. Major General Christopher Norrie shared the emotional toll of the search, stating, "This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain... the world is darker without them."
Lt. General Charles Costanza characterized the incident as a "tragic accident" and expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the diverse recovery teams. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, though specifics about the fourth soldier's location at the time of discovery were not released. The missing personnel had been part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission prompted by Russia's military activity in Ukraine.
The M88A2 Hercules is designed to recover damaged vehicles from the battlefield. The extraction of the sunken vehicle required the assistance of additional Hercules units and bulldozers, and teams worked tirelessly to recover the lost soldiers around the clock. The identities of the deceased have yet to be disclosed.
