The body of the fourth U.S. Army soldier, who had gone missing during a training exercise in Lithuania, was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, military officials announced. The identity of the soldier has not been released, pending notification of family members. This soldier was the last to be located after the bodies of three other soldiers were recovered on Monday.
All four soldiers were part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and they went missing on March 25 during a training exercise when their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle became submerged in a peat bog. The recovery of the 63-ton armored vehicle from the bog took place early Monday, symbolizing a painful milestone in the ongoing search efforts.
The search for the missing soldiers involved a weeklong effort that mobilized hundreds of rescue workers from the U.S. Army, as well as Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian forces. Teams faced significant challenges as they scoured thick forests and swampy terrain, utilizing specialized equipment to stabilize the soft ground in the area.
The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which aims to provide credible ground deterrence alongside U.S. allies and partners. The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs Office confirmed that the four soldiers were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss. “This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier,” he stated. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.”
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with both the U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities working together to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
