3 U.S. soldiers found dead in Lithuania; 1 still missing after vehicle is swallowed by peat bog [View all]

Source: NBC News

March 31, 2025, 10:32 AM EDT / Updated March 31, 2025, 10:47 AM EDT


The bodies of three U.S. Army soldiers who went missing in Lithuania during a training exercise last week have been found, and a fourth remains missing, military officials said Monday. The soldiers went missing the morning of March 25 after their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle became submerged in a peat bog during a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle.

The identities of the soldiers, who were all from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are being withheld pending family notification, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs Office said. Search and recovery operations are ongoing for the remaining fourth soldier.

The soldiers had been deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, military officials said. Lithuanian armed forces and law enforcement worked alongside them during last week's training exercise.

Their 63-ton armored vehicle was removed from the peat bog early Monday morning after an arduous six-day effort. Earlier this week, the U.S. Army said hundreds of soldiers and law enforcement personnel, American and Lithuanian, scoured the thick forest and swampy terrain to find the missing soldiers.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/3-us-soldiers-found-dead-lithuania-1-still-missing-vehicle-swallowed-p-rcna198571