Bodies of Three US Soldiers Found After Missing in Lithuania

• Apr 01, 2025

The bodies of three US soldiers who had been missing for six days in Lithuania have been found in a swampy area near the city of Pabradė. The soldiers were taking part in military drills when they went missing, and their bodies were located in a muddy bog near the Belarus border, as confirmed by the US Army.

A search for a fourth soldier is still ongoing. The soldiers' disappearance occurred on March 25 during a mission to repair and tow a disabled military vehicle, an M88A2 Hercules. This large, armored vehicle is used to recover damaged tanks and other military equipment. Their vehicle was later found submerged in a bog on March 26, triggering a complex and resource-intensive search and rescue operation.

The recovery mission involved US Army and Navy personnel, as well as Lithuanian and Polish Armed Forces. The process of extracting the sunken vehicle was especially difficult, as divers had to work through thick layers of mud and sediment in zero visibility. The recovery operation also required the use of bulldozers and heavy equipment like excavators, pumps, and technical experts, with several hundred tons of gravel and earth brought in to assist with the operation.

In a statement, Major General Christopher Norrie of the US Army expressed deep sorrow over the loss. "The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers, they were a part of our family," he said. The US Army and Lithuanian officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.

On Sunday, a mass was held in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, attended by soldiers, military leaders, and the country’s defense minister to honor the fallen soldiers. Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nausėda, extended his condolences to the US, acknowledging the loss shared by both countries.

The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and had been stationed in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission designed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The identities of the soldiers have not been released until their families are notified.