In a tragic development, three U.S. soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, have been found deceased in Lithuania. The soldiers were deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an initiative aimed at strengthening NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe. They went missing on March 25 during a mission to repair and tow an immobilized vehicle using their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle near Pabradė, close to the Lithuania-Belarus border.
The vehicle was discovered submerged in a peat bog on March 26, prompting a complex six-day recovery operation involving U.S., Lithuanian, and Polish forces. After days of coordinated effort involving both military and civilian rescue teams, the bodies of three of the soldiers were recovered on March 31. The identity of the soldiers has not yet been publicly released. The search continues for a fourth soldier who remains unaccounted for.
Military officials state that the soldiers were participating in a routine training exercise when the incident occurred. While details remain limited, the Army has launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the vehicle’s submersion. The M88A2 Hercules, a heavily armored recovery vehicle designed for towing and rescue, was reportedly trying to extract another disabled military vehicle when it became immobilized itself.
Operation Atlantic Resolve, launched in 2014, represents the U.S. commitment to NATO allies in Eastern Europe following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The operation regularly deploys units to NATO’s eastern flank to conduct joint training exercises and maintain readiness. The Fort Stewart-based soldiers were among several rotational forces deployed to Lithuania to support the operation’s objectives.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė have expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed Lithuania’s commitment to the NATO alliance and its American partners. Local communities near the incident site have also shown support, with candles and flags placed at temporary memorials for the fallen.
The U.S. Army and NATO partners have pledged transparency in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, recovery and support operations continue as search crews work around the clock to locate the missing fourth soldier.
Sources:
- https://apnews.com/article/452f254b648ff36d3bc7b155ba705144
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/31/three-of-four-us-soldiers-missing-in-lithuania-are-found-dead
- https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/4139490/press-release-three-us-soldiers-found-deceased-after-m88a2-hercules-recovered/
- https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/us-news/us-army-vehicle-recovered-from-lithuanian-swamp-as-fate-of-4-missing-soldiers-remains-unknown/
- https://www.foxnews.com/us/army-confirms-3-4-missing-soldiers-lithuania-dead
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-01/bodies-of-us-soldiers-in-lithuania-retrieved/105120202
- https://www.rferl.org/a/lithuania-army-soldiers-recovery/33365111.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRirCsqb5u4
