The fourth and final U.S. Army soldier who went missing last week during training in Lithuania was found dead, the United States announced Tuesday.
Three of the soldiers were found dead Monday after crews pulled an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle from a muddy bog near Pabrade, Lithuania. They disappeared on March 25 “while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle,” according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
“Today, I was informed that the remains of the fourth and final missing U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were recovered in Lithuania,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said.
“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers. Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them,” he added.
Hundreds of Lithuanian, Polish, Estonian, and U.S. officials participated in the search and rescue of the four soldiers.
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“First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can’t say enough about the support our Lithuanian allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian allies — and our own sailors, airmen, and experts from the Corps of Engineers — have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have allies and friends.”
