Search for Missing U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania Continues as Recovery Efforts Intensify

By Blessing Nweke

Rescuers in Lithuania were hard at work Thursday, digging through a peat bog in a race against time to recover the submerged vehicle of four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a joint training exercise earlier this week. The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, which was carrying the soldiers, was located more than 16 feet underground on Wednesday, just a day after the soldiers disappeared while training with Lithuanian armed forces and law enforcement near Pabradė, about 30 miles south of Vilnius.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas expressed his solidarity with the soldiers’ families, offering support for the ongoing recovery efforts after visiting the scene. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and brothers in arms,” Paluckas wrote on X. Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, who was also present at the site, confirmed that emergency medical teams were on standby and that rescue operations had made some positive progress overnight, increasing hope for a quicker recovery.

The missing soldiers, all from the 1st Brigade, and 3rd Infantry Division, are being searched for by U.S. Army personnel, Lithuanian forces, and civilian agencies. The situation is complicated by challenging terrain, but officials remain optimistic about a resolution.

Meanwhile, NATO clarified statements made by its Secretary-General Mark Rutte earlier in the day, emphasizing that the fate of the soldiers remains uncertain. Lithuania, a NATO member since 2004, has been a crucial host for U.S. forces in Eastern Europe, particularly since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. The missing soldiers’ disappearance has further underscored the ongoing military presence in the region.