Recovery Efforts Continue for Missing Soldiers in Lithuania

WIESBADEN, Germany – March 27, 2025 – Recovery efforts are ongoing as U.S. Army and Lithuanian forces search for four missing U.S. Army Soldiers and their M88 armored vehicle near Pabradė, Lithuania. The Soldiers have been unaccounted for since the early hours of March 25, while they were engaged in maintenance work to recover another U.S. Army vehicle within a training area.

The discovery of the submerged vehicle came on March 26, following extensive search operations by U.S. Army personnel, the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and additional Lithuanian authorities. The search teams faced challenging conditions due to thick forests and swampy terrain, utilizing ground-based search parties composed of hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian Soldiers, along with law enforcement and military helicopters.

“We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to provide required resources for this effort,” stated U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division. He expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts with their Lithuanian counterparts, noting their dedication and professionalism during this critical situation.

Despite persistent efforts, the recovery process has been hindered by the difficult terrain around the submerged vehicle, including water, mud, and soft ground. Engineers at the site are constructing berms—earth barriers from local sources—to create a contained area from which water can be pumped out, allowing emergency personnel access to the vehicle.

“Due to the terrain, this is a complex engineering effort,” said Maj. Robin Bruce, an engineer with the 1st Armored Division. “The team is currently pumping water and excavating mud from the site and making improvements to support the heavy equipment needed for recovery.” Engineers are exploring multiple solutions to expedite the recovery process.

The 3rd Infantry Division is committed to keeping the families of the missing Soldiers informed about the ongoing search and recovery efforts. "This tragic situation weighs heavily on all of us," remarked Maj. Gen. Taylor. "We want families, friends, and teammates of our soldiers to know that we will not stop until our Soldiers are found."

For further inquiries or information, please contact U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs at media@army.mil.