U.S. Navy and Polish Engineers Join Recovery Efforts for Missing Soldiers in Lithuania

The search for four missing U.S. soldiers in Lithuania has escalated, featuring the involvement of a U.S. Navy dive team alongside Polish military engineers.

The soldiers, members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were last observed on Tuesday during a maintenance operation to retrieve another Army vehicle. On Wednesday, the M88 Hercules armored vehicle was found 15 feet beneath the surface in a swamp close to Pabrade. However, the rugged terrain has rendered access almost unfeasible.

Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, characterized the situation as a "long and difficult recovery operation" because of the wet, marshy terrain that cannot support heavy equipment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dispatched experts to support the mission. At the same time, authorities have utilized large-capacity slurry pumps, cranes, and more than 30 tons of gravel to ensure ground stabilization.

Furthermore, Poland's Armed Forces have contributed 150 military engineers, equipped with water pumps and tracked recovery vehicles, to assist. A U.S. Navy dive crew from Commander Task Force 68, based in Rota, Spain, is on its way and is anticipated to commence operations within 24 hours.

Following the vehicle's discovery, personnel from the U.S. and Lithuania have been tirelessly engaged to drain water, dredge mud, and stabilize the site. The Army has not confirmed the status of the missing soldiers, and their names remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, their families are being kept informed with continuous updates.

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