A U.S. Army M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle that went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania has been pulled from a swamp after a six-day search, but the fate of the four American soldiers onboard remains unknown, Lithuanian officials confirmed Monday. The vehicle was discovered submerged in approximately 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water in a boggy training area near Pabradė, just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Belarusian border.
The soldiers, all from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were reported missing early last Tuesday while conducting a tactical training mission at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground. The recovery operation, involving hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian troops, emergency responders, and specialized equipment, faced significant challenges due to the swamp’s thick mud and unstable terrain. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė stated that the 70-ton vehicle was finally extracted at 4:40 a.m. local time, but the search for the soldiers continues.
U.S. and Lithuanian authorities have not yet confirmed whether the soldiers perished in the incident. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte initially suggested they had died, but the alliance later clarified that his remarks were based on unverified reports and that the official investigation is ongoing . Lithuanian officials emphasized that no bodies have been recovered, and the U.S. Army is leading efforts to determine the soldiers’ whereabouts while keeping their families informed.
The recovery operation required extensive engineering efforts, including the construction of makeshift dams, water drainage systems, and the use of cranes and gravel to stabilize the area. A U.S. Navy dive team and Polish military engineers also assisted in the complex retrieval process.
The incident has drawn widespread attention, with a memorial Mass held at Vilnius Cathedral attended by U.S. troops, NATO officials, and Lithuanian leaders. Authorities have pledged to continue the search until the soldiers are found, underscoring the close military partnership between the U.S. and Lithuania amid heightened regional tensions .
