Military vehicle recovered from Lithuanian swamp; three American soldiers confirmed dead.

The US Army confirmed on Monday (March 31) that three out of four American soldiers who went missing near Pabradė, Lithuania last week have been confirmed dead. The search for the fourth soldier is still ongoing.

These four soldiers were traveling in an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, which sank in a peat bog last week. After six days of salvage operations, rescue personnel successfully pulled the vehicle ashore on Monday morning.

According to the US military, the three deceased soldiers belonged to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. They were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The identities of the soldiers are being kept confidential pending notification of their families.

Reportedly, the 63-ton M88 vehicle was found submerged in a peat bog about 4.5 meters deep, filled with clay-like mud.

The salvage operation involved mobilizing the US Army, Navy, Lithuanian and Polish armed forces, as well as support from the Lithuanian government and civilian organizations, including cranes, mud pumps, excavators, and hundreds of tons of sand and gravel. US Navy divers arrived at the scene over the weekend and, in near zero visibility in the muddy water, completed the rigging operation, pulling the vehicle out after about two hours.

Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė suggested that the vehicle may have driven directly into the bog and tilted over, causing it to sink. She earlier announced on Facebook that the vehicle was successfully dragged ashore at 4:40 am.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed his condolences for the incident and extended his sympathies to US President Donald Trump on the X platform, stating, “Lithuania mourns with the American people. Please accept my sincerest condolences, on behalf of the people of Lithuania, to you, the families of the victims, and all the American people.”

Major General Christopher Norrie, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, stated, “The soldiers lost in this tragedy were not just military personnel – they were our family.” He emphasized, “As long as there is someone missing, the search will not stop. We express our deepest gratitude to all those who continue to be involved in the rescue efforts.”

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.