In a somber development, the body of a fourth US soldier, missing for over a week during military exercises in Lithuania, has been recovered.
Tragic Discovery: Body of Fourth US Soldier Recovered in Lithuania
Tragic Discovery: Body of Fourth US Soldier Recovered in Lithuania
A week-long search concludes with the identification of the last missing soldier involved in a military accident.
The tragic incident unfolded when a team of four soldiers disappeared while operating an M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle near Pabrade, close to the border with Belarus. On Monday, the vehicle and the remains of three other soldiers were discovered submerged in a peat bog, prompting extensive search efforts that included hundreds of personnel from the US Army, Navy, and the armed forces of Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia.
"We are devastated. Today our hearts bear the weight of unbearable pain... the world is darker without them," stated Maj Gen Christopher Norrie, reflecting the grief felt by the military community. Lt Gen Charles Costanza referred to the event as a "tragic accident," commending the collaborative efforts among international recovery teams during the harrowing mission.
While the exact location of the recovery of the fourth soldier has not been disclosed, the M88A2 Hercules is recognized as one of the largest recovery vehicles in the US military, specifically designed to recover damaged tanks and vehicles from battlefields. The arduous extraction operation required the assistance of two additional M88A2 Hercules and bulldozers to retrieve the sunken vehicle, underscoring the complexities faced by recovery teams who worked tirelessly through the week.
The identities of the soldiers have not yet been made public, but they were serving in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission developed as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event is currently underway by the US Army.
"We are devastated. Today our hearts bear the weight of unbearable pain... the world is darker without them," stated Maj Gen Christopher Norrie, reflecting the grief felt by the military community. Lt Gen Charles Costanza referred to the event as a "tragic accident," commending the collaborative efforts among international recovery teams during the harrowing mission.
While the exact location of the recovery of the fourth soldier has not been disclosed, the M88A2 Hercules is recognized as one of the largest recovery vehicles in the US military, specifically designed to recover damaged tanks and vehicles from battlefields. The arduous extraction operation required the assistance of two additional M88A2 Hercules and bulldozers to retrieve the sunken vehicle, underscoring the complexities faced by recovery teams who worked tirelessly through the week.
The identities of the soldiers have not yet been made public, but they were serving in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission developed as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event is currently underway by the US Army.
