Lithuanian and Polish Troops Collaborate in Search for Missing U.S. Soldiers

Pabradė, Lithuania – In a concerted effort to locate four missing U.S. Army soldiers, Lithuanian and Polish military forces have joined together amidst ongoing search and recovery operations. The soldiers, based out of Fort Stewart in Georgia, went missing during a training exercise in the forests near Pabradė, Lithuania.

Details of the Incident

The soldiers disappeared on Tuesday while operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle. They were conducting a maintenance mission to recover another military vehicle within a designated training area. According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs, their vehicle was subsequently found submerged in a body of water, which is situated over a pressurized gas pipeline.

Extensive Search Efforts Underway

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized the commitment of her country to this operation. In her comments to Fox News, Šakalienė stated, “We have given everything” for the search, mobilizing both armed forces and internal safety agencies. The recovery efforts have involved hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers, alongside search teams, military helicopters, and specialized dive teams to navigate the challenging terrain.

The operation has faced considerable obstacles, including waterlogged grounds and thick mud complicating recovery efforts. As of Thursday afternoon, local officials reported the vehicle was found, and recovery underwent technical challenges as they worked to drain the water and stabilize the area.

Additional Assistance from Polish Troops

In a show of solidarity, the Polish military announced Thursday that a task force of engineering troops equipped with specialized equipment would assist Lithuanian efforts. The deployment aims to expedite the recovery process. Notably, Polish officials confirmed that land dredging equipment was en route to the recovery site, with plans to reinforce a dam to isolate the mud pumping area.

Authorities reported the successful removal of the pressurized gas, enabling safer working conditions at the site. As of Thursday, the Lithuanian internal water waste agency was preparing to deploy additional dredging equipment expected to arrive by mid-morning Friday.

Continuing Hopes for Recovery

The search and recovery team is making progress with intentions to initiate water pumping operations by the evening. A diver will attempt to assess the position of the submerged vehicle to determine whether it had overturned and to ascertain the potential whereabouts of the missing soldiers.

Šakalienė noted that while it remains uncertain if the soldiers could have escaped the vehicle before it sank, she reassured that there is as yet no evidence confirming their deaths. "We are not losing hope until the very last moment," she stated, illustrating the emotional investment of the Lithuanian community in the recovery efforts.

Community and NATO Support

As part of NATO, Lithuania considers American soldiers as comrades and has expressed commitment to not leaving them behind. The search continues to gain attention, with communities in both Lithuania and the U.S. watching closely as recovery efforts unfold. The Lithuanian defense minister highlighted the unity of NATO allies and the collective weight of the situation, stating, “We are friends with them, and all of our society is heartbroken watching every single moment of this rescue operation.”

As recovery teams navigate the forested area’s challenging conditions, the search remains active with hopes of finding the missing soldiers alive.