Lithuanian government said it remains seeking a 4th soldier; US forces performed a mission in a swamp in the region
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday (31.mar.2025) in an X (former Twitter) who found 3 US-dead soldiers who were missing in the country. The Lithuanian leader said the search team will continue the operation to rescue a 4th soldier who was next to the others.
“It was with deep sadness and regret that I received the news of the tragic loss of three US soldiers during a US -led training exercise in Lithuania.”Said Nauseda, who quoted US President Donald Trump (Republican), and sent condolences for the losses.
A US Army statement in Europe and Asia detailed the disappearances. Without revealing the identity of the soldiers, the note said that US forces disappeared on March 25 while driving a armored vehicle, the mission was to seek and tow another armored car. Here A (PDF – 385 KB).
The rescue team found the soldiers’ vehicle 1 day later, submerged in a swamp. The US forces, which cooperated along with Lithuania and Poland, took 6 days to remove the vehicle of 63 tons that was trapped on the ground.
“I would like to personally praise the heroic efforts of search groups and especially our lithuan allies that were fundamental in the efforts to recovero […] However, search and recovery efforts are not complete – they will continue until we bring all our soldiers home ”said General Curtis Taylor, commander of the Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division.
The Lithuanian government receives US soldiers for training missions in the Pabrade region, which is close to Russia and was where the disappearances occurred.
