Three U.S. Soldiers Killed in Armored Vehicle Crash [WATCH]

Three U.S. Army soldiers were confirmed deceased on Monday following a six-day-long search and recovery operation in Lithuania.

The soldiers were traveling in an M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle that sank in a swamp near Pabradė, Lithuania, on March 25.

The soldiers, assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle.

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Their identities are being withheld until next of kin are notified. The U.S. Army Europe and Africa made the announcement on March 31.

The search team successfully recovered the M88A2 Hercules vehicle on March 31, after extensive efforts to retrieve the 63-ton vehicle from a peat bog.

The vehicle had been submerged in unstable ground conditions, making the operation challenging and requiring substantial resources.

The operation involved hundreds of service members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, and various Lithuanian civilian agencies.

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“The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers – they were a part of our family. Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general.

“We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time.”

The recovery operation was a joint effort involving military helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and search and rescue teams from the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Additional resources included excavators, pumps, heavy construction equipment, and several hundred tons of gravel and earth to aid in the recovery of the vehicle.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed his condolences, stating, “It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I received the news of the tragic loss of three U.S. soldiers during a U.S.-led training exercise in Lithuania.”

He also posted his condolences on X, tagging President Donald Trump, and wrote, “Lithuania mourns together with the American nation. Please accept my heartfelt condolences, as well as those of the Lithuanian people, to you, the loved ones of those who lost their lives, and all the people of the United States of America.”

It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I received the news of the tragic loss of three U.S. soldiers during a US-led training exercise in Lithuania. The search and rescue operation will continue until the fourth soldier is found.@realDonaldTrump, Lithuania mourns together with… pic.twitter.com/2477rTQwZJ

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) March 31, 2025

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė provided an update on Facebook, confirming that the armored vehicle was pulled from the bog at 4:40 a.m. on March 31, and that military police and U.S. investigators were continuing their work.

The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission aimed at reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank.

U.S. Navy divers from Commander, Task Force 68 assisted with the recovery operation.

They worked through thick mud, clay, and sediment with zero visibility to secure hoist points on the vehicle.

Once the vehicle was secured, the operation faced further complications when the M88A2 began to lose traction, requiring the use of additional dozers to help with extraction.

It took approximately two hours to complete the winching operation and remove the vehicle from the swamp.

The cause of the accident remains unclear, as investigations by U.S. and Lithuanian officials continue.

The soldiers were stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and had been deployed to Lithuania as part of the U.S. Army’s commitment to NATO and Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The tragic incident has prompted an outpouring of support for the families and comrades of the fallen soldiers, as the recovery and investigation efforts continue.

Search and recovery operations are still ongoing for a fourth soldier who was also involved in the incident.

The U.S. Army has expressed gratitude to the Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies for their assistance during the challenging recovery operation.

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