Additional assets arrive in support of recovery efforts in Lithuania

In the last 24 hours, U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities brought in additional assets to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts of four missing U.S. Army Soldiers and a M88 Hercules from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.



By U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs U.S. Army Europe and Africa Wiesbaden, Germany Mar 28, 2025
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 2 images

In the last 24 hours, U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities brought in additional assets to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts of four missing U.S. Army Soldiers and a M88 Hercules from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

A large capacity slurry pump, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel, and subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are just some of the assets that arrived on site to assist with accessing the M88. The Polish Armed Forces have also volunteered a unit of military engineers, which is bringing in an additional water pump, tracked recovery vehicles, other additional equipment and supplies needed along with 150 personnel to aid in the effort.

The vehicle was found submerged approximately 15 feet under a body of water and mud in a boggy area of the Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania, March 26. Over the last 72 hours recovery teams consisting of U.S. Army Soldiers, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and other Lithuanian authorities and contractors have been working around the clock to drain water, dig, and dredge the mud that surrounds the vehicle to be able to extract it. Due to the conditions of the terrain, this is a complex and difficult operation.

The area around the site is incredibly wet and marshy and doesn’t support the weight of the equipment needed for the recovery of the 70-ton vehicle without significant engineering improvements. Draining the area has been slow and difficult due to ground water seepage.

The U.S. Army continues coordinating for additional subject matter experts and equipment to include a specialized US Navy Dive Crew from team CTF68. The dive crew is expected to arrive on site within the next 24 hours.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald and Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division, visited the site earlier this morning to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the operation. They also visited with recovery teams and thanked them for their continued efforts.

“We greatly appreciate the Lithuanian president's visit today and the exceptional support we continue to receive from the Lithuanian Army,” said Taylor. “This will be a long and difficult recovery operation, but we are absolutely committed to bringing our soldiers home. I remain incredibly impressed by the discipline, commitment and comradery in this unit as they attempt to recover their missing comrades.”

More in Partner Strong
USEUCOM civil-military workshop fosters partnering to build capacity and resilience in Estonia
Workshop participants saw the impact of the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program during visits to an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) center and a veteran amputee center providing prosthetic limbs to wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Read more
ESCW 2025: Modernizing, integrating for stronger Euro-Atlantic defense
U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, hosted the 2025 USEUCOM Strategy Conference and Workshops (ESCW) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from Jan. 27-30, 2025.
Read more
USEUCOM Director for Plans, Policy, and Strategy attends annual Joint Commission in Poland
Members of the U.S.-Poland Joint Commission tasked with implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (ECDA) met to discuss various topics related to advancing this historic burden-sharing agreement.
Read more
More in Partner Strong
USEUCOM civil-military workshop fosters partnering to build capacity and resilience in Estonia
Workshop participants saw the impact of the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program during visits to an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) center and a veteran amputee center providing prosthetic limbs to wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Read more
ESCW 2025: Modernizing, integrating for stronger Euro-Atlantic defense
U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, hosted the 2025 USEUCOM Strategy Conference and Workshops (ESCW) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from Jan. 27-30, 2025.
Read more
USEUCOM Director for Plans, Policy, and Strategy attends annual Joint Commission in Poland
Members of the U.S.-Poland Joint Commission tasked with implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (ECDA) met to discuss various topics related to advancing this historic burden-sharing agreement.
Read more
More in Partner Strong
USEUCOM civil-military workshop fosters partnering to build capacity and resilience in Estonia
Workshop participants saw the impact of the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program during visits to an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) center and a veteran amputee center providing prosthetic limbs to wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Read more
ESCW 2025: Modernizing, integrating for stronger Euro-Atlantic defense
U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, hosted the 2025 USEUCOM Strategy Conference and Workshops (ESCW) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from Jan. 27-30, 2025.
Read more
USEUCOM Director for Plans, Policy, and Strategy attends annual Joint Commission in Poland
Members of the U.S.-Poland Joint Commission tasked with implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (ECDA) met to discuss various topics related to advancing this historic burden-sharing agreement.
Read more