Three missing Fort Stewart Soldiers found dead in Lithuania after conducting mission

AI-assisted summary
• Three U.S. Army soldiers were found dead in Lithuania after their vehicle was found submerged in a body of water.
• The soldiers were part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission launched in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Search and recovery operations are ongoing for the fourth soldier.
• The U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

Of the four U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, who went missing on March 25, three were found dead in Lithuania today, according to a press release sent via email by LTC Angel Tomko of the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Team.

The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR), which was launched by the United States in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The soldiers were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

The soldiers went missing in the early morning hours of March 25 in their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle. Early the next morning, U.S. Army units supported by Lithuanian Armed Forces and law enforcement “conducted a search in the area and found the Soldiers’ vehicle submerged in a body of water."

It is not clear why the tactical vehicle was immobilized. Search and recovery operations continue for the remaining fourth Soldier.

Early Monday morning, the M88A2, which weighs 63 tons, was removed from the peat bog.

“The Soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just Soldiers - they were a part of our family," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Inf. Div. commanding general. "Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home. We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time. But the search isn’t finished until everyone is home. Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found.”

In the press release, Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division said, “search and recovery efforts are not complete.”

“Today is a very sad and tragic day. The loss of these Soldiers weighs heavy on me, the hearts of all Task Force Iron service members, and the 3rd Infantry Division. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of these brave Soldiers,” said Taylor. “I'd like to personally commend the heroic efforts of the search parties, and especially our Lithuanian allies who were instrumental in the recovery efforts. Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrates the strong relationship between our countries. However, search and recovery efforts are not complete - they will continue until we bring all of our Soldiers home.”

The U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

The accident in Lithuania comes months after a single-vehicle accident occurred on Jan. 30 during a combat training exercise in the Fort Stewart training area, resulting in the deaths of two motor transport operators. They were assigned to 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

Who was involved in the search and recovery operations?

Discovery of the missing M88A2 comes after six days of search and recovery operations, which involved hundreds of service members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Polish Armed Forces, according to the press release.

It took about “two hours of winching to remove the M88A2 from the bog.” On Sunday evening, U.S. Navy divers assigned to Commander, Task Force 68 assisted the recovery team with “finding and accessing two hoist points,” the press release stated. The Navy divers moved through “thick layers of mud, clay, and sediment with zero visibility to reach the vehicle and hook steel cables that were attached to two M88A2 Hercules.” Partway through the extraction the M88A2s began to lose traction, so several dozers were attached to provide additional grip.

The dive team has since “transitioned to gridding out the area to enable a systematic search and the team is using a ground penetrating radar provided by Lithuanian experts to assist in the ongoing recovery operations,” the press release stated.

Lithuanian armed forces “provided military helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and search and rescue personnel immediately to join the effort, and over the sequence of days brought in excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, other heavy construction equipment, technical experts, and several hundred tons of gravel and earth to enable the recovery.”

"The Raider family is heartbroken over the tragic loss of our Soldiers," said Col. James Armstrong, 1st Armored Brigade Commander, according to the press release. "We are ensuring we provide the needed support to their families and our Soldiers as we go through this grieving process. We are an incredibly tight-knit family, and their absence is keenly felt, and we will hold them close in our memories. I want to extend my personal thanks to everyone who assisted in the search and recovery efforts. The Raider Brigade is incredibly appreciative of all the support we received from our Lithuanian and Polish Allies, and our brothers and sisters of the Army, Navy, and Air Force who contributed to helping us recover our Soldiers. We will never forget the dedication, commitment and teamwork that enabled us to recover our Soldiers and provide closure for their families. We are truly stronger together."

Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@Gannett.com.