Fourth US soldier found dead in Lithuania after vehicle sank in swamp
Three American soldiers were declared dead Monday after crews retrieved the M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle from a peat bog near Pabradė, Lithuania. The vehicle disappeared on March 25 "while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle," according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
"The fourth U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania the afternoon of April 1," it announced Tuesday. "The soldier's identity is being withheld pending confirmation of notification of next of kin."
"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers," Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, added in a statement. "I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies -- and our own Sailors, Airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers -- have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends."
3 American Soldiers Deceased After Us Armored Vehicle Pulled From Lithuanian Swamp
"This past week has been devastating," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Inf. Div. commanding general. "Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier. Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them."
Read On The Fox News App
U.S. Army Europe and Africa said earlier today that "Police working dogs from the Lithuanian Armed Forces began work yesterday afternoon and NATO ally Estonia joined the recovery efforts early this morning."
"Two Estonian recovery dogs, Tilt and Maik, and their handlers flew from Tallinn, Estonia. They arrived on scene at 2:00 a.m. and began searching at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Handlers have positioned the dogs in a U.S. Navy Rigid Inflatable Boat to locate any trace scents below the surface," it added.
Hegseth Announces Plan For Us Command Upgrades In Japan To Deter China
Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll wrote on X Monday that "We will not rest until the fourth and final Soldier is found and brought home.
"No words can truly capture the pain of this loss, but my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends, and fellow soldiers mourning their heroes," he said.
U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced Monday that the armored vehicle was removed from the swamp "after a six-day-long effort that required tremendous resources from Lithuania, our steadfast ally, and hundreds of service members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Polish Armed Forces – along with other elements from the Lithuanian government and civilian agencies – to solve the engineering challenge of recovering the 63-ton-vehicle from an area surrounded by unstable ground conditions."Original article source: Fourth US soldier found dead in Lithuania after vehicle sank in swamp
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
an hour ago
- Epoch Times
Hegseth Signals Stronger US Action Targeting Mexican Cartels
Defense chief says the United States will act to defend Americans from cartel violence, while Mexico's president stresses her country's sovereignty. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Aug. 11 that the government is taking action against Mexican drug cartels and will move to protect the American people.
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
Mexico agrees to send suspected cartel members to United States
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced an agreement Tuesday with the Mexican government to expel 26 suspected leaders of drug cartels. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Mexico has transferred 26 people suspected of leading drug cartels to the United States, both countries confirmed Tuesday, as President Donald Trump continues pressing the Mexican government on the criminal networks. Mexico's Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed the transfer in a post on X, writing that the deal was reached "in bilateral coordination and with full respect for our sovereignty." The U.S. Justice Department agreed to not seek the death penalty, Garcia wrote in his post. The suspected cartel leaders face a litany of federal and state charges related to drug trafficking, kidnaping, human smuggling, illegal use of firearms, the murder of a sheriff's deputy and others, according to a U.S. Justice Department press release. "These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores -- under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "We are grateful to Mexico's National Security team for their collaboration in this matter." Those transferred include Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, who is accused of being a leader of Los Cuinis, a Mexican cartel known for trafficking large quantities of cocaine into the United States. Another transferee is Roberto Salazar, who is wanted in connection with the murder of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy, who was killed in 2008 when leaving his home early in the morning. Others include alleged members of the security apparatus for the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, leading attacks on Mexican government and military officials with high-powered military-style weapons. The transfer comes a day after the U.S. Justice Department agreed to return 14 Mexican nationals serving drug-related prison sentences in U.S. prisons to facilities in their native country. The Mexican prisoners wanted to finish their sentences closer to their communities, and the United States saved millions of dollars in incarceration costs. Despite the recent cooperation, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has insisted her government will not allow the United States to deploy its military in Mexico to combat cartels.
NBC News
3 hours ago
- NBC News
Mexico transfers 26 cartel figures wanted by U.S. authorities in deal with Trump administration
WASHINGTON — Mexico sent 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States on Tuesday in the latest major deal with the Trump administration as American authorities ratchet up pressure on criminal networks smuggling drugs across the border. Those handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of 'Los Cuinis,' a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation, or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups. The transfers are a milestone for the Trump administration, which has made dismantling dangerous drug cartels a key Justice Department priority. It is the second time in months that Mexico has expelled cartel figures accused of narcotics smuggling, murder and other crimes amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs onto American streets. 'These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'We are grateful to Mexico's National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.' The cartel figures were put on planes to the U.S. after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members sent to the U.S. in February. That transfer was of 29 cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985. 'This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity,' U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a statement. 'These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies.' The February transfers came as Mexican officials were trying to head off the Trump administration's threat of imposing tariffs on Mexican imports. Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations. Sheinbaum has shown a willingness to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of Mexico's cartels. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to Mexico's sovereignty, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military. Also included in the group expelled Tuesday was Servando Gómez Martinez, also known as 'La Tuta,' a former school teacher who became one of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords as head of the Knights Templar cartel. He was captured in 2015 and sentenced to 55 years in a Mexican prison in June 2019. Gomez led the quasi-religious criminal group that once exercised absolute control over Michoacan and he liked to appear in interviews and videos. The cartel orchestrated politics, controlled commerce, dictated rules and preached a code of ethics around devotion to God and family, even as it murdered and plundered. Abigael González Valencia is the brother-in-law of CJNG leader Nemesio Rubén 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, a top target of the U.S. government. Abigael González Valencia was arrested in February 2015 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and had been fighting extradition to the United States since then. The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of 'El Mencho.' Alongside his two brothers, Abigael González Valencia led 'Los Cuinis,' which financed the the founding and growth of the CJNG, one of the most powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico. CJNG traffics hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States and other countries and is known for extreme violence, murders, torture and corruption. One of his brothers, José González Valencia, was sentenced in Washington's federal court in June to 30 years in a U.S. prison after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. Jose González Valencia was arrested in 2017 under the first Trump administration at a beach resort in Brazil while vacationing with his family under a fake name.
