4th Missing U.S. Soldier based on Fort Stewart found dead in Lithuania
WIESBADEN, Germany (WSAV) — The fourth U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs Office announced on April 1.
The identity of the soldier is being withheld from the public until the next of kin is notified.
On Tuesday, March 25, four soldiers permanently stationed at Fort Stewart but deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve were reported missing. The following day, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that they were deceased.
On Monday, March 31, three of the soldiers were confirmed dead. Their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle were recovered from a peat bog.
The soldier was found on Tuesday, April 1, after a week-long search by hundreds of rescue workers from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, Estonian Armed Forces, and many other Lithuanian government and civilian agency personnel.
'This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearablepain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier,' said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Inf.Div. commanding general. 'Though we have received some closure, the world is darkerwithout them.'
The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle at the time of the incident in a training area near Pabradė, officials said.
'First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our Soldiers,' said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. '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.'
The U.S. Army continues investigating the cause of the accident.
This is a developing story and WSAV will provide updates as soon as they are available.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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