The bodies of a fourth U.S. Army soldier who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania last week were found Tuesday afternoon, military officials said.
The soldier whose family notice is pending, whose names have not been released, was last found after the bodies of three other soldiers were found Monday.
Four soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division of the 1st Brigade Combat Team went missing during a training exercise on March 25th. The 63-ton armored vehicle was also removed from the peat marsh early Monday.
The US Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
The soldiers were found near Pablod after a fierce week of searches involving hundreds of rescuers from the US, Lithuanian, Polish and Estonian forces. The search required specialized equipment to wash away thick forest and marsh terrain and stabilize the soft ground in the area.
Soldiers had been deployed in Lithuania to support the Atlantic’s resolve “to provide reliable ground deterrence with allies and partners,” the U.S. Army Europe and African Public Relations Agency said. The four were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
“The past week has been devastating. Today, our minds carry the weight of our ultimate loss of dogface soldiers and the unbearable pain,” said Major General Christopher Norley, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. “We’ve had some closure, but the world is dark without them.”
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
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