The body of a fourth missing US soldier has been recovered near Pabrade, Lithuania, the US Army said in a statement on April 1.
Recovery operations, bolstered by international cooperation and advanced technology, lasted for several days after a military vehicle with four US soldiers aboard sank in a bog area on March 25.
The bodies of the first three soldiers from the US Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle had been retrieved a day earlier.
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"This past week has been devastating. Today, our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Major General Christopher Norrie, using an affectionate nickname for a US infantryman. "Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them."
The recovery mission had intensified in the last 24 hours with the arrival of specialized personnel and equipment. Rescue dogs and two advanced drone systems, including one equipped with ground-penetrating radar, had operated on the site to enhance search capabilities.
Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, alongside US Navy divers, Lithuania's armed forces, Polish engineers, Estonian military police, multinational civilian agencies, and technical experts from the US Army Corps of Engineers, were actively engaged in the recovery.
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The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of their families.
Investigations into the tragedy are under way. Authorities are examining the circumstances that led to the incident, including the terrain, weather conditions, and the state of the vehicle.
The missing vehicle and troops had triggered a massive multinational rescue effort, and US Major General Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, expressed thanks to everyone who contributed to the recovery operation.
"We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission," he said. "Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade."
Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed in the Baltic nation on a rotational basis.