Overview

• Four U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, died when their M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle sank in a Lithuanian peat bog on March 25, 2025.
• The remains of the fourth and final soldier were recovered on April 1, following a complex operation involving U.S., Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian forces.
• The soldiers were conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the Belarus border.
• Specialized equipment, including drones with ground-penetrating radar and police working dogs, was utilized to navigate the challenging swampy terrain.
• The U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, while condolences have been extended to the families of the deceased soldiers.