Race Against Time: U.S. and Lithuanian Forces Battle Swamp to Rescue Missing Soldiers

U.S. Navy divers have secured two lines to a submerged M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle in Lithuania, marking a critical step in the search for four missing U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Stewart, Georgia. The vehicle vanished Tuesday during a training exercise near Pabradė, sinking into a peat bog with the soldiers inside.

The recovery effort, described as highly complex, involves winching the 70-ton vehicle from four meters underwater and two meters of thick mud. A Rapidly Available Interface for Trans-loading (RAIL) system is being deployed to stabilize the treacherous terrain. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized that all resources—helicopters with thermal vision, ground forces, and international allies—are being utilized in the search.

Despite the grim conditions, officials have not declared the soldiers deceased, holding out hope they may have escaped. The swampy, forested area—similar to Alaska’s terrain—poses extreme challenges, with hypothermia and disorientation as potential risks.

Lithuania, a NATO ally, has mobilized nationwide support, including a mass and joint prayer for the missing troops. The U.S. Army vows to continue the mission “until our soldiers are found.”