Four U.S. Army Soldiers Reported Deceased Following Training Exercises in Lithuania – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
11:47 AM – Wednesday, March 26, 2025
According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, four U.S. Army soldiers have tragically lost their lives in Lithuania following NATO exercises.
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The soldiers, part of the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were last observed on Tuesday in an armored vehicle while engaged in tactical training exercises at a military location in Pabrade, located in eastern Lithuania.
This training area is situated just six miles from the Belarus border, a country allied with Russia, as reported by Army officials.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who swiftly assisted us in our search operations,” Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the commanding general of V Corps, stated. “This collaboration and support exemplify the importance of our partnership and our shared humanity, irrespective of the flags we represent.”
Rutte confirmed he had been informed of the soldiers’ fatalities and extended his condolences to their families and the United States.
“This is still early news, so we do not possess all the details,” Rutte communicated to reporters during a visit to Warsaw, Poland. “This is truly devastating, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones.”
As of now, the U.S. Army has yet to issue an official statement regarding the soldiers’ deaths, although they have expressed gratitude toward Lithuania’s armed forces for their assistance in the search and rescue efforts.
Following the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the 1st Armored Brigade was among the first units deployed to support NATO allies. The unit returned to Europe in January for another nine-month deployment, as reported by Stars and Stripes.
Reports from Lithuanian media indicate that the four soldiers were in an M88A2 Armored Recovery Vehicle when they went missing around 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was initiated, involving military personnel from Lithuania and other NATO countries, complemented by Lithuanian Air Force helicopters and the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, according to the Lithuanian news outlet Delfi.
The Lithuanian military stated they have identified a credible area for the search efforts, with assistance from Lithuania’s Fire Protection and Rescue Department as of Wednesday.
“The possible location of the incident has been identified, and search and rescue operations are currently in progress,” stated Lithuanian military spokesman Major Gintautas Ciunis to Elta.
Additionally, the Lithuanian military had not confirmed the specific circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We sincerely value and are appreciative of the U.S. presence here. We have ensured all conditions are met to bolster their military readiness,” said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania’s National Security and Defense Committee, in a statement.
“Such incidents can occur during large-scale joint military exercises, not only among American forces but also across other armies. The aim is to mitigate such risks, but they cannot be entirely avoided. Should there have been an accident, we will learn from it, and safety protocols will be enhanced,” he added.
This announcement follows the recent plans announced by the Baltic nations to enhance their border defenses against Russia and Belarus.
Lithuania has been a member of NATO since 2004.
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