FORT STEWART, Ga. — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania have died.
An unnamed U.S. official would say only that the four soldiers were involved in a training accident, the Associated Press reported.
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa confirmed that the soldiers, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, were conducting an exercise at a training field near Pabradė, Lithuania, a town located about six miles from the border with Belarus.
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Army officials confirmed that the M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the soldiers used during the training exercise was found submerged near the training area.
Rutte initially told reporters in Warsaw that the soldiers had been “killed.”
“This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones,” Rutte said.
The soldiers, who have not been identified, were all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
“I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. “It’s this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders.”
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