The recovery operation for four missing U.S. Army soldiers in Lithuania has faced significant challenges due to the difficult terrain of a swampy area near Pabradė, close to the Belarus border. The soldiers were part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart in Georgia and went missing on March 25 during a training mission to recover another Army vehicle. Their M88 Hercules armored vehicle was discovered buried under mud and water the following day, making recovery efforts even more complicated.
The swampy terrain has proven to be highly complex for rescuers, with Brig. Gen. John Lloyd of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division describing it as a “bog-swamp like area” where the vehicle is submerged about 13 feet below the water’s surface and stuck in over six feet of mud. The clay-like consistency of the mud further complicates matters, making it difficult for rescuers to access the vehicle and retrieve the soldiers inside.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by military personnel during training missions, especially when dealing with unpredictable terrain and environmental conditions. It also underscores the importance of proper planning and preparation in such situations to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved. As recovery efforts continue, it is hoped that further progress will be made in locating and retrieving the missing soldiers from this treacherous environment.
[Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/03/30/g-s1-57235/army-missing-soldiers-lithuania-swamp-update) #some #progress #made [Visit GhostAI](https://ghostai.pro/)
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