I have sad news to report today, my friends. If you have been following the news, you may have heard about the four US soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Unfortunately, three of the four have been found dead. The search for the fourth is still underway as of this writing.

Those of us who have served are well aware of the fact that we train like we fight and that training can be extraordinarily dangerous at times.  This accident has cast a pall over the ongoing military exercises in the area and raised questions about the circumstances leading to this devastating loss. Still, we must continue on and move forward. 

What Happened?

The accident took place on March 25, 2025, during a training mission near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the border with Belarus. Four U.S. Army soldiers were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle at the time. During the exercise, the soldiers were attempting to recover another tactical vehicle that had become stuck in the mud. While attempting to get to the disabled vehicle, their M88 accidentally veered off the road and entered swampy, unstable terrain. The ground quickly gave way beneath the massive armored vehicle, causing it to sink into a deep peat bog. The vehicle became trapped about 16 feet (5 meters) below the surface, surrounded by thick mud and unstable ground, making any escape or immediate rescue almost impossible. The difficult conditions of the terrain are believed to have played a major role in the accident, though a formal investigation is underway to determine exactly what went wrong.

The soldiers, whose names have not been released pending notification of their next of kin, were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, which is part of the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

About Operation Atlantic Resolve

The deceased were participating in Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR). OAR is a U.S. military initiative that began in April 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and subsequent military aggression in Ukraine. The operation was launched to strengthen NATO’s posture in Eastern Europe and reassure U.S. allies of America’s commitment to their defense. It falls under the larger umbrella of the European Deterrence Initiative, which focuses on countering potential threats from Russia and enhancing the collective security of NATO member states.

The primary objectives of Operation Atlantic Resolve are threefold. First, it seeks to deter Russian aggression by maintaining a persistent U.S. military presence in Central and Eastern Europe. Second, it aims to reassure NATO allies by demonstrating America’s resolve to uphold its defense obligations. Third, the operation is designed to improve readiness and interoperability through joint training exercises with partner nations. These exercises enhance the ability of U.S. and allied forces to operate together effectively in both defensive and offensive operations.

At any given time, roughly 6,000 U.S. soldiers are deployed as part of OAR. These deployments include armored, aviation, and sustainment task forces, which rotate every nine months. The operation spans multiple NATO countries, with training exercises conducted in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, OAR’s mission has expanded further. It now includes broader security assistance for Ukraine, providing financial aid, equipment, and technical support in line with current U.S. policy objectives.