… TO MEALS ON WHEELS. RIGHT NOW… THE U.S. … AND LITHUANIAN ARMY … ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH … AND RECOVERY EFFORT FOR – *THOSE MISSING – 3RD – INFANTRY – DIVISION – SOLDIERS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I’M GREG COY. AND I’M BROOKE BUTLER. THE FOUR SOLDIERS WERE REPORTED MISSING ON TUESDAY… WHILE ON A TRAINING EXERCISE. WJCL 22 NEWS’ ANDY COLE JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM FORT STEWART. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED WHERE THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED.// YEAH – IT’S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TO EVEN GET TO THE 70-TON VEHICLE… NOW OFFICIALS SAY THEY SEE IT… AND ARE WORKING TO GET DIVERS IN THE WATER. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE FOUR U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS WENT MISSING TUESDAY NIGHT… OFFICIALS IN LITHUANIA SAY THEY NOW KNOW WHERE THE VEHICLE THEY’RE SEARCHING FOR.. IS ACCORDING TO THIS POST FROM THE LITHUANIAN ARMY… THEIR GOAL IS TO TURN THE SWAMP INTO WATER.. ALLOWING U.S. NAVY DIVERS ACCESS TO THE SUBMERGED M88 HERCULES THE U.S. ARMY SAYS THE 70-TON VEHICLE IS STUCK IN THICK MUD 15 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE… CREATING AN IMMENSE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE NOW AT THE PABRADE TRAINING AREA IN LITHUANIA… HELPING THEM AND THE U.S. RESCUE THE FOUR SOLDIERS THEY’VE BROUGHT IN LITHUANIA’S LARGEST DREDGER… MULTIPLE CRANES… AND 30 TONS OF GRAVEL TO RECOVER THE VEHICLE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE 1ST ARMORED DIVISION CURTIS TAYLOR CALLS IT A LONG AND DIFFICULT OPERAITON… BUT SAYS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING THEIR SOLDIERS HOME. MEANWHILE – LITHUANIAN’S PRESIDENT… AND THE U-S AMBASSADOR FOR THE COUNTRY VISITED – **AD – **AD LIB*** – THANKS ANDY. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. AS SOON AS NEW INFORMATION BECOME

Missing Fort Stewart Soldiers: Work continues in Lithuania to reach vehicle, find troops

The search continues Friday for four U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division soldiers, based out of Fort Stewart, reported missing in Lithuania.

Download the WJCL App for breaking news alerts: Apple, Google PlayThe search continues Friday for four U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division soldiers, based out of Fort Stewart, reported missing in Lithuania.Here’s what we know right now. Check back for more updates as they develop.Friday Updates:Crews worked through the night to reach the soldiers’ vehicle. According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, rescuers managed to pump out some sludge, but the sunken vehicle was not reached. A specialised dredging machine was deployed. Water continues to flood the site.Hundreds of people are involved in the search efforts.The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll released a statement on X which read, “Our hearts are heavy as we continue the search and recovery of the four Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, who went missing on a vehicle recovery mission in Lithuania. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, teammates, and all those involved in this difficult mission. We are deeply thankful for the support of our Lithuanian and Polish allies as they work tirelessly alongside us. #WeWillNotRest #StrongerTogether”Lithuania’s most powerful dredger is being used to excavate deep mud. It can operate at significant depths, helping the rescue team reach the vehicle faster.A large capacity slurry pump, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel, and subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are just some of the assets that arrived on site to assist with accessing the M88. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald and Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division, visited the site to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the operation. They also visited with recovery teams to thank them for their efforts. Work will continue overnight.Below video: US Ambassador meets with Lithuanian defense ministerThe Incident:Four U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, went missing Tuesday during a training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.The soldiers were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle at the time of the incident.Current Status:The M88 Hercules vehicle has been found submerged in a body of water within the training area.Search and recovery operations are ongoing, involving the U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and civilian agencies.The soldiers remain missing, and their status has not been confirmed.Key Statements:Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene: The search is “complicated” and ongoing. No confirmed information about fatalities.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Expressed condolences Wednesday, initially telling media the soldiers “have been killed,” though the statement was later clarified that Rutte was responding to early, unconfirmed reports of their deaths.Fort Stewart Spokesperson: Clarified that the soldiers have not been found and cannot be confirmed deceased.Poland has agreed to send troops and equipment to aid in the search.Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė and US Ambassador Kara McDonald addressed troops Thursday, saying they would leave no stone unturned in the search for the missing soldiers. Search Efforts:Water levels at the incident site have been lowered to aid recovery efforts. Families of the soldiers are being kept informed of all developments.Additional Notes:The soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training when the incident occurred.Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza praised the cooperation between U.S. and Lithuanian forces in the search and recovery operations.Below video: Search for missing Fort Stewart soldiers in Lithuania

Download the WJCL App for breaking news alerts: Apple, Google Play

The search continues Friday for four U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division soldiers, based out of Fort Stewart, reported missing in Lithuania.

Here’s what we know right now. Check back for more updates as they develop.

Friday Updates:
Crews worked through the night to reach the soldiers’ vehicle. According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, rescuers managed to pump out some sludge, but the sunken vehicle was not reached. A specialised dredging machine was deployed. Water continues to flood the site.Hundreds of people are involved in the search efforts.The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll released a statement on X which read, “Our hearts are heavy as we continue the search and recovery of the four Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, who went missing on a vehicle recovery mission in Lithuania. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, teammates, and all those involved in this difficult mission. We are deeply thankful for the support of our Lithuanian and Polish allies as they work tirelessly alongside us. #WeWillNotRest #StrongerTogether”Lithuania’s most powerful dredger is being used to excavate deep mud. It can operate at significant depths, helping the rescue team reach the vehicle faster.A large capacity slurry pump, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel, and subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are just some of the assets that arrived on site to assist with accessing the M88. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald and Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division, visited the site to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the operation. They also visited with recovery teams to thank them for their efforts. Work will continue overnight.

Below video: US Ambassador meets with Lithuanian defense minister

The Incident:Four U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, went missing Tuesday during a training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.The soldiers were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle at the time of the incident.Current Status:The M88 Hercules vehicle has been found submerged in a body of water within the training area.Search and recovery operations are ongoing, involving the U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and civilian agencies.The soldiers remain missing, and their status has not been confirmed.
Key Statements:Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene: The search is “complicated” and ongoing. No confirmed information about fatalities.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Expressed condolences Wednesday, initially telling media the soldiers “have been killed,” though the statement was later clarified that Rutte was responding to early, unconfirmed reports of their deaths.Fort Stewart Spokesperson: Clarified that the soldiers have not been found and cannot be confirmed deceased.Poland has agreed to send troops and equipment to aid in the search.Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė and US Ambassador Kara McDonald addressed troops Thursday, saying they would leave no stone unturned in the search for the missing soldiers.
Search Efforts:Water levels at the incident site have been lowered to aid recovery efforts. Families of the soldiers are being kept informed of all developments.Additional Notes:The soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training when the incident occurred.Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza praised the cooperation between U.S. and Lithuanian forces in the search and recovery operations.

Below video: Search for missing Fort Stewart soldiers in Lithuania