NIGHT. BUT THE SMOKE WAS STILL VISIBLE. CREWS ARE STILL MONITORING THE AREA. THE U.S … AND LITHUANIAN ARMY … ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH AND RECOVERY EFFORTS … FOR – FOUR – MISSING – 3RD – INFANTRY – DIVISION – SOLDIERS. ENGINEERS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES … ARE BUILDING A BERM, OR ARTIFICAL ENBANKMENT … AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE POND. THEY TRYING TO KEEP WATER … AND MUD … FROM RE- FILLING THE POND … AS IT’S PUMPED OUT. WJCL 22 NEWS’ ANDY – COLE REPORTS — 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 THIS IS A DEVELOPING STOR

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

The search continues Saturday 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 Saturday 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. Below video: US Ambassador meets with Lithuanian defense ministerSaturday Update:Saturday’s focus is on continued efforts to remove water and mud from the site, shore up the ground around the site to support heavy equipment, and site preparation for dive operations.Specialized divers from U.S. Navy Commander, Task Force 68 arrived on a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at the Vilnius airport from Rota, Spain. They and their equipment were then moved to the mission site by U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade to begin diving operations. Their focus is finding lift points on the M88A2 and bring to bear highly specialized equipment and training that will allow them to navigate the challenging environment around the Hercules.  Additionally, 55 Polish engineers and recovery experts arrived in Lithuania to assist in operations. The Polish rescue workers brought 13 vehicles, including four heavy trucks, one engineer workshop/tool truck, one fueler with 10 tons of fuel, and three WZT-3 tracked recovery vehicles (similar to the Hercules).  Lithuanian geologists arrived and have brought a man-portable sub-bottom profiler (sonar) to assist in mapping out the recovery area. 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 “hundreds” from 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 sent 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.On Friday, 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” 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.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. Additional Notes:The soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training when the incident occurred. Below video: Search for missing Fort Stewart soldiers in Lithuania

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

The search continues Saturday 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.

Below video: US Ambassador meets with Lithuanian defense minister

Saturday Update:
Saturday’s focus is on continued efforts to remove water and mud from the site, shore up the ground around the site to support heavy equipment, and site preparation for dive operations.Specialized divers from U.S. Navy Commander, Task Force 68 arrived on a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at the Vilnius airport from Rota, Spain. They and their equipment were then moved to the mission site by U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade to begin diving operations. Their focus is finding lift points on the M88A2 and bring to bear highly specialized equipment and training that will allow them to navigate the challenging environment around the Hercules.  Additionally, 55 Polish engineers and recovery experts arrived in Lithuania to assist in operations. The Polish rescue workers brought 13 vehicles, including four heavy trucks, one engineer workshop/tool truck, one fueler with 10 tons of fuel, and three WZT-3 tracked recovery vehicles (similar to the Hercules).  Lithuanian geologists arrived and have brought a man-portable sub-bottom profiler (sonar) to assist in mapping out the recovery area. 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 “hundreds” from 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 sent 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.On Friday, 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”
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.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. Additional Notes:The soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training when the incident occurred.

Below video: Search for missing Fort Stewart soldiers in Lithuania