WIESBADEN, Germany —
Operations continue to recover the fourth and final missing U.S. Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division near Pabradė, Lithuania. More capabilities continue to flow to the recovery site, including recovery dogs and two specialized drone systems – including one equipped with ground-penetrating radar – are being used to assist in the search. Our Lithuanian Allies continue to dedicate more resources and capabilities to the search, and overnight Estonia also joined the efforts.
“I’m really proud again of the partnerships, especially with Estonia, who, last night flew in two specialized working dogs able to search the water,” said Brig. Gen. John Lloyd, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division. “The team and their dog started searching early this morning, and they’re going to bring the team out again later this afternoon to continue searching. Again, we appreciate Estonia and their partnership in this whole effort to bring our Soldier home.”
Police working dogs from the Lithuanian Armed Forces began work yesterday afternoon and NATO ally Estonia joined the recovery efforts early this morning. Two Estonian recovery dogs, Tilt and Maik, and their handlers flew from Tallinn, Estonia. They arrived on scene at 2:00 a.m. and began searching at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Handlers have positioned the dogs in a U.S. Navy Rigid Inflatable Boat to locate any trace scents below the surface.
Hundreds of Soldiers from 3rd Inf. Div. alongside U.S. Navy divers, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish engineers, Estonian military police, multinational civilian agencies, and technical experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have joined the recovery efforts over the past week.
With the several hundred additional personnel surging into the small base, the 297th Regional Support Group, Alaska Army National Guard, in charge of base operation for Camp Tauras, has been coordinating with Lithuanian forces to ensure the rescue workers are provided with hot meals on site, tents, lighting, clean water, increased internet connectivity, and have brought in much needed recovery assets to support the mission.
“The 297th RSG has been committed to supporting the Task Force Raider team throughout the challenging recovery of our fellow Soldiers,” said Col. Michele Edwards, commander of the 297th RSG. We're enabling the recovery forces to focus on their mission by providing support and working closely with the Lithuanians to ensure the rescue workers have all the sustainment needed to bring our Soldiers home."
Polish Armed Forces engineers and sappers are working to clear trees and widen the road to create space to bring in additional pumping equipment, if needed, to increase and expand drainage efforts in the area.
Three of the missing Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were recovered yesterday when their vehicle was recovered from the bog. The names of the deceased are withheld pending confirmation of next of kin.
An investigation into the circumstances around this incident is ongoing.
For more information, visit the recovery website europeafrica.army.mil/Newsroom/Soldiers-in-Lithuania, or contact U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs at media@army.mil.