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Three U.S. soldiers who had been at the center of a recovery mission in Lithuania for nearly a week after their armored vehicle sank in a body of water were found dead Monday, the Army said. Efforts were continuing to find the fourth soldier.The soldiers’ identities were being withheld pending notification of their next of kin, the Army said in a statement Monday. The three soldiers found Monday were assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.The soldiers went missing last Tuesday while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle.The soldiers’ submerged armored recovery vehicle was found by the Army and Lithuanian authorities Wednesday. The Army said the vehicle was removed from a peat bog early Monday morning. In an update from over the weekend, the Army said the vehicle was under at least 15 feet of water, clay-like mud and silt.Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement Monday that the soldiers who died in the incident were family.
“Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home,” Norrie said. “We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time.”Norrie said searchers were working around the clock looking for the fourth soldier.Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda expressed his condolences to President Trump and the U.S. on social media.”@realDonaldTrump, Lithuania mourns together with the American nation,” Nausėda said on social platform X. “Please accept my heartfelt condolences, as well as those of the Lithuanian people, to you, the loved ones of those who lost their lives, and all the people of the United States of America. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Where is Lithuania located?Lithuania is located northwest of Belarus, the country led by Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.Lithuania, like its northern neighbor Latvia, joined NATO in 2004. Southwest of Lithuania are the Russian province of Kaliningrad and Poland, another NATO member.The Baltic Sea is located to the west of Lithuania.
Lithuania is highlighted on a map of northern Europe.
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Alex Sundby
Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com. In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
