A FOURTH US soldier’s body has been found after a NATO drill squad went missing in Lithuania.
Four military members were in a M88A2 Hercules vehicle at the Pabrade training site near the Belarus border when they vanished unexpectedly.
The vehicle and bodies of the three other soldiers were found in a peat bog on Monday.
According to a statement from US Army Europe and Africa, the search mission included numerous rescue personnel from the US Army and Navy, along with forces from Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia.
Maj Gen Christopher Norrie said in the statement: “This past week has been devastating.
“Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain… the world is darker without them.”
Lt Gen Charles Costanza referred to the event as a “sad accident” but also remarked on the remarkable unity of the diverse recovery teams from various military divisions and countries.
The Army did not specify where exactly the fourth soldier was found, but are still investigating the incident.
The team were working near the border with Belarus when they found the US soldier’s body.
The discovery also came after recovery dogs from Lithuania and neighbouring Estonia joined the search effort, authorities said.
The dogs were placed in a US Navy inflatable boat with the hope of picking up any scents from below the surface of the bog.
A memorial was also set up for US soldiers who died at the Pabrade training ground on Tuesday.
NATO soldiers from across Europe and locals brought candles and flowers outside the US embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, to pay their respects.
The previous recovery of the Hercules vehicle on Monday was an agonising ordeal, which saw fleets of armoured vehicles clearing the bog and dragging the submerged tank out.
The M88A2 Hercules is one of the largest military vehicles used by the US Armed Forces.
It is designed to recover damaged tanks and other vehicles from battlefields.
Two more M88A2 Hercules as well as additional bulldozers were needed to drag the colossal vehicle out of the peat bog on Monday.
The six-day recovery mission involved teams working “day and night”, according to the statement.
Major General Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division, said after the three were found: “I’d like to personally commend the heroic efforts of the search parties, and especially our Lithuanian allies who were instrumental in the recovery efforts.
“Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrates the strong relationship between our countries.
“However, search and recovery efforts are not complete – they will continue until we bring all of our soldiers home.”
The unnamed soldiers had been deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They vanished while on a mission to repair and tow back another armoured vehicle last Tuesday.
