With respect and sorrow Lithuania paid a respectful and sad farewell to the four United States servicemen who tragically lost their lives during a training exercise in Pabradė. This farewell served as a poignant reminder of the strong bonds between Lithuania and the United States, as well as our society’s solidarity with our allies.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, the Minister of National Defence, Dovilė Šakalienė, the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Major General Curtis Taylor, Commanding General, 1st Armoured Division, the Metropolitan Archbishop, Gintaras Grušas, other high-ranking officials, ambassadors, representatives of the US and other allies, and all those who were not indifferent to the tragedy.
“I have seen and felt that every day and night of the search operation, you have all been watching, worrying, offering help, sending support, and keeping your thoughts with the soldiers and rescuers in that swamp. Now we took the final step to send the fallen soldiers back home, showing our respect and gratitude. For they are, as we have said many times, OUR soldiers. These four young people came to defend our people on our soil and lost their lives during a difficult exercise. Therefore, I invited everyone to join the farewell ceremony of the United States troops, to pay our last respects to those who were doing their duty at the cost of their lives,” said Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė.
A lot of people in Vilnius payed respects to the fallen soldiers at this difficult time and showed that every soldier of the United States of America is also a soldier of Lithuania. Lithuania organized a joint prayer Sunday at its main church, the capital cathedral, and hosted a mass for the soldiers. This challenging recovery operation demonstrated our strength in unity.
“Respect for the allied soldiers is part and parcel of the brotherhood of soldiers. We have shown unity and togetherness both at home and with our allies in the wake of this tragic event, and now we paid our last respects by returning the bodies of our brothers in arms to their families. Every Lithuanian soldier has personally experienced this event, and on behalf of all soldiers, I reiterate my condolences to their families and comrades in arms. The soldiers of the United States of America are also Lithuanian soldiers. I thank them for serving shoulder to shoulder,” said General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
More than a week ago, news of the missing US troops spread across Lithuania. The search and rescue operation started on 25 March, when a report was received about four United States soldiers and a tracked vehicle missing during a training exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.
In a heartfelt statement following a farewell ceremony, Major General Curtis Taylor, Commanding General of the 1st Armoured Division, thanked Lithuania and other allies for unwavering support. The armed forces of the United States and Lithuania, with the support of our partners from Poland, Estonia worked tirelessly for countless hours in this complex search and rescue operation.
The presence of U.S. military forces in our region is not only a guarantor of Lithuania’s security but also of the security of the entire transatlantic community. In January earlier this year, the 11th United States Rotational Battalion began its deployment in Pabrade. Two battalions from the US 3rd Infantry Division are in Lithuania for a nine-month tour of duty, training with the country’s troops and other allies. US heavy battalions have been rotating in Lithuania since 2019. The presence of US and NATO forces in Lithuania is a key deterrent.
The US has decided on the continuous deployment of American rotational forces in the Baltic region. For its part, Lithuania is committed to making every effort to ensure that the incoming US troops are fully supported by the host country and that appropriate infrastructure is in place.
