U.S. Army Sgt. Edvin Francisco Franco had to leave behind his new wife and baby earlier this year for a monthslong deployment to Lithuania.

Now, his family members in Georgia and California are anxiously awaiting news of his fate after he and three other soldiers based at Georgia's Fort Stewart went missing Tuesday during a training mission.

The four soldiers, who have not been officially identified, were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle when they vanished. Officials Wednesday found the 70-ton vehicle submerged 15 feet underwater in a mucky bog and have spent the past 72 hours working with engineers and special equipment to try to dig it out.

“We are waiting here at home to get the updates,” said Edvin Rene Franco, who told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that his son was among the missing. “I don’t want to see the news. I’m just still waiting patiently at home.”

U.S. Lt. Col. Angel Tomko previously said all four soldiers were part of the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Stewart near Savannah.

Franco, a tank mechanic, and his three companions had been working to bring back another Army vehicle near Pabrade, a city in eastern Lithuania, according to family and military officials.

The 25-year-old sergeant was on his third deployment since joining the Army in 2018, and had been in Lithuania since January, his father said.

The Army has described the ongoing work to locate the soldiers as a “recovery effort” made more difficult by the muddy terrain. The Francos are holding out hope that their soldier will be alive when the massive vehicle is recovered.

“We have faith that he’ll be back,” his father said.

Just five months ago, Edvin Francisco Franco welcomed his first son with his wife of one year, his father said. He was the first of his two siblings to get married and buy a house, his father said. He was working his way to the American dream.

That was why he joined the Army, said his father, who lives in California. From childhood, his son dreamed of “being somebody,” gaining valuable skills and having a family, Edvin Rene Franco said.

The Army said it has brought in cranes, a slurry pump and more than 30 tons of gravel, as well as engineers and help from the Polish and Lithuanian armed forces, in its effort to pull up the armored vehicle.

“The area around the site is incredibly wet and marshy and doesn’t support the weight of the equipment needed for the recovery,” Army officials said Friday.

The work continues around the clock to drain water and dredge mud, the Army said. But that has been slow and difficult due to groundwater seepage, officials added.

In a statement Thursday, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division Commander, said the situation is “gut-wrenching for the entire 3rd Infantry Division.”

“Our hearts are with the families of our missing soldiers and all of Raider Brigade during this difficult time, both forward and here at home,” Norrie said.

He added: “Words cannot express our gratitude to all who have dedicated countless hours to the ongoing search and recovery efforts in ensuring our soldiers are found.”

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