"Bachelor" On Hunt For Human Remains

Posted Mar 20th 2008 10:01PM by TMZ Staff

Former "Bachelor" bachelor Andy Baldwin just got back from the island of Palau in the South Pacific -- not on vacation, on a mission with the Navy. Now let's talk about why we the taxpayers are footing the bill on such BS.

Baldwin was among 20 military types who were on a search mission in the middle of the ocean. What, you ask, were they looking for? A B-24J bomber that went down during the war. Not Iraq. Not Vietnam. No, not Korea. We're talking WWII, as in more than 60 years ago.

Turns out, the military spends $52 million each year to find the remains of missing soldiers -- it's part of the POW/MIA program. That's all well and good depending on the circumstances. But a crash that is ancient history, at a time when the economy sucks and the Federal government is sucking the life out of everyone with taxes??

Baldwin, a Navy medic and diver, and crew found what could be human remains. We're told it's all being tested in the lab and it could take months, even years, to determine identities. At least he got a really good tan.

Filed under: TV, Reality TV

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(Page 2 of 64)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. In all seriousness TMZ what the hell does it matter to you......As a Grandson of a Army AirCorps Pilot who's plane went down on 20 March 1945 in fog over Austria and he has never been found, I say keep it up

Posted at 6:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Deliman in the 206

17. I served 8 years in the Navy and am also a Disabled Veteran....Why is this CLOWN getting special treatment when friends of mine who are still in the Navy and Marines have done 4 or 5 tours of duty in Iraq?? I find it appalling that they let this guy put on a uniform...Honor, Courage and Commitment don't mean being on a reality show and posing for pictures every chance he gets.... He is a Medic?? then he should be on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan ....

Barry M
Lancaster PA

Posted at 6:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Barry

18. I don't think TMZ is the best source if you are looking for an opinion on anything that matters. It's great entertainment, but that's it. They are out of their league when talking about government spending. It just makes them look dumb. Wait, so does just about everything else they do.

Posted at 6:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by TMZCurious

19. As for your comment about taxes...you kids keep supporting Socialists like Obama and Hillary and you'll soon know what taxes are really like...ask Harvey about 75% income tax rates and 20% interest rates. You'll have to go and get real jobs then...but at least mom and dad will let you keep living in your old room so you can afford to live like you are successful.

Posted at 6:31PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Tony P

OH PHULEEEZE!!! Typical republiCON rethoric!! Tony P must obviously be in the top 1% of America's wealthiest. Get a reality check Tony P, not everyone has money and now days most peeps can't find a job either thanks to you bushie boy!!!

Posted at 6:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Navy Brat

20. Because of programs such as this the number of MIA's is greatly reduced. We owe it to the families. And in a similar vein it is not a coincidence that there is not an unknown soldier buried at Arlington from the Vietnam or the Gulf Wars, thanks to recovery programs and better means of identification. The government probably spends more on bottled water each year than this costs.

Posted at 6:40PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Linden

21. You obviously have no idea what the word "sacrafice" means. These men DIED protecting our country. Now I know that you liberal hollywood types find this notion hard to understand but some people do love the American way of life. It's much easier to hide a continent away and criticize every move this country makes than to put on a uniform and fight. If there was only $1 left in the budget it should go to this recovery effort because without those pilots there would not be an America. Get a clue and stick to the celebs. You people are a disgrace and a joke. I think Britney just left for the gas station. Now run along.

Posted at 6:41PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Real American

22. Those sacred bones belong to US.

The sacrifice made must be honored and respected.

I object to Welfare, giving money to people who can but refuse to work!

Posted at 6:42PM on Mar 20th 2008 by guess who

23. TMZ and half the people who took the poll are out of their cotton picking minds. I'm glad to hear that efforts never stop to find our POW/MIA's. I don't care if the remains are from the civil war. If you are lost in service to our country you deserve to be bought home for a proper burial if it takes until the end of time. American's spend plenty of money on useless material possessions. We can chip in a little change to find our country's warriors.

Posted at 6:42PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Bird

24. It has never been nor will it ever be too expensive to recover our missing men and women in the armed services. They gave up their lives for us. TMZ (and many of it's readers) does not have the maturity to understand just how asinine many of their postings really are. You blew it this time. Really getting close to losing me too.

Posted at 6:43PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Nor Cal Reader

25. Who cares about the freaking past. Those people are dead..Looooong gone and we are wasting money on them in the now...WTF The army, navy etc etc are are fools anyways. Fighting for things they dont even know about. Why do you think the army recruits in poor areas..They do it because poor people are easy to brainwash because they dont have any other options.

Eff all you military losers. There is no honor in fighting for an abstract ideal. There is only one truth and that is love.

Posted at 6:45PM on Mar 20th 2008 by EFF the Millitary

26. How dare you consider the recovery of lost airplanes and bodies frivoulous. Grow up. Besides the obvious show of respect for both families of the lost and the governement think about the environment. Yes the government wastes money but I would never consider this a waste. You, however are.

Posted at 6:45PM on Mar 20th 2008 by xy mom

27. I was raised by my grandmother, so perhaps I have a respect for WWII veterans that others of my generation do not. Her brother was lost in the South Pacific during WWII, his body was never recovered...we have a headstone for him at our family plot - where she can go and grieve, but she's never really accepted the fact that he's dead, because there was no body. If his body was found, even after all these years, it would give such closure to his remaining brothers and sisters. I'm embarrassed for you guys right now.

Posted at 6:47PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Jen

28. I agree TMZ after 60 years, give me a break, and the families of the MIA are probably dead or long since moved on since hanging on for 60 years to the hope of burying your son would put you in the grave from stress, People do move on and let the grief process take its course.

Posted at 6:50PM on Mar 20th 2008 by righton

29. To the moron who wrote this story, if you wish to launch an attack on the young Lieutenant, then do so on some point of substance or humour that is befiting a proper frame of reference. But, this is not the Bill Clinton or George Bush draft dodger, moral compass of convenience nation any longer, those men and women that die in service to this nation for border line minimum wage, no long-term health care benefits,or any other consideration - should atleast have the cold comfort of knowing that this nation will never rest until they are afforded a proper burial in America for their family.

Now go f@#* yourself because 10 more real Americans died in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

Posted at 6:52PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Soldiers Family

30. Navy Brat...you are so far off it's not even funny, but you can keep thinking whatever you want.

EFF...you have zero idea what you are talking about. The best and brightest who happen to have a sense of duty make up the military, not a bunch of brainwashed poor like you seem to think.

People like you two make me worry...we better hope you are a minority, otherwise we're doomed.

Posted at 6:52PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Tony P

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