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"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.

Andy Baldwin -- click to launch

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16. This is probably the best thing the military will spend my taxes on. Soldiers and their families deserve this service. Especially from the military with the biggest budget in the world.

Posted at 6:37PM on Mar 20th 2008 by thebloop

17. What if it was your dad they were looking for.
NO SOLDIER LEFT BEHIND
ANYONE WHO WOULD GIVE THEIR OWN LIFE FOR THEIR COUNTRY DESERVES TO BE LAID TO REST PROPERLY. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS PROBABLY MEANS TO THE FAMILIES. CMON, HAVE A HEART.

Posted at 7:26PM on Mar 20th 2008 by kim m

18. If it was your family memeber, you wouldnt pop ish.... this country spends 4 billion dollars a year on soft drinks alone.... food for thought... stash in the dash....

Posted at 6:37PM on Mar 20th 2008 by matty

19. 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

20. Thanks Tony P. and Mary. It is nice to have someone lay it all out there!

Posted at 6:38PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Dallas

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. I'm guessing the families of the missing soldiers don't think it's a waste of money. Maybe you need to step outside of your little TMZ world for a minute and get real. Those remains were once someone's father, son, brother, uncle, or friend. How can you belittle something that is very important to families all across the country? What you do is trivial and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. You need a little perspective.

Posted at 12:19AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Mel

25. 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

26. 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

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. 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

29. 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

30. 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

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