"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 5 of 64)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. After your comments concerning recovery of remains of U.S. dead I'll sure be looking for ways to avoid using TMZ ever again. You have absolutely no idea of what you're talking about!

Posted at 7:31PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Jim C.

62. YOUR CARELESS DISREGUARD FOR RESPECT OF THE SANCTITY OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS WILL NOT BE REWARDING (TMZ.COM)

Posted at 7:31PM on Mar 20th 2008 by S.J.A. J.A.G. The PENTAGON

63. It's obvious ever since TMZ went on TV that the "reporters" there are bottom-of-the-barrel, highly uneducated and ignorant...not to mention highly unattractive...and Harvey is enough to gag a maggot. None of them would ever be accepted in the military. For those of us with MIA family members, their take on this story is outrageous.

Posted at 7:32PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Straight Guy

64. I understand all of the comments about giving the family closure, but it's more than that. Our soldiers deserve better than to be left laying in a field Korea. I don't care if they were an orphaned only child with no cousins, friends or acquantances. While they are out there fighting they should at least be able to rest assured that they're remains will be taken home to their country that they put their lives on the line for. It is not a frivolous endeavor. Commenting on TMZ is frivolous.

Posted at 7:33PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Bird

65. bob loblaw~ Like I said earlier, I don't care if it took 80 years, i don't care if all they brought back was a sliver of a bone, if something were to happen to my husband at war, our "final resting place" will be together. No matter how long it takes

Posted at 7:33PM on Mar 20th 2008 by armywife

66. TMZ, YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE NOW.

Posted at 7:35PM on Mar 20th 2008 by li

67. Bob Loblaw,

You may say that you love and respect the military but you have no clue. You don't know what it means to belong to it. What about a murder victim? Should the police stop searching for their remains? I am sure their families would have something to say about that.

Posted at 7:35PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Real American

68. As the Granddaughter of a POW in WWII who was killed while in a Japanese slave ship being taken back to Japan
I would love for the Government to find the ship and his remains and have a proper burial so that my mom could have
closure after 64 years.

Posted at 7:36PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Judy Moore

69. Listen, I enjoy reading your site every day since you started. I've never written in about anything. I'm anti-war and liberal - but this story is just over the line. I had to read it twice to make sure it was as horrible as I thought it was. You really should remove it - or at least apologize for it. The search for war dead is a noble effort. Sure, we have the freedom of speech here, but your commentary on this subject is beyond the pale and not well thought out.

Posted at 7:37PM on Mar 20th 2008 by LL

70. This is a very small price to pay considering how gruesome WWII was, and the scars that was left on our veterans because of it. TMZ needs to stick to following LiLo and Paris, and leave the real news to the real journalists.

Posted at 7:38PM on Mar 20th 2008 by crazy chemist

71. Navy Brat...that's pretty accurate, I am in no way rich...I make less than what you are complaining about not being able to find. I live in CA and know how expensive it is here, and I could make more than I do...but I own a business and I choose to make less so my employees can have health coverage and a good 401k plan. The funny thing is that I'd probably try to help you too...but you seem to have a giant chip on your shoulder, and I imagine it comes across in job interviews so there is little point.

For all the fools making comments about Harvey Levin and his religion, STFU. This has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with a post made by a twenty-something staffer who knows little about the real world. Bringing your own version of hate doesn't do anyone a damn bit of good.

Posted at 7:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Tony P

72. I don't think this is a waste at all! Every soldier has the right to be found...Period!

Posted at 7:39PM on Mar 20th 2008 by K

73. 57. OK, sorry to upset the military peeps here, but why not just let the dead rest in peace? It's been sixty years and you want a fragment of a bone that MIGHT be your grandfather? Stupid...he's dead and gone, respect his final resting place. Hell, people pay good money to be buried at sea!

All you military peeps, before you crucify me, I totally love and respect the military, but to spend all this money on MAYBE finding sixty year old bones.....geez!

Posted at 7:24PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Bob Loblaw

I have so much contempt for your ignorance I can hardly see straight. You don't get it and never will. MANY serviceman never returned home because they were permanently MISSING IN ACTION...no body to return...no funeral...no chance to say goodbye...nobody ever knew what happened...no nothing...JUST GONE FOREVER. This isn't about "bones"...it's about finding out once and for all what happened to a loved one. My grandmother, who lost her husband 65 years ago as a newlywed, is still alive and still wants to know what happened to him. I hope you rot in hell for your comments.

Posted at 7:42PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Veteran

74. How can anyone concider the life of any missing US soldier or Vetran of any war a waste in anyway. Every man and woman that ever wore a uniform earned the right to come. Especially if they died and regardless of how long ago it was. Bring them ALL home, what ever it costs.

Posted at 7:42PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Erik

75. Wow. If those remains were your loved ones you would want them found. Shame on you TMZ. Shame on you. I will never visit your web site again.

Posted at 7:43PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Andy

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