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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Family of teenage US Navy sailor pay tribute after he was declared lost at sea
The family of a teenage sailor in the U.S. Navy have paid tribute after he was declared lost at sea. Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV was serving on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and is believed to have gone overboard after he went missing on July 28. Officials scaled roughly 2,200 square miles in the Timor Sea off the coast of Australia for nearly two days in a desperate search for the 19 year-old. The search for the mariner involved a cooperative effort with helicopters, a destroyer, numerous aircraft, and patrol boats – all deployed by the U.S. Navy as well as Australian Defence and Border Force officials. His body has not been found. Rivera Lynch, who served as Aviation Boatswain's Mate, was responsible for launch and recovery equipment, enlisted in the Navy in June last year and reported to the George Washington in January. His grieving family have launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral service. 'Jose was more than a sailor – he was a loving son, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend whose laughter and light touched everyone around him,' his family wrote. 'His sudden loss has left our family heartbroken and navigating the unimaginable grief of losing someone so young and full of promise.' Just 12 hours before he was reported missing, Rivera Lynch had spoken to his parents. 'We noticed the tiredness, we noticed that, and then he said, 'I love you guys,' ' the sailor's father Juan Antonio Rivera III told News4Jax. 'I said, 'You're the best of me. You've been to places I've never been, and we are so proud of you.' 'That was the last thing I said to my son.' Rivera Lynch followed the footsteps of his sister, father, and grandfather, who all served in the military. 'At just 19 years old, Jose faithfully served his country with honor, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others,' his family wrote. The U.S. Navy also paid tribute to the young seaman. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of our shipmate, Airman Rivera Lynch,' said Capt. Tim Waits, commanding officer, USS George Washington. 'I am sincerely grateful for the support and coordination from all units who assisted in the search effort, including our partners from the Australian Defence Force and Border Force.' The sailor's family held a memorial earlier this month, and he will be honored during a funeral and memorial service by the U.S. Navy in September in Yokosuka, Japan, reports The Post.
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Bite-sized burnt butter and pecan cakes
These moreish little cakes were inspired by a friend's pecan farm in northern New South Wales. They're salty, sweet, rich and nutty, with a crisp exterior that gives way to a soft centre. Their toasty aroma comes from browning the butter until it turns a deep brown. I used panela sugar, which lends a lovely caramel flavour to the mix, but if it's not available you can replace it with more brown sugar. If you don't have oval cake moulds or a cupcake tin with oval holes, any muffin or mini-cupcake tin – or even one with more traditional rectangular holes – will work. If your moulds are a bit bigger than the ones I used, just bake them for a couple of extra minutes or until the centre feels just set. If they're smaller, take a little time off the bake as they'll cook a bit quicker. You can premake the mixture and refrigerate it for up to five days before baking, which helps to ensure an even rise. Makes 20 170g unsalted butter 100g brown sugar 75g caster sugar 75g panela sugar 45g almond meal 45g pecans 70g plain flour 4g salt 1g ground cinnamon ½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped 160g egg white (from about 6 eggs) To finish 150g pecans Lightly grease 20 7×2 cm oval cake moulds and arrange on a baking tray evenly spaced apart. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When it starts to foam, stir frequently with a whisk. Continue cooking and stirring until the colour starts to turn deep brown and the smell is nutty and toasty. Strain the burnt butter through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or coffee filter paper into a heatproof bowl. Set aside to cool to about 65C. Meanwhile, combine the sugars, almond meal, pecans, plain flour, salt and cinnamon in a food processor and blitz until the pecans have broken down to a fine texture (similar to the almond meal). Empty into a large mixing bowl and add the vanilla seeds. Add the egg white to the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined, then follow with the still-warm burnt butter and mix with the spatula until just combined. Pour into a disposable piping bag and cut a small opening in the tip, then pipe the mixture into each mould until it is a couple of millimetres away from the top (I weighed mine to 35g each). Refrigerate overnight to rest (or for up to five days) – this will ensure an even rise. Skipping this step will risk the cakes popping out of the moulds unevenly during baking. Preheat the oven to 185C fan-forced (205C conventional). To finish the cakes, place one whole pecan in the centre of each cake. Working carefully with a mandoline, shave the remaining pecans into very thin, paper-like shavings. Loosely pile shavings on to each cake. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the edges have browned slightly and the cakes feel firm to touch. Cool in the moulds for two minutes, then use the tip of a small knife to remove each cake from its mould. I love enjoying these warm with a coffee, but they'll also keep well for a few days if you store them in a cool, dry spot. This is an edited extract from The Baker's Book, Favourite recipes and kitchen wisdom by Australian bakers you love by Ruby Goss (Murdoch Books, $45)
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
US Navy sailor aged just 19 dies awful death off Australian coast hours after calling his parents for a catch-up
A US Navy sailor who is believed to have fallen overboard off the coast of Australia has been declared lost at sea. Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, 19, vanished from the USS George Washington vessel on July 28. The 19-year-old, from Middleburg, Florida, was an airman serving as an aviation boatswain's mate on the aircraft carrier at the time of his disappearance. His heartbroken parents revealed that just hours before he is believed to have fallen overboard, he spoke with them over the phone and had a 'positive' catch-up on his life. But they said that he also complained about being fatigued because of the long days on the ship, and his father Juan told News4Jax that he 'noticed his tiredness'. 'I said, "You're the best of me. You've been to places I've never been and we are so proud of you",' he recalled. 'That was the last thing I said to my son.' An urgent search-and-rescue operation was launched after Rivera Lynch disappeared from the aircraft carrier, which included several other US Navy vessels and scoured over 2,200 square miles. The Australian Defense and Australian Border Forces also assisted in the search efforts, but officials called it off after 45 hours, the Navy said. River Lynch was declared dead on August 1. Rivera Lynch's family said he, 'faithfully served his country with honor, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others.' 'Jose was more than a sailor — he was a loving son, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend whose laughter and light touched everyone around him,' they wrote on a GoFundMe. 'His sudden loss has left our family heartbroken and navigating the unimaginable grief of losing someone so young and full of promise.' His father added that his son came from a long line of military servicemen, also including his grandfather and sister. 'He is my hero,' the grief-stricken father said. 'He was vibrant, educated, humble. He served his country, he served the Navy and he has made his family proud.' Rivera Lynch first enlisted in the military as a 17-year-old in high school. He joined the USS George Washington (pictured) in January and was on board off Australia as it sailed through the Timor Sea when he went missing Rivera Lynch first enlisted in the military as a 17-year-old in high school, and joined up as part of the Navy's delayed enlistment program. He joined the USS George Washington in January and was on board off Australia as it sailed through the Timor Sea when he went missing. In a statement after the airman was declared dead, Carrier Strike Group 5 commander Rear Adm. Eric Anduze paid tribute to the young recruit. 'Our thoughts and prayers remain with Airman Rivera Lynch's family, friends, and shipmates during this incredibly difficult time,' he said. 'The courage and dedication shown by all personnel involved in this operation exemplifies the professionalism and commitment that defines our Navy.'
