Latest news with #M88
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Skips Return Of Dead U.S. Soldiers To Play Golf And Boost His Business Instead
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump skipped the return of the remains of four soldiers who died in a training exercise to Dover Air Force Base on Friday and instead spent millions of taxpayer dollars to attend a dinner for one of his business interests and to play golf. The bodies of the four members of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division — Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan; and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam ― were returned to Delaware for their 'dignified transfer' ceremony Friday morning. They died when their 70-ton armored M88 towing vehicle sank in a bog in Lithuania last week. While the ceremony took place on the Air Force base tarmac, Trump was 900 miles south at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, across the Intracoastal Waterway from his Palm Beach country club. A Trump administration official, on condition of anonymity, said that 'the families requested no media at the transfer' and that the 'White House is respecting their request for privacy today and has been working on correspondence to the families.' However, presidents in the past have attended dignified transfers while their accompanying press pools have been held in a location away from the ceremony. The White House did not respond to a query about why that did not happen in this case. While Trump typically goes to Florida for his $3.4 million golf weekends on Fridays, he traveled a day early this week to attend a closed-door dinner at his Doral golf resort for the Saudi LIV tour, one of his business partners that holds events at his courses. This trip, though, will cost taxpayers at least $4.2 million because of the detour to Miami International Airport, which is located just two miles east of Trump's Doral resort. Trump nevertheless took a Marine helicopter to fly to the golf course and back rather than ride in his motorcade. Friday was Trump's 16th day of golf at the West Palm course and his 20th day at one of his courses since taking office Jan. 20, meaning that as of Friday, he has played golf on 27% of his days in office in his second term. The total cost to taxpayers for transporting him and his security apparatus to and from those venues these past 11 weeks is now $30.4 million, according to a HuffPost analysis. Trump, who under the Constitution's 'emoluments clause' is not permitted to accept payments except for his official salary, has nevertheless been using his official position to help the LIV tour. In February, days after returning to office, he hosted the head of the Professional Golf Association in the Oval Office, from where he participated on a conference call with the head of the LIV tour. Trump has been open about trying to get the two rival golf organizations to merge, which, if it happens, would boost LIV and therefore himself. LIV has since its inception used Trump's courses for its tournaments and is holding its fourth such tournament at Doral this weekend. The Trump Organization, the umbrella company for Trump's various business interests, did not respond to HuffPost queries about how much LIV has paid for the use of the golf courses. That Trump would put his personal finances and his golf hobby ahead of honoring U.S. service members, while unusual for a president, is in character with his previous treatment of the military. Trump famously refused to go out in the rain for a ceremony honoring U.S. Marines who died in WWI during the 100-year anniversary of Armistice Day in France. His own chief of staff at the time confirmed that Trump called service members who died for the United States 'suckers' and 'losers.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What is the M88A2 Hercules, the heavy US Army vehicle that sank in a deadly training incident in Lithuania?
The bodies of four US Army soldiers were recovered from a peat bog in a training area in Lithuania. They went missing during a training exercise while operating an M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicle. Submerged in 20 feet of water and mud, the bodies and the 70-ton vehicle were recovered this week. The remains of four missing US Army soldiers were found in a bog in Lithuania following a weeklong recovery effort. During a training exercise on March 25, the soldiers were reported missing while towing an immobilized tactical vehicle using an M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicle. The training exercise involving the 70-ton vehicle aimed to prepare troops for the challenges of retrieving heavy assets, like Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery getting them combat-ready again. A 'highly complex' recovery operation US Army and Lithuanian armed forces, as well as authorities, located the missing armored recovery vehicle the next day submerged in a bog under nearly 20 feet of water and thick layers of mud, clay, and sediment. These bogs sometimes run deep, but the depth can be easy to misjudge. Hundreds of rescue personnel took part in the "highly complex" recovery operation, including a specialized US Navy dive crew able to navigate the murky waters. More than 30 tons of gravel and a large-capacity pump were used to help drain the swamp-like terrain, which could not support the weight of heavy equipment like excavators and cranes needed to tow the 70-ton vehicle to the surface. "Not only are we dealing with the terrain, a lot of mud that is over top of the vehicle, but also the fact that it's 70 tons that we're trying to recover out of a swamp or bog," Brig. Gen. John Lloyd, commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, explained in a statement. Battlefield recovery and maintenance So what is the M88 that sank? The M88 recovery vehicle has been a vital asset to the US military since the Vietnam War. The recovery vehicle's primary role is to tow, extricate, and repair damaged or immobilized tanks and fighting vehicles while under fire. It can also lift and repair damaged turrets and other heavy artillery and clear obstacles during operations on complex terrain, like the peat bog where the American soldiers were found. After the first M88 was introduced in the early 1960s, the vehicle underwent several upgrades, including a new diesel engine, improved armor, and stronger lifting capabilities. Introduced in 1997, the third variant, the M88A2 Hercules, is one of the largest armored recovery vehicles used by the US military. The Hercules was designed with a stronger hoist and increased winching power, allowing it to recover heavier combat vehicles up to 70 tons, like the powerful US-made M1 Abrams tank, which was too heavy for previous M88 models to tow effectively. Workhorse armored vehicle Designated as a "heavy recovery vehicle," the new Hercules weighs a whopping 70 tons — about 14 tons heavier than the M88 and M88A1, which were considered "medium recovery vehicles." The Hercules' steel hull was designed to protect personnel from mines, artillery fragments, and small arms fire. The armored recovery vehicle is also equipped with mounted 12.7 mm heavy machine guns with 1,300 rounds. Powered by a twin-turbo diesel engine with 1,050 horsepower, the M88A2 can reach speeds of up to 30 mph on varied terrain and on uneven surfaces. Like a tank, it has a tracked chassis. Global defense company BAE Systems manufactures the M88A2 Hercules, which stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System. BAE Systems is also developing the fourth M88 variant, the M88A3 Hercules, intended to eliminate the need for two M88A2 vehicles when recovering heavier modern Abrams tanks. With upgraded powertrain and suspension units, the modernized heavy recovery vehicle features improved cross-country mobility and maneuverability, as well as an increased towing capacity of up to 80 tons. Last year, the Army began testing the new M88A3's capabilities at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Deployed to Eastern Europe Amid rising tensions with a belligerent Russia, the US delivered M88s to NATO allies in Eastern Europe, including the Baltic states and Poland, to support real-world operations and joint exercises. The US soldiers who died during the recent training exercise were stationed in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is a US contingency operation that's aimed at deterring Russian aggression by strengthening NATO forces in the region. The training area where the four soldiers went missing is located roughly six miles west of the border with Belarus, a close Russian ally. Maintaining Ukraine's mechanized fleet While Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Stryker armored vehicles significantly bolster Ukraine's ground forces, one US Army workhorse ensures these armored vehicles and heavy assets stay combat-ready: the M88 armored recovery vehicle. In October 2022, the US sent eight M88s to Ukraine as part of its military aid package, and in February 2023, the Biden administration sent an additional six unspecified tactical recovery vehicles. The recovery vehicles play a key role in maintaining Ukraine's mechanized force. They allowed Ukrainian troops to quickly retrieve and repair damaged assets and equipment from the battlefield, making ARVs "high-value targets" for Russian forces, according to UK defense officials. A piece of US history The M88s were also involved in US-led operations in the Middle East, including Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. The ARVs recovered Abrams and Bradleys, often navigating harsh desert conditions and rugged, mountainous terrain in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. One M88A2, now on display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, was notably used to topple the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad in 2003. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Army identifies 3 American soldiers who died in Lithuanian swamp: 'Simply devastating'
Officials have released the identities of three of the four U.S. soldiers found dead in Lithuania. The soldiers, who were discovered in an M88 armored vehicle that sank into a swamp, were all 25 or younger. Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, were all identified by officials on Tuesday. A fourth soldier was found on Tuesday, but his identity has not yet been released. All three men were M1 Abrams tank system maintainers. Their vehicle was discovered in a peat bog near Pabradė, Lithuania, after disappearing on March 25. 3 American Soldiers Deceased After Us Armored Vehicle Pulled From Lithuanian Swamp The soldiers went missing "while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle," according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Read On The Fox News App Duenez served in the Army for over seven years and was assigned to 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Regt at Fort Stewart, previously serving with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. A graduate of the Army Basic Leader Course and the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations Course, he deployed to Germany in 2022 and Poland in 2021. Franco served in the Army for over six years and was assigned to the 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Regt. at Fort Stewart in February 2019. He also graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course and the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations Course and deployed to Korea in 2020, and Germany in 2022. Taitano, the youngest of the three, had served in the Army for nearly two years and was assigned to 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Regt. at Fort Stewart. It was his first deployment. Hegseth Announces Plan For Us Command Upgrades In Japan To Deter China "This loss is simply devastating," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement. "These men were honored Soldiers of the Marne Division. We are wrapping our arms around the families and loved ones of our Soldiers during incredibly difficult time." On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the tragedy "another stark reminder of the selfless sacrifice of our brave military men and women who risk their lives around the world every day to keep us safe." "The president, the Secretary of Defense and the entire White House are praying for the victims, friends and family during this unimaginable time," she added. Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Greg Norman contributed to this article source: Army identifies 3 American soldiers who died in Lithuanian swamp: 'Simply devastating'
Fox News
01-04-2025
- Fox News
Army identifies 3 American soldiers that died in Lithuanian swamp: 'Simply devastating'
Officials have released the identities of three of the four U.S. soldiers found dead in Lithuania. The soldiers, who were found in an M88 armored vehicle that sank into a swamp, were all under the age of 25. Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, were all identified by officials on Tuesday. A fourth soldier was found on Tuesday, but his identity has not yet been released. "This loss is simply devastating," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement. "These men were honored Soldiers of the Marne Division. We are wrapping our arms around the families and loved ones of our Soldiers during incredibly difficult time." This is a breaking news story. Check back with us for updates.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Remains of 4th missing US soldier found in Lithuania
The fourth U.S. Army soldier who went missing during a scheduled training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania, last week was found dead on Tuesday, according to the Army. "The Soldier was found after a search by hundreds of rescue workers from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, Estonian Armed Forces, and many other elements of the Lithuanian government and civilian agencies," the Army said in a statement. The bodies of the other three soldiers were recovered on Monday. MORE: 3 missing US soldiers found dead in Lithuania, search continues for 4th soldier The four soldiers are all based in Fort Stewart, Georgia. Their identities have not been released. "This past week has been devastating," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement. "Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them." The soldiers went missing on March 25 while operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, the Army said, and the next day, their 63-ton vehicle was found submerged in about 15 feet of water and mud in a training area. "Most likely, the M88 drove into the swamp," and the vehicle "may have just gone diagonally to the bottom," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told ABC News via phone last week. MORE: Army bringing in more assets to reach missing US soldiers' vehicle in muddy bog in Lithuania The soldiers' vehicle was removed from a swamp early Monday morning after six days of work to retrieve it, the Army said. The search effort -- which included law enforcement and military personnel from several countries -- was complicated by the muddy conditions and unstable ground, officials said. "It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers," Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general, V Corps, said in a statement Tuesday. "Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Tuesday's briefing, "The president, the secretary of defense and the entire White House are praying for the victims, friends and family during this unimaginable time. This is another stark reminder of the selfless sacrifice of our brave military men and women who risk their lives around the world every day to keep us safe. God bless them." Remains of 4th missing US soldier found in Lithuania originally appeared on
