- Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter
- Posts
- Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter
Bodies of 3 US soldiers found after missing for over a week
Our take: When soldiers from a brigade based in Ft. Stewart, GA, set out on a training mission in Lithuania over a week ago, no one anticipated anyone losing their lives. Unfortunately, 4 soldiers went missing. 3 of their bodies were recovered after a week of extensive searching.
Three of four U.S. Army soldiers were found dead in Lithuania nearly a week after they went missing when their armored vehicle sank into a peat bog during a training mission, officials said Monday.
The Army said the missing 63-ton M88 Hercules vehicle was pulled out of the bog early Monday morning using excavators, pumps, and other construction equipment. Meanwhile, the search and recovery for a fourth soldier continues, officials said. The soldiers' names have not been released.
The soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, were conducting tactical training at the Pabrade training ground near the border with Belarus when they disappeared on March 25. The soldiers were reported missing after they did not return, Army officials said. Their vehicle was found submerged in the bog the next day.
Major Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division, added, "I'd like to personally commend the heroic efforts of the search parties, and especially our Lithuanian allies who were instrumental in the recovery efforts. Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrate the strong relationship between our countries."
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
COURTESY: AP NEWS
Democrat Gavin Newsom says the Democrat brand is “toxic”
Our take: The old saying goes, A leopard cannot change its spots. Gavin Newsom is attempting to do just that as he eyes a run at the Democratic nomination for president in the 2028 election. Newsom is currently the governor of California and cannot run again as he has been elected twice, the maximum allowed by California law.
Newsom has gained notoriety for his hardline stances during Covid lockdowns and government overreach, closing parks and beaches, and even arresting people for windsurfing or walking alone in parks. Now he wants to present himself as a more moderate politician.
"Democrats, we tend to be a little more judgmental than we should be," Newsom said during an appearance on "Real Time With Bill Maher" Friday evening.
"We need to own our mistakes," the governor added. "We need to own what's wrong with our party."
Democrats have languished since a national election beating in 2024, which saw President Donald Trump return to the White House and Republicans take narrow control of both chambers of Congress. Multiple polls out this month found the liberal party's favorability at record lows.
While some in the minority party have attempted to fight Trump using a scant legislative toolbox, others are navigating how to play nice and find potential areas of cooperation with the current administration.
It would be shocking to us if Newsom is able to pull off this shapeshift. He has always been a far-left-leaning politician who started in San Francisco, one of the most liberal cities in the country. It’s doubtful people will forget his hardline COVID enforcement or his hypocrisy, like having dinner at an expensive restaurant with donors and lobbyists while he locked down the rest of the population.
COURTESY: USA TODAY
Hegseth orders standards for all combat soldiers to be equal, nixing differences between men and women
Our take: In a move we find rooted in common sense, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo ordering all testing for combat troops to be equal regardless of the gender of the soldier. Currently female soldiers have a lower bar to clear in terms of physical strength, endurance, and speed.
“Different standards for men and women in combat arms, MOS and jobs, that’s not acceptable,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X, using the abbreviation for “military occupational specialty,” or job type.
“We have to have the same standard — male or female — in our combat roles to ensure our men and women who are under our leaders, or in those formations, have the best possible leaders and the highest possible standards that are not based at all on your sex.”
The memo, which orders the military branches to “develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations,” specifies in hand-underlined text that the soon-to-be developed standards must not “result in any existing service member being held to a lower standard.”
“All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms positions must be sex-neutral, based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary,” Hegseth wrote.
Duh. This is a no brainer. These are people who will literally be in life or death situations with the other people they serve with. No one should have to worry about serving with someone who is not physically capable of performing the job - regardless of gender. There are plenty of men who should not be serving in combat roles because they lack the physical ability to do so.
This has nothing to do with gender. This is entirely about making sure all our soldiers are physically capable of doing the job they are assigned to do. It’s shocking this memo even had to be issued.
COURTESY: FOX NEWS
Tip of the day
Authentic grit is focused. People who have this quality aren’t dogged finishers in everything in life. In fact, every person I interviewed who fit my criteria for authentic grit laughed immediately and said “No!” when I asked them if they are gritty in every area of life. They preserve their self-regulation for what really matters, and don’t waste time on everything that crosses their path. They narrow down what is meaningful to them and have no trouble finishing last in something else or being self-deprecating about something they aren’t good at.
Quote of the day
"The greatest predictor of success is grit." - Angela Duckworth