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CNN Live Today

America Under Attack: Family Members Wait for News out of the Pentagon

Aired September 13, 2001 - 14:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: At the Pentagon, Christy Babcock joins us. Ms. Babcock is with a friend who is trying to find her husband, correct?

CHRISTY BABCOCK, FRIEND OF VICTIM: Yes. That's correct.

BROWN: Tell me the circumstances, lay out the circumstances.

BABCOCK: Well, my best friend's husband is in there, and her husband also happens to be my husband's best friend of 15 years. So, we have just been waiting.

BROWN: And how long have you and she been there waiting?

BABCOCK: We have been here outside of the Pentagon since 1:00 yesterday morning.

BROWN: You have been there since 1:00 yesterday morning?

BABCOCK: Yes.

BROWN: And are there facilities to support you, to take care of you, to feed you, to get you water, to get you counseling, that sort of thing?

BABCOCK: Well, as far as bathrooms, the media has been really great getting us into the only bathroom here, which is at the gas station. And as far as water and food, again, the media has been wonderful. They have been giving us food, water. We even had some lady walk up to us today and give us a cooler full of food, a six-pack of water, some muffins, homemade muffins.

Counseling -- the Red Cross has been by a lot. They have come by. And we know them on a first-name basis now, and they have been talking with my friend Tracey and they have just been listening to her and trying to help her get you through this while we wait.

BROWN: Ms. Babcock, are there a lot of other Traceys there, a lot of other people who are -- who have gathered there as the search for their loved ones goes on?

BABCOCK: Well, there are people gathered. There is a hotel in the area where all of the families are supposed to be gathering. When we got to that hotel Tuesday night, they said that nothing was going to be happening until about 9:00, 10:00 that next morning. And there was no way we could wait.

My husband and I lived in this area, we knew some back ways to get to the Pentagon, and so we were able to get into where we are not supposed to be, which is with the media. And the media have fought to keep us here, and the police have been wonderful, and they have allowed us, given us special permission to stay.

BROWN: You have to be careful, you are going to give us a good name here. Are -- are -- have people there, have they given up hope, or is there still hope?

BABCOCK: Some people have given up hope. I mean, take a look at the building. It doesn't look too hopeful. But you know, Oklahoma City, that building was completely destroyed on one side, and there were still people being pulled out alive.

We definitely have hope. And a lot of the firefighters who have been in there have come out saying, "it's always possible." You just never know.

BROWN: And you have been there a long time, since 1:00 yesterday morning. How has your mood changed, how has your friend's mood changed? Does it get -- go ahead.

BABCOCK: Well, Tracey is a rock. She is a very strong individual. And of course, there have been ups and downs, where you know, you hear something, or you hear about a body that has been pulled out and it's like what if that's Eddie, that kind of thing. And of course, there has been times when we cried.

But we believe in God, and we believe in miracles, and that's what we are holding out for.

BROWN: Well, a miracle would be helpful. Christy, thank you for spending some time with us today. Our thoughts are with you and Tracey and all of the others who have gathered there.

There is -- I'm reluctant to use good news here, there was some better news out of the Pentagon. It is now believed the death toll will be significantly lower than some of the early reports, which had it at 800. It's now approaching 200, but it does seem that it will be considerably lower than people originally feared.

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