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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Coast Guard Patrols Guantanamo Bay

Aired February 02, 2002 - 12:12   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now another security issue, guarding detainees from Afghanistan is a priority for the military folks based at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station. Guarding Guantanamo is a top priority for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Here is CNN's John Zarrella.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stood on the deck of a ferry crossing Guantanamo Bay, a specially trained Coast Guard team kept watch less than 50 yards away. Their job: to make sure any threat, any terrorist attack on the port or ships can't come from the sea.

The crew is part of a 125-member reserve unit suddenly thrust into active duty.

MATT GRAZIANI, U.S. COAST GUARD: To tell you the truth, I joined the Reserve to get away from that, but I am happy to be partaking in this exercise.

ZARRELLA: Guantanamo Bay is a vast area to watch over. Beyond the waters blown into a constant chop by the trade winds sits the Navy base, and beyond that, the Sierra Maestra Mountains of Castro's Cuba.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the Port Security Unit keeps a constant vigil. In his civilian life, Michael Walker is a Washington, D.C. firefighter.

MICHAEL WALKER, U.S. COAST GUARD: Two of my good friends were killed in the towers that worked for FDNY. And when we were at the Pentagon, I didn't really think it could get any worse. And the next morning, 10 hours later, we were at ground zero, and it definitely can.

ZARRELLA: "It makes you think," says Walker, "how you always need to stay on your toes."

(on camera): For the men and women of this Port Security Unit being away from home has been one of the most difficult parts of the transition, a transition that has taken them from part-time to full- time with the Coast Guard. (voice-over): Julie Litalian lives in North Carolina, goes to Coastal Carolina College. For the next six months while on active duty, her education is on hold, as is her marriage. She tied the knot two days before being told to pack for Cuba.

JULIE LITALIEN, U.S. COAST GUARD: We didn't expect Cuba at all. Then of course, you start hearing on the news about the detainees and stuff, so then we understood why we were coming out here.

ZARRELLA: Most members of the Port Security Unit thought they would never be called to active duty, but neither did any of them ever think the country would be their specialty.

John Zarrella, CNN, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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