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CNN Live Today

Military Homecoming Underway in Norfolk, Virginia

Aired March 26, 2002 - 10:32   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A military homecoming is under way this hour in Norfolk, Virginia. Two squadrons of carrier airwing ones are returning home after serving the last six months in Operation Enduring Freedom.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is at the Norfolk Naval station with the latest, and he's got some special guests.

And, Bob, I've been very impressed that you have been entering wives of servicemen and husband as well of servicewomen.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just a 21st century kind of report here.

LIN: Yes.

FRANKEN: And we're going to this hour bring you the story of the child that the person returning has never seen. I want to tell you that that's going to be delayed, again because of fog. Fog that never stopped the war efforts seems to have stopped the return. So we're looking for an advance visit from the Roosevelt of all the planes on there. They're flying to their bases around the country. Here we're awaiting the Hawkeye which is the surveillance plane. The squadron is called the "screw top squadron."

Hopefully they say it better than I do.

In any case, the weather is delaying things, possibly for another hour. They're going to have to play with the fog and see how quickly they can land.

Now, we are here with the wife of the pilot of one of those planes. He is Lieutenant David Eisen. She is Shantel Eisen. And the little one here who is quieting down a little bit after being a bit fussy is Jonah.

Jonah is how old?

SHANTEL EISEN: She was born October 12th, so he's 5 1/2 months.

FRANKEN: And your husband left on September 19th.

EISEN: Three and a half weeks before he was born.

FRANKEN: So this is going to be quite an emotional moment.

EISEN: Yes, it is. I'm excited. He's excited. Well, he's oblivious to it all, but I think he's excited, and my husband is thrilled, and this one is even excited as well, so.

FRANKEN: This one is staying out of camera. He's a behind-the- scenes kind of guy. That's Carson, by the way.

EISEN: He's a shy guy.

FRANKEN: Yes. Now, what do you think this will be like?

EISEN: I've been trying to imagine it for the last couple of weeks, and I've played all these scenarios in my head, but hugs and kisses and, oh, it's going to be great.

FRANKEN: Your husband made it clear he's excited.

EISEN: He's very excited. He was a much-wanted baby, and so we -- we just -- we're just thrilled to finally be a family all together, so.

FRANKEN: What's it been like for you?

EISEN: It's been challenging. When he left, I had one child. And since then, I've had another child. You know, it's really hard to adjust from one child to two children. When I've always had another person there, it was easy. But becoming a temporary single mom is just a lot of hard work. And now is -- I'm finally adjusted, but it's finally coming to an end, and I will have my support person home.

FRANKEN: And it's going to be an adjust for him, an adjustment for him and everyone, and an adjustment I know you're thrilled to make.

Thank you very much. Congratulations. As I said, let's hope the fog burns away soon.

As I said, there was actually a deployment that went a little bit longer than it was expected to, and now it's going a couple more hours -- Carol.

LIN: It's just going to be that much sweeter when everybody comes home.

Thanks, Bob. Good to see you.

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