Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

General Hugh Shelton, Former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Intensive Care

Aired March 26, 2002 - 11:55   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 well known figure at the beginning of the war against terrorism has been hospitalized. We've got this breaking news from Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, what happened to General Hugh Shelton?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, we just learned a few minutes ago some very sad news. General Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who retired in September, is in the intensive care unit this morning at Walter Reed Army Hospital here in Washington, D.C.

We are told that General Shelton suffered some serious spinal injuries on Saturday, when he fell off a ladder in his house. He was evaluated at a local hospital and then he was Medivaced (ph) on Saturday to Walter Reed. We are told when he entered Walter Reed, he was paralyzed. He had no movement in his arms or legs. Some movement has returned, we are told, in the last couple of days, but he remains in intensive care.

This is particularly sad. General Shelton is an extraordinarily active man. His Army background, he is a Commando. He is a Special Forces soldier. He loves to jump out of airplanes. He has parachuted out of airplanes dozens and dozens of times. He remains very, very active, and he is a beloved figure in the military. He often would have preferred, he said, to be with enlisted soldiers with the sergeants and sailors than with the generals and admirals. He is a very well respected military leader. He remains in intensive care at Walter Reed this morning we are told with minimal but hopefully some recurring movement in his arms and legs -- Carol.

LIN: Barbara, do you know what the prognosis is then?

STARR: We are being told very limited information. General Shelton himself has approved a statement with just the bare minimum details. But I can tell you that already the phone lines are buzzing around the Pentagon, around the military. People who know him have told us about some of this information, about the limited movement that he has in his limbs. They tell us that some of it is coming back. They are very, very hopeful that he will make a recovery, but it is too soon to tell.

LIN: Yes, and usually with these types of injuries, it's the first week that's going to be the most indicative of how well he will recover.

STARR: Yes.

LIN: So we will all keep our fingers crossed. Such a familiar face during the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. Thank you very much -- Barbara Starr reporting live from the Pentagon.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com