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USS Bataan Marine Helicopter Squadron Flying Into New River Air Station

Aired April 19, 2002 - 10:18   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we want to show you some exciting pictures that are coming to us from New River Air Station, North Carolina. It's the USS Bataan Marine helicopter squadron flying into the New River Air Station. It's all part of the return the USS Baatan. Our Martin Savidge is on the scene -- Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... begin sweeping over the area of the New River Air Station. They are led by the CH-46. Those are the twin rotor troop-carrying helicopters. Then behind them will come the CH-53s. Those are the really big Super Stallions, they are referred to. And then following them come the AH-1H Super Cobra helicopters, not to mention the Hueys that are up there as well.

The display that is up in the air is nothing compared to the emotion on the faces of the hundreds of family members that have gathered. They have had to wait an additional day. The 26th MEU, the Marine Expeditionary Unit, returned after seven months of combat operations of ground forces yesterday, coming ashore on the beaches at Camp Lejeune.

Now, it's time for the ACE, they call it, the Aviation Combat Element, to return here to right here to this base where they left back on September 22, just 11 days after the attack on September 11th. That mission was extended by one month. So you can imagine for the family members that gathered here it's been a very anxious time.

There you see the attack helicopters, the Super Cobras. And the sky now is just filled with helicopters. There are over 20 of them that are circling. What's going to happen now is that they will maneuver and then come sit down here on the apron in front of us before all of the families. They have a red tape up -- we are going to show that to you in a minute -- trying to restrain these families, several hundred of them, and trying to hold them back.

The helicopters will land. The flight crews, the support crews, the tech people that have come in, they are going to line up. There will be a few words that are said, and then they are given the order to dismiss. And, boy, don't get in the way of a family member and a Marine.

KAGAN: OK.

SAVIDGE: Because they are going to be flying right into the arms of family members -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Martin, as we understand it, we hear the screams of how excited the families are to see these folks come home. And I think this helicopter ceremony is going to be taking place for a few minutes.

We are going to fit in a quick break and come back to you and perhaps catch up on some more of those reunions. Right now, quick break -- we'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: My advice for today, put smile on your face, because we are looking at a very happy occasion. We are going back live to the New River Air Station. Some happy homecomings taking place, part of a two-day homecoming. And our Martin Savidge is lucky enough to have this assignment, especially after some of the grim stuff he saw in Afghanistan -- nice to see -- to witness some of these homecomings, I am sure, Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is very nice to see, Daryn, especially since a lot of these Marines I had the privilege over being over there with in Kandahar. It's great to be amongst to see them safely home. And the significant thing is, is that every member of the 26th MEU did come back as they left. There were no losses, no casualties, specifically amongst the 26th MEU.

This is the line of people waiting, anxiously waiting. It almost looks like the start of the race Le Mans where all of the race car drivers used to stand in line and then have to race off to their automobiles, only the engines revved up here are being fueled by pure emotion.

There's just a thin red tape that is actually trying to hold this crowd back. It is going to be interesting to see how long discipline is able to be maintained as the heart begins to take over. These families have waited a very long time, as now the parade of helicopters on the ground against the movement of position here. And an extra day for these families beyond what those of the ground forces that came in yesterday. So for a lot of mothers, for a lot of parents, this has been a difficult time.

In fact, let's see if we can talk to some of them. Cheryl, you're a mother. You have been waiting. This is your son that is going to arrive from Afghanistan. What are you feeling at this moment?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, there's just so much excitement.

SAVIDGE: You've got to be full of pride.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, lots and lots.

SAVIDGE: So how quickly do you think you will make it from beyond the tape here to out to where your son is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten seconds.

SAVIDGE: Do you think you will recognize him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes, he will know me. He would know me anywhere.

SAVIDGE: Janet, the same questions for you. It must have been an excruciating seven months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Horrible, horrible. It was a long deployment. They were gone (ph), and I'm just so glad he's back safe.

SAVIDGE: All right. Thank you both very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: A lot of families, Daryn, anxiously, anxiously watching what is going to unfold. They will quickly try to shut down the helicopter engines for safety's sake. Crews will come out, and then somewhere in the middle, the families are going to come together bridging that gap. For these families, a lot of them, brings them in. It's probably harder for the families than it has been for them. Marines had a focus. The families had only worry -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So, Martin, can you hear me over the helicopters noise?

SAVIDGE: I can, Daryn, yes.

KAGAN: OK. They are going to drop that red tape, and everyone is going to get to rush toward each other?

SAVIDGE: Yes. And the veterans say that this can be done. There are a number of veteran mothers and wives who have gone through this before, and we'll actually try to keep abreast of this emotional stampede. This is something that is both tradition and obviously long-awaited.

The Marine Corps places a lot of value on the element of family. They stress over and over that if it were not for the strength of the family at home, the Marine Corps and those serving in it could not fight effectively overseas. No question, the strength of those families really put to the test, as this was just not a regular deployment. This was combat, and this was after September 11.

So the families now waiting for the real moment of arrival, and it should be coming shortly. Look at all those helicopters.

KAGAN: How many do you think are there? How many helicopters are we talking about?

SAVIDGE: Well, we were told to expect over 20-something helicopters, the entire ACE. And these are the helicopters, they were the work force, these were the helicopters that went in and helped to seize at Kandahar Airport. And you are looking at the CH-46s. Those are the troop-carrying helicopters. They are known as the Sea Knights by the way. And then have you the other helicopters, the CH-53 and the Cobras.

Now, the interesting thing about Cobras, not these particular Cobras, but at the height of the Shah-e-Kot Valley, when that fighting was going on when we were up there, it was other Marine Cobra attack helicopters that literally came in and helped to save the day. So that's not an aircraft that should be overlooked despite its age and despite the stature that the Apache that you see -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Martin, just real quickly, tell me how long do you think it's going to be before we have this rush of the reunion taking place?

SAVIDGE: Well, you know, it is really hard to gauge when you're dealing with a lot of anxious people. We expect in a few minutes to get a heads up. We will let you know. We'll be there.

KAGAN: All right. We are going to keep a real close eye on it. We don't want our audience to miss that, because that's going to be an incredible moment and an incredible sight to see. So we will go back to that.

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