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CNN Live At Daybreak

When War on Terrorism Got Cranked Up, Lot of Reservists Answered Pentagon's Call to Arms

Aired April 23, 2002 - 05:50   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: When the war on terrorism got cranked up, a lot of reservists answered the Pentagon's call to arms. Among them, Brian Ackerman (ph) of Pennsylvania. But Ackerman (ph) had to make a dash from Afghanistan back to Pennsylvania, when his wife went into labor early.

More from reporter Jim Cincovicz (ph) of CNN affiliate WPHL.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CINCOVICZ (ph), REPORTER, WPHL (voice-over): When Brian Ackerman (ph) was called to duty shortly after September 11th, his wife Laura (ph) was three months pregnant and not at all optimistic that he'd be home in time to see the birth of their first child.

LAURA ACKERMAN (ph): And then when I went into early labor, I just thought, this isn't going to work out the way we planned it.

CINCOVICZ (ph): Ackerman (ph) was among the first group of U.S. servicemen called to fight the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. His 142nd air medical evacuation squadron was kept very busy transporting wounded soldiers. But on March 28th, he received a call from his company commander saying he was needed more back home, where his wife had gone into early labor.

BRIAN ACKERMAN (ph): And they were going to try to stop the labor and try to get me home as quick as possible.

CINCOVICZ (ph): It took two days to get from Turkey to Philadelphia, with a stop in Cincinnati. But when he finally got inside his West Chester house at 2:00 in the morning, there was another emergency call.

B. ACKERMAN (ph): It's my commander officer saying, "Brian, Colonel Schnyder. Get to the hospital now. They're preparing her for an emergency c-section." I'm like, "What?"

CINCOVICZ (ph): And, it gets worse. Ackerman (ph) couldn't find keys to his car, and when he finally got a ride to the hospital, 10 blocks away, sanitary hospital clothes laid out for him were too small. So Brian (ph) ran into the operating room in his desert combat gear and boots, and just in time. L. ACKERMAN (ph): I felt Brian's (ph) head on my shoulder. And right after I felt his head on my shoulder, they lifted her out. And they said, "You have a little baby girl." I was just overwhelmed.

CINCOVICZ (ph): Catherine Hope (ph) was six weeks premature, but is home and healthy now, and the greatest experience of her father's life.

B. ACKERMAN (ph): I can't even begin to describe to you what it's like to go from a combat war zone and taking care of injured individuals to holding your daughter in your hands in a matter of days. There are no words that can describe it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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