Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Soldiers Return From War in Afghanistan
Aired May 27, 2002 - 12:13 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: Two squadrons of fighter planes are returning today from the war. The planes are to land an hour or so from now at Lemoore Naval Air Station near Fresno, California. CNN's Rusty Dornin is there, awaiting their arrival -- hi, Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it's like you said, it's less than an hour we're expecting 24 F-18s to go screaming overhead in formation and then land here at NAS Lemoore. The excitement in the hangar, of course, is building.
There are two squadrons here, 146 and 147. These men have been gone for seven months. The USS John Stennis left two months early because of the September 11th incident, the campaign in Afghanistan. So they were actively involved in the northern Arabian Sea and the campaign in Afghanistan, working 24/7.
Now the wives, family and friends here have been preparing actually for months for this homecoming, because apparently they have to get everything donated: the food, the champagne, the decorations, all of that has to be donated for some of these homecomings. But the excitement definitely begins to build for the families.
And here to tell us a little bit about what her life has been like for the last seven months, Mrs. Jennifer Hoffmann, the wife of the training officer of one of its squadrons. Your husband, Commander Ray Hoffmann, soon to arrive here on the tarmac, he's been gone longer probably than in previous years on cruises, is that right?
JENNIFER HOFFMANN, WIFE OF PILOT: Yes. This is the longest period that we've ever been through.
DORNIN: Excuse me, we also have Sophie (ph) here -- two-and-a- half-year-old Sophie (ph), who wants to say a few words for us.
HOFFMANN: The airplanes are coming, honey. Just listen. They're coming. They're coming.
DORNIN: What's the hardest part about him being gone this long?
HOFFMANN: The hardest part is taking care of a two-and-a-half- year-old through that time, not being able to get a break. I also work full time. So I'd say it's just juggling, balancing.
DORNIN: Was this a little different to you? I mean, the timing of this was right after September 11th. Was this just a different sense of him being gone?
HOFFMANN: It was a different sense. A sense of patriotism that's going around the world right now is amazing, but it really puts it to light as to what he's doing -- what he's particularly doing right now.
DORNIN: Do you guys have any special plans for when he gets back?
HOFFMANN: We have plans to go out to dinner and just relax and spend a lot of time with Sophie together as a family.
DORNIN: Right. OK, thank you for joining us, Jennifer and Sophie Hoffmann.
They're getting ready, of course, here in the hangar, and then out here on the tarmac, they have the flight crews that are ready here to greet the planes when they arrive in about an hour. The families will all line up here, and then as soon as the pilots get off the plane, then it's anybody's guess for the kids to go up and hug their dads and husbands -- Carol.
LIN: Rusty, thanks so much. And, of course, we're going to try to take that picture live too. A very emotional homecoming, six months apart -- thanks. Rusty Dornin in Lemoore, California. That's near Beselia (ph) and Fresno.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
