Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Sailors Aboard USS Stennis Come Home

Aired May 28, 2002 - 12:45   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: Let's go to Thelma Gutierrez.

She's in San Diego, where's there a huge homecoming taking place, the men and women coming off the John C. Stennis -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All morning long, we have been talking to you about all the people who have waited for five hours.

They have been out on this pier waiting for five hours to meet their loved ones for the first time. In this case, we are talking about brand new babies.

And this is Craig (ph) and Janine (ph). And this your first baby.

CRAIG, U.S. NAVY: First baby.

GUTIERREZ: First baby, and the first time you are meeting your baby.

CRAIG: Very first time.

GUTIERREZ: Tell me, what's going through your mind right now?

CRAIG: It's a very emotional situation. We've been out to sea for six -- or five months for me. She had him when I was out to sea. And it's just, like -- I knew I had a son when I was on board the ship, but it's just, like, a completely different feeling once you actually get here and actually get to hold him and you hear him.

GUTIERREZ: What was the first thing that you said to your husband? I talked to you earlier this morning, and you said you were so excited to finally see him. What was the first thing you said?

JANINE, WIFE OF U.S. NAVY SOLDIER: That I loved him very much and I missed him very much. It's been very hard without him.

GUTIERREZ: I can just imagine.

Can we see your baby?

JANINE: This is Craig III.

GUTIERREZ: Craig III. And Craig is how old?

CRAIG: He is 3 months old now.

GUTIERREZ: Three months?

JANINE: Yes.

GUTIERREZ: OK, very good. Thank you both. Thank you very much.

Now, there are reunions like this taking place all over the pier.

Now we are going to join Alan Edmundson (ph) and Janine (ph).

This is your baby, Casey.

ALAN EDMUNDSON, U.S. NAVY: Yes, it is.

GUTIERREZ: Tell me what you thought when you first saw Casey.

A. EDMUNDSON: She's the most beautiful thing in the world.

GUTIERREZ: What went through your mind?

A. EDMUNDSON: I was excited.

Oh, don't cry, sweetheart.

GUTIERREZ: Casey has been out here waiting a few hours.

A. EDMUNDSON: Yes, she has. She's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. I was so excited to come home.

GUTIERREZ: How did you feel as you were pulling up to Coronado Island? What was going through your mind at that time?

A. EDMUNDSON: Biggest (OFF-MIKE)

GUTIERREZ: What about you, Janine? I talked to you earlier this morning. You said that you were very excited to finally see your husband.

JANINE EDMUNDSON, WIFE OF U.S. NAVY SOLDIER: Yes.

GUTIERREZ: What was the first thing you said?

J. EDMUNDSON: To him? I don't even remember now.

GUTIERREZ: Any big plans for tonight?

J. EDMUNDSON: Just stay with him.

GUTIERREZ: Janine, thank you very much. And congratulations on your new baby.

A. EDMUNDSON: Thank you.

GUTIERREZ: And there are many reunions even going on a little bit further down in the pier. Just walk up to a few people here.

Are you still waiting to locate your loved one?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My niece.

GUTIERREZ: You niece. You haven't seen her yet?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not yet. Her son is back there. She hasn't seen him since he was a year and a half.

GUTIERREZ: So, with 5,000 people getting off of the boat, it may be a little while.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll stand here and wait.

GUTIERREZ: Let's see. What did you prepare?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's upside down.

GUTIERREZ: Upside down.

(LAUGHTER)

GUTIERREZ: Great. All right, thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're welcome.

GUTIERREZ: Who are you waiting for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For my cousin Roger.

GUTIERREZ: Who?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Roger (OFF-MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her best friend's son. It's his first time out. So, we're really excited for him to come home today.

GUTIERREZ: Haven't been able to spot him yet, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not yet. We've been looking for him, but can't seem to find him up there in all those white suits on.

(LAUGHTER)

GUTIERREZ: All right, thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

GUTIERREZ: We move right up over here.

Ma'am, who are you waiting for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter.

GUTIERREZ: Your daughter. Have you been able to spot her yet? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I think she's probably in there waiting to get off.

GUTIERREZ: All right.

Well, again, 5,000 people, it may take a while. Thank you very much.

Carol, lots of very emotional reunions going on right now, again this second wave of people just waiting for more people to get off the boat -- Carol, back to you.

LIN: All right, thanks, Thelma.

I'm just wondering, taking a look at these fabulous aerials that we have got of these scene -- as you said, 5,000 people -- how are people supposed to find each other? Is there a system out there?

GUTIERREZ: That is a very, very good question.

And I can tell you, there is -- let's pan over. Here's the system, Carol. It is this little piece of plastic tape. They have asked people to stand behind this little piece of tape. But, as you can imagine the excitement, as people get off the boat, they are rushing this tape. And it is all over the ground here. So that is the system.

(LAUGHTER)

LIN: All right. I hope it works. I know people are really anxious to see each other.

Thanks so much, Thelma -- great homecomings there, lots of newborn babies.

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