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CNN Live Today
Homecoming Nears for USS Stennis Sailors, Families
Aired May 28, 2002 - 11:10 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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: There's a highly anticipated homecoming underway. The USS John C. Stennis returns from duty in Operation Enduring Freedom. We've been covering the story from ship to shore -- and before shore, you might say, as well.
CNN's Frank Buckley is aboard the carrier now, and our Thelma Guttierez is dockside in San Diego, where the family and friends are waiting to be reunited.
Long awaited reunions here.
Let's go first to Frank -- Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kris, a very excited crew now. They are doing what is called manning the rails. You can see just beyond them, perhaps, that San Diego is now just off in the distance. So the families that have been waiting for these sailors and Marines to come home after being deployed for more than six months now are soon going to be able to see their loved ones. They've been waiting for such a long time.
This crew deployed two months ahead of schedule. It's been a difficult deployment for many of them, but one -- to a sailor that we've talked to, they've all been proud and quite happy to be a part of it.
Among the people who has been involved in the deployment is Kevin Le here, Storekeeper 1st Class.
Kevin, you are one of the 60 new fathers on board this aircraft carrier. Tell me what it's been like knowing that your son, Jonathan Joseph (ph) Le, 4 1/2 months old, was born here and you weren't there for it. It must have been difficult for you.
KEVIN LE, STOREKEEPER 1ST CLASS: It's really tough, of course. I got (UNINTELLIGIBLE) emotion when my wife sent me the picture. I wish I could be there, but I'm glad I got to respond to the call for the nation. So I'm glad I'm home now, and I know my wife and my son are waiting for me down there.
BUCKLEY: Let me tell you, this is -- I'm going to surprise you. You can't see the monitor here, but we've got your wife, Yosena (ph) Le, on the other end. You can say something to her if you'd like.
LE: Hi, honey. I love you. I can't wait to see you and our son. I can't wait.
BUCKLEY: Yosena (ph), anything you want to say to Kevin?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just wanted to tell him that I'm glad he's home and that I love him so much. And he's going to meet his son for the first time. And I know it's going to be a new change for us.
LE: I love you too, honey -- hello, honey?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Say, Hi, Daddy.
BUCKLEY: OK, thanks. Thelma, we're going to toss it back to you on shore. We're starting to lose our signal here.
THELMA GUTTIEREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Frank. Well, as Yosena (ph), as you can see from her reunion, very many emotional reunions yet to come within the next couple of hours.
Frank, back to you.
OSBORN: Thelma, Frank, thank you very much for bringing us the latest on the situation. We, of course, will be following it all morning, the 12:00 noon Eastern Time expected dock of the USS John C. Stennis and those who served in Operation Enduring Freedom.
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