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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Battle Group Heads Toward Iraq

Aired December 05, 2002 - 06:11   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: A fleet of U.S. warships is about to head towards Iraq. The Harry S. Truman battle group leaves Norfolk, Virginia today.
CNN is live from ship to shore. Let's go to our national correspondent Bob Franken now.

Have they pulled out yet -- Bob?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The crew is going on board right now. This is a normal deployment. The Navy quickly -- makes it very clear, makes it very clear that, as a matter of fact, this is not anything special, although everybody is very mindful of the fact that where it's going could become a world's hot spot if things go bad and in fact there is war in Iraq.

The mission for this ship with its 8,000 Marines and Navy part of the battle group, a battle group that includes 80 planes, 12 ships, including the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. At any rate, the mission is is to split its time between the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. That's what these ships do. It's replacing another one that's been out there six months and now comes the six month rotation.

And of course it's a massive operation, and we're here with the executive officer.

Identify yourself -- sir.

CAPTAIN TED CARTER, USS HARRY S. TRUMAN: My name is Captain Ted Carter, good morning.

FRANKEN: Ted Carter, and you have just become captain. You're executive officer of this ship, No. 2 in command. Tell me about the fact that this is not just an exercise, this is not just a deployment, but this is one that could have war on the other end of it.

CARTER: Well sure, it's a -- as you said, it's a normally scheduled deployment. The crew's been training over the past year. The president said be ready and this crew and this ship, this battle group, it's ready.

FRANKEN: And of course there's also the personal feelings about separation. I'm sure that the executive officer is not immune to that either.

CARTER: No, I've done this quite a few times, nothing new to me. But myself and my family, we have our own way with dealing with it just as every sailor on board does.

FRANKEN: You know the one thing I get from all of them is is they're very stoic, they say that's what we signed up for, but that it's hard every time.

CARTER: Yes, it never gets easier, but the sailors do understand. This crew understands. This is an exceptional crew. I've been associated with quite a few, and I'm really proud of these sailors and the Marines we have on board.

FRANKEN: And they're all on board now. They -- the deadline was 6:00 in the morning. They've just gotten on board. And you're kind of a hard nose, you wouldn't let them come off to talk to.

CARTER: Yes, well you know once I have my folks on board, I want them to keep their head in the game. You see what the weather is like out here today. I call this a varsity day, nothing we can't handle, but I want -- I want my crew to have their heads on straight and be ready to go.

FRANKEN: This is the second deployment for the ship. It's the newest one that's in operation right now, the Harry S. Truman. It's massive like these aircraft carriers are. It's got a deck that's almost as long as the Empire State Building, 4.5 acres. It's just -- it's a massive operation. And one of the people who's going to be in charge of it is the man we just talked to who is leaving the security of home for uncertainty out there.

Thank you very much for being with us -- sir.

CARTER: You're welcome.

FRANKEN: It's going to be -- it's going to be perhaps a historic mission and it's going to be one -- Carol, I'm going to get the chance to go out with the ship for just a little bit and share the experience just a little bit, but it doesn't compare to the hardship that the men on this ship are going to face. They'll be away from home and the uncertainty, as I said, for six months -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, guessing as to what might happen.

Bob Franken, thanks, we appreciate it.

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






Aired December 5, 2002 - 06:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A fleet of U.S. warships is about to head towards Iraq. The Harry S. Truman battle group leaves Norfolk, Virginia today.
CNN is live from ship to shore. Let's go to our national correspondent Bob Franken now.

Have they pulled out yet -- Bob?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The crew is going on board right now. This is a normal deployment. The Navy quickly -- makes it very clear, makes it very clear that, as a matter of fact, this is not anything special, although everybody is very mindful of the fact that where it's going could become a world's hot spot if things go bad and in fact there is war in Iraq.

The mission for this ship with its 8,000 Marines and Navy part of the battle group, a battle group that includes 80 planes, 12 ships, including the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. At any rate, the mission is is to split its time between the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. That's what these ships do. It's replacing another one that's been out there six months and now comes the six month rotation.

And of course it's a massive operation, and we're here with the executive officer.

Identify yourself -- sir.

CAPTAIN TED CARTER, USS HARRY S. TRUMAN: My name is Captain Ted Carter, good morning.

FRANKEN: Ted Carter, and you have just become captain. You're executive officer of this ship, No. 2 in command. Tell me about the fact that this is not just an exercise, this is not just a deployment, but this is one that could have war on the other end of it.

CARTER: Well sure, it's a -- as you said, it's a normally scheduled deployment. The crew's been training over the past year. The president said be ready and this crew and this ship, this battle group, it's ready.

FRANKEN: And of course there's also the personal feelings about separation. I'm sure that the executive officer is not immune to that either.

CARTER: No, I've done this quite a few times, nothing new to me. But myself and my family, we have our own way with dealing with it just as every sailor on board does.

FRANKEN: You know the one thing I get from all of them is is they're very stoic, they say that's what we signed up for, but that it's hard every time.

CARTER: Yes, it never gets easier, but the sailors do understand. This crew understands. This is an exceptional crew. I've been associated with quite a few, and I'm really proud of these sailors and the Marines we have on board.

FRANKEN: And they're all on board now. They -- the deadline was 6:00 in the morning. They've just gotten on board. And you're kind of a hard nose, you wouldn't let them come off to talk to.

CARTER: Yes, well you know once I have my folks on board, I want them to keep their head in the game. You see what the weather is like out here today. I call this a varsity day, nothing we can't handle, but I want -- I want my crew to have their heads on straight and be ready to go.

FRANKEN: This is the second deployment for the ship. It's the newest one that's in operation right now, the Harry S. Truman. It's massive like these aircraft carriers are. It's got a deck that's almost as long as the Empire State Building, 4.5 acres. It's just -- it's a massive operation. And one of the people who's going to be in charge of it is the man we just talked to who is leaving the security of home for uncertainty out there.

Thank you very much for being with us -- sir.

CARTER: You're welcome.

FRANKEN: It's going to be -- it's going to be perhaps a historic mission and it's going to be one -- Carol, I'm going to get the chance to go out with the ship for just a little bit and share the experience just a little bit, but it doesn't compare to the hardship that the men on this ship are going to face. They'll be away from home and the uncertainty, as I said, for six months -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, guessing as to what might happen.

Bob Franken, thanks, we appreciate it.

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