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CNN Live Today

USS Harry Truman Heads for Persian Gulf

Aired December 05, 2002 - 10:05   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we know of some folks in Norfolk, Virginia for whom power is not an issue this morning. We are talking about the sailors and Marines who are on board the USS Harry Truman, along with our Bob Franken. You see our live picture there, and Bob is somewhere out there, as I understand it, and he has got some sailors with him -- is that correct, Bob? Are you out there?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I am out here, Leon. As a matter of fact, I'm right behind -- if you're seeing right now, you are seeing the Navy tradition of manning the rail, as you can see, the ship is pulling out, the USS Harry S. Truman. It is pulling out, heading for the Middle East, heading for the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, and whatever awaits as far as any confrontation with Iraq.

But, the music you were just hearing just a moment ago was Aerosmith. The group made a visit here not too long ago, and the music was appropriate, "Living on the Edge," and some of the people here are freezing on the edge, including some of the people who will be spending the next six months out in that very, very dangerous region of the world. There are 8,000 altogether, Marines and sailors.

Your name is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ron Barnes (ph).

FRANKEN: And what do you do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aviation support (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

FRANKEN: As you pull away, as you pull away into an uncertain assignment, do you have any thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I just feel like I have got to do what I have to do. I'll go out here and maybe keep America free, and keep world free of repression and whatnot.

FRANKEN: What about family you're leaving behind? Is it a sad moment for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very much sad, you know. Me and the wife are pretty seasoned on this, but it still doesn't make you ready -- calloused or anything about it.

FRANKEN: As you look here, I suppose you're looking forward to when you are watching it as you come in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say again now?

FRANKEN: As you watch us pull out, you're probably looking to the day when you will see it as you come in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, man. It would be great. When you're pulling in, you got everybody on the pier waiting for you. You know, just -- and it's a good feeling. Good feeling inside, and warmness and everything.

FRANKEN: That is six months away. Let me talk here -- you're also freezing to death here. What is your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Edward Cook (ph).

FRANKEN: And as you pull away here, what are your thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excited, proud, ready to go do my job.

FRANKEN: Nervous?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little bit.

FRANKEN: Because?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm going to a foreign country, going to a foreign place I've never been before, doing something I've never -- you know, thought I'd be doing as a kid.

FRANKEN: Thoughts that are shared, Leon, as you might imagine with just about everybody who is on this ship, the USS Harry S. Truman. It is part of a 12-vessel battle group that is replacing another one. Routine assignment, but of course, nothing routine about the possibilities that await. There are going to be as many as 80 aircraft attached to this vessel, and we are going to see some of them come in once the weather allows that.

But there's a big adventure ahead, a very dangerous adventure ahead as this deployment begins, one that is going to last six months. And of course, nobody knows what the next six months is going to bring -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Bob, speaking of adventures, if this ship is pulling out, how the heck are you getting back?

FRANKEN: Well, they asked me a while ago how good a swimmer I was.

HARRIS: Well, I hope you brought a wet suit, buddy, because that water is pretty cold out there. All right. Bob Franken on the USS Harry Truman, we'll check back with you later on, Bob. Take care. Stay warm, as well.

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 - 10:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we know of some folks in Norfolk, Virginia for whom power is not an issue this morning. We are talking about the sailors and Marines who are on board the USS Harry Truman, along with our Bob Franken. You see our live picture there, and Bob is somewhere out there, as I understand it, and he has got some sailors with him -- is that correct, Bob? Are you out there?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I am out here, Leon. As a matter of fact, I'm right behind -- if you're seeing right now, you are seeing the Navy tradition of manning the rail, as you can see, the ship is pulling out, the USS Harry S. Truman. It is pulling out, heading for the Middle East, heading for the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, and whatever awaits as far as any confrontation with Iraq.

But, the music you were just hearing just a moment ago was Aerosmith. The group made a visit here not too long ago, and the music was appropriate, "Living on the Edge," and some of the people here are freezing on the edge, including some of the people who will be spending the next six months out in that very, very dangerous region of the world. There are 8,000 altogether, Marines and sailors.

Your name is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ron Barnes (ph).

FRANKEN: And what do you do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aviation support (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

FRANKEN: As you pull away, as you pull away into an uncertain assignment, do you have any thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I just feel like I have got to do what I have to do. I'll go out here and maybe keep America free, and keep world free of repression and whatnot.

FRANKEN: What about family you're leaving behind? Is it a sad moment for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very much sad, you know. Me and the wife are pretty seasoned on this, but it still doesn't make you ready -- calloused or anything about it.

FRANKEN: As you look here, I suppose you're looking forward to when you are watching it as you come in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say again now?

FRANKEN: As you watch us pull out, you're probably looking to the day when you will see it as you come in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, man. It would be great. When you're pulling in, you got everybody on the pier waiting for you. You know, just -- and it's a good feeling. Good feeling inside, and warmness and everything.

FRANKEN: That is six months away. Let me talk here -- you're also freezing to death here. What is your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Edward Cook (ph).

FRANKEN: And as you pull away here, what are your thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excited, proud, ready to go do my job.

FRANKEN: Nervous?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little bit.

FRANKEN: Because?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm going to a foreign country, going to a foreign place I've never been before, doing something I've never -- you know, thought I'd be doing as a kid.

FRANKEN: Thoughts that are shared, Leon, as you might imagine with just about everybody who is on this ship, the USS Harry S. Truman. It is part of a 12-vessel battle group that is replacing another one. Routine assignment, but of course, nothing routine about the possibilities that await. There are going to be as many as 80 aircraft attached to this vessel, and we are going to see some of them come in once the weather allows that.

But there's a big adventure ahead, a very dangerous adventure ahead as this deployment begins, one that is going to last six months. And of course, nobody knows what the next six months is going to bring -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Bob, speaking of adventures, if this ship is pulling out, how the heck are you getting back?

FRANKEN: Well, they asked me a while ago how good a swimmer I was.

HARRIS: Well, I hope you brought a wet suit, buddy, because that water is pretty cold out there. All right. Bob Franken on the USS Harry Truman, we'll check back with you later on, Bob. Take care. Stay warm, as well.

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