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CNN Live Today

Interview with McCumber Family

Aired December 24, 2002 - 10:25   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: Thousands of American troops are overseas and they won't be home for the holidays this year. Many of them are deployed around the globe fighting on the front lines of the war against terrorism.
But today, right now, right here on CNN, we are going to be bringing military families together on this Christmas Eve.

Carl Penhall is standing by live with the troops at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, and he's joined by Staff Sergeant Frank McCumber, who is spending his first Christmas away from his wife who is waiting to talk to him -- Carl.

CARL PENHALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We've got Frank McCumber here from the U.S. Marine Corps, and we understand his wife, Ros (ph), and 2-year-old son, Steven, are waiting by in San Antonio, Texas.

So, Frank, over to you, we have got Ros (ph) on the line, I understand. What are you going to tell her?

FRANK MCCUMBER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hey, Ros (ph), are you out there?

ROS (ph) MCCUMBER, WIFE OF FRANK MCCUMBER: I'm here. I can hear you. Can you hear me?

F. MCCUMBER: So, what are your plans today for Christmas Eve? I can hear you.

R. MCCUMBER: Well, we're going to go over to Grandma Lazano's (ph) house, and then we are going to go to my dad's, and then we'll be at your parents' house on Christmas Day. They wanted me to tell you that they love you, and they miss you.

F. MCCUMBER: I love them, too, and I miss them. How's Steve doing? I hear him yelling in the background.

R. MCCUMBER: I love you, sweetheart. Oh, yes. He's loud at usual.

F. MCCUMBER: I love you too, baby.

R. MCCUMBER: So what are you doing for Christmas?

PENHALL: What have you been doing all day, Frank? Tell Ros (ph) what you have been doing all day today. F. MCCUMBER: Well, today we had a little Christmas dinner over at the hangar, and they barbecued some meat for us, which was a treat to have some barbecue, and kind of relax today, and wait to start working tomorrow again.

PENHALL: What about weather here, Frank? Is it cold enough for you?

F. MCCUMBER: It's very cold. We are stationed over in San Diego, and it is much better in San Diego than it is here.

PENHALL: What about Ros (ph) back at home? What's the weather like there with you, Ros (ph)?

F. MCCUMBER: How's everything over there, Rosalynn (ph)? What's the weather like?

R. MCCUMBER: It's really nice. Actually, today is -- we had a cool front, so it's like about 50. I think the high's going to be like 53. So it's really nice and clear. That was Steve giving you the weather forecast, but it's really nice.

F. MCCUMBER: Is he enjoying the weather over there?

R. MCCUMBER: Yes, definitely. He loves it. I mean -- I am sure he's going to have so much fun today, so -- we miss you. We wish you were here.

F. MCCUMBER: So do I.

PENHALL: Did you get time for any wrapping up of Christmas presents, Frank? Did you manage to send any through the postal service here?

F. MCCUMBER: Yes, I went ahead and sent a whole bunch throughout the time we have been to Rosalynn (ph), and she was supposed to hand them out to the family, but I think she decided to keep them for herself and buy them regular gifts in the United States and keep all the souvenirs. Is that right, Ros (ph)? Are you still keeping everything?

R. MCCUMBER: No, no. I was a good girl, and I've given some things out. Some I have kept, but some people did get gifts from Afghanistan.

F. MCCUMBER: I also want to thank you for all of my gifts that my family and you sent over here. I'm going to open them tonight around midnight. I haven't decided if I am opening gifts midnight local or midnight Zulu yet, but one of those times, I should open the gifts tonight.

PENHALL: OK, then, Frank. I think that's just about it, so if you'd like to say bye to Ros (ph) and maybe not spoil the surprise for her, don't tell her what present you got for her?

F. MCCUMBER: All right, babe. I've got to go now. R. MCCUMBER: OK. Well, I love you, and you be careful and we miss you.

(CROSSTALK)

PENHALL: Hi to Steve as well.

F. MCCUMBER: I miss you, too. I'll be careful.

PENHALL: Happy Christmas.

R. MCCUMBER: Say, Bye Daddy. Bye.

HARRIS: All right. That was cute. Way to go, Carl.

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 24, 2002 - 10:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands of American troops are overseas and they won't be home for the holidays this year. Many of them are deployed around the globe fighting on the front lines of the war against terrorism.
But today, right now, right here on CNN, we are going to be bringing military families together on this Christmas Eve.

Carl Penhall is standing by live with the troops at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, and he's joined by Staff Sergeant Frank McCumber, who is spending his first Christmas away from his wife who is waiting to talk to him -- Carl.

CARL PENHALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We've got Frank McCumber here from the U.S. Marine Corps, and we understand his wife, Ros (ph), and 2-year-old son, Steven, are waiting by in San Antonio, Texas.

So, Frank, over to you, we have got Ros (ph) on the line, I understand. What are you going to tell her?

FRANK MCCUMBER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hey, Ros (ph), are you out there?

ROS (ph) MCCUMBER, WIFE OF FRANK MCCUMBER: I'm here. I can hear you. Can you hear me?

F. MCCUMBER: So, what are your plans today for Christmas Eve? I can hear you.

R. MCCUMBER: Well, we're going to go over to Grandma Lazano's (ph) house, and then we are going to go to my dad's, and then we'll be at your parents' house on Christmas Day. They wanted me to tell you that they love you, and they miss you.

F. MCCUMBER: I love them, too, and I miss them. How's Steve doing? I hear him yelling in the background.

R. MCCUMBER: I love you, sweetheart. Oh, yes. He's loud at usual.

F. MCCUMBER: I love you too, baby.

R. MCCUMBER: So what are you doing for Christmas?

PENHALL: What have you been doing all day, Frank? Tell Ros (ph) what you have been doing all day today. F. MCCUMBER: Well, today we had a little Christmas dinner over at the hangar, and they barbecued some meat for us, which was a treat to have some barbecue, and kind of relax today, and wait to start working tomorrow again.

PENHALL: What about weather here, Frank? Is it cold enough for you?

F. MCCUMBER: It's very cold. We are stationed over in San Diego, and it is much better in San Diego than it is here.

PENHALL: What about Ros (ph) back at home? What's the weather like there with you, Ros (ph)?

F. MCCUMBER: How's everything over there, Rosalynn (ph)? What's the weather like?

R. MCCUMBER: It's really nice. Actually, today is -- we had a cool front, so it's like about 50. I think the high's going to be like 53. So it's really nice and clear. That was Steve giving you the weather forecast, but it's really nice.

F. MCCUMBER: Is he enjoying the weather over there?

R. MCCUMBER: Yes, definitely. He loves it. I mean -- I am sure he's going to have so much fun today, so -- we miss you. We wish you were here.

F. MCCUMBER: So do I.

PENHALL: Did you get time for any wrapping up of Christmas presents, Frank? Did you manage to send any through the postal service here?

F. MCCUMBER: Yes, I went ahead and sent a whole bunch throughout the time we have been to Rosalynn (ph), and she was supposed to hand them out to the family, but I think she decided to keep them for herself and buy them regular gifts in the United States and keep all the souvenirs. Is that right, Ros (ph)? Are you still keeping everything?

R. MCCUMBER: No, no. I was a good girl, and I've given some things out. Some I have kept, but some people did get gifts from Afghanistan.

F. MCCUMBER: I also want to thank you for all of my gifts that my family and you sent over here. I'm going to open them tonight around midnight. I haven't decided if I am opening gifts midnight local or midnight Zulu yet, but one of those times, I should open the gifts tonight.

PENHALL: OK, then, Frank. I think that's just about it, so if you'd like to say bye to Ros (ph) and maybe not spoil the surprise for her, don't tell her what present you got for her?

F. MCCUMBER: All right, babe. I've got to go now. R. MCCUMBER: OK. Well, I love you, and you be careful and we miss you.

(CROSSTALK)

PENHALL: Hi to Steve as well.

F. MCCUMBER: I miss you, too. I'll be careful.

PENHALL: Happy Christmas.

R. MCCUMBER: Say, Bye Daddy. Bye.

HARRIS: All right. That was cute. Way to go, Carl.

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