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CNN Live Today

Troops Shipping Off to Persian Gulf

Aired January 06, 2003 - 10:04   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: In Baltimore, they're shipping out.
More than 300 military and civilian personnel climbed aboard the USNS Comfort, a naval hospital ship that could be used in the event of war. The vessel has 1,000 beds on board and a dozen operating rooms.

It's especially equipped to handle troops injured in biological or chemical attacks.

Well, it's also a day of farewells in Southern California, where more than 4,000 sailors and marines are setting sail today.

Our national correspondent, Frank Buckley, is in San Diego. Let's go and check in with him right now and get more.

Good morning, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

We're here at Pier 13, where as you say, some 4,000 sailors and marines are coming along on Pier 13, heading to the USS Tarawa and some of the other ships that make up the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group.

We also have a camera on board the USS Tarawa and we'll show you what it looks like there. Helicopters aboard that ship, a landing craft, the Elcax (ph). And again, the men and women aboard this ship could become the tip of the spear if the U.S. does become involved in military action in the weeks ahead in Iraq.

And joining me now, among the marine families that are affected by this, Sgt. Renrick Lett and family here.

Tell me what this day is like for me, Sergeant.

SGT. RENRICK LETT, USMC: It's tough, you know. This is the third time I've done this, though, so I wouldn't say it gets any easier, but we're definitely used to it.

BUCKLEY: And now you've got two little guys here, you've got a 10-year-old, Taylor, and Nicholas, who is 4.

Nicholas, you want to look at the camera here for a second? We like your outfit there. How you doing, buddy?

NICHOLAS LETT, SGT. LETT'S SON: Fine. BUCKLEY: All right. Let me talk to Taylor. Taylor, you've been through this a couple times, with Dad leaving. What does Dad tell you before he leaves on this kind of a...

TAYLOR LETT, SGT. LETT'S SON: He loves me.

BUCKLEY: And do you have any special responsibilities when Dad's away?

T. LETT: Take care of my little brother and my mom.

BUCKLEY: Well, you're doing a good job already, and good luck in the weeks ahead.

Danielle, what about you? You've been through this as a mother and as a wife. Tell me what this is like for you.

DANIELLE LETT: We're used to it. I don't think, as many times as you do it, it makes it any easier. I work, so that helps. My parents live here, so that helps, too. So I mean, it just, you know, you have to do it, you know. It's routine. So -- But we're proud of him, so...

BUCKLEY: Knowing what the world situation is, that he could actually go into harm's way this time, does it make it any more difficult?

D. LETT: A little bit. This time around, a little bit. It worries us. The world is just changing. So I don't know. We worry. But it's in God's hands, so...

BUCKLEY: You're lucky because the sergeant here is responsible for setting up telecommunications and e-mails. You'll be sending a lot of e-mails, I'll imagine.

R. LETT: Yes, definitely. Every chance I get. I've already -- let her know every chance I get, she'll get an e-mail or phone call, so...

BUCKLEY: Are there times you can't really say where you are in the world, what you're doing?

Danielle, is that difficult?

D. LETT: It is, but I understand. Again, with us doing it several times, it's -- you know, I understand. I'm used to it. I worry, but I know he's OK.

BUCKLEY: Thank you, guys, for sharing your story and we wish you well. And good luck to you.

D. LETT: Thank you.

BUCKLEY: Take care, guys.

Just one of the 4,000 families that are experiencing a difficult, emotional day. As you hear, though, they have a routine and they know this comes with the duty. And they're ready to serve -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks. And we sure wish them the best. It's a good looking family there.

Frank Buckley in San Diego. We'll see you in a bit.

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 January 6, 2003 - 10:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Baltimore, they're shipping out.
More than 300 military and civilian personnel climbed aboard the USNS Comfort, a naval hospital ship that could be used in the event of war. The vessel has 1,000 beds on board and a dozen operating rooms.

It's especially equipped to handle troops injured in biological or chemical attacks.

Well, it's also a day of farewells in Southern California, where more than 4,000 sailors and marines are setting sail today.

Our national correspondent, Frank Buckley, is in San Diego. Let's go and check in with him right now and get more.

Good morning, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

We're here at Pier 13, where as you say, some 4,000 sailors and marines are coming along on Pier 13, heading to the USS Tarawa and some of the other ships that make up the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group.

We also have a camera on board the USS Tarawa and we'll show you what it looks like there. Helicopters aboard that ship, a landing craft, the Elcax (ph). And again, the men and women aboard this ship could become the tip of the spear if the U.S. does become involved in military action in the weeks ahead in Iraq.

And joining me now, among the marine families that are affected by this, Sgt. Renrick Lett and family here.

Tell me what this day is like for me, Sergeant.

SGT. RENRICK LETT, USMC: It's tough, you know. This is the third time I've done this, though, so I wouldn't say it gets any easier, but we're definitely used to it.

BUCKLEY: And now you've got two little guys here, you've got a 10-year-old, Taylor, and Nicholas, who is 4.

Nicholas, you want to look at the camera here for a second? We like your outfit there. How you doing, buddy?

NICHOLAS LETT, SGT. LETT'S SON: Fine. BUCKLEY: All right. Let me talk to Taylor. Taylor, you've been through this a couple times, with Dad leaving. What does Dad tell you before he leaves on this kind of a...

TAYLOR LETT, SGT. LETT'S SON: He loves me.

BUCKLEY: And do you have any special responsibilities when Dad's away?

T. LETT: Take care of my little brother and my mom.

BUCKLEY: Well, you're doing a good job already, and good luck in the weeks ahead.

Danielle, what about you? You've been through this as a mother and as a wife. Tell me what this is like for you.

DANIELLE LETT: We're used to it. I don't think, as many times as you do it, it makes it any easier. I work, so that helps. My parents live here, so that helps, too. So I mean, it just, you know, you have to do it, you know. It's routine. So -- But we're proud of him, so...

BUCKLEY: Knowing what the world situation is, that he could actually go into harm's way this time, does it make it any more difficult?

D. LETT: A little bit. This time around, a little bit. It worries us. The world is just changing. So I don't know. We worry. But it's in God's hands, so...

BUCKLEY: You're lucky because the sergeant here is responsible for setting up telecommunications and e-mails. You'll be sending a lot of e-mails, I'll imagine.

R. LETT: Yes, definitely. Every chance I get. I've already -- let her know every chance I get, she'll get an e-mail or phone call, so...

BUCKLEY: Are there times you can't really say where you are in the world, what you're doing?

Danielle, is that difficult?

D. LETT: It is, but I understand. Again, with us doing it several times, it's -- you know, I understand. I'm used to it. I worry, but I know he's OK.

BUCKLEY: Thank you, guys, for sharing your story and we wish you well. And good luck to you.

D. LETT: Thank you.

BUCKLEY: Take care, guys.

Just one of the 4,000 families that are experiencing a difficult, emotional day. As you hear, though, they have a routine and they know this comes with the duty. And they're ready to serve -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks. And we sure wish them the best. It's a good looking family there.

Frank Buckley in San Diego. We'll see you in a bit.

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