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CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Forces in Kuwait Geared Up, Ready to Go
Aired March 17, 2003 - 05:55 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: U.S. forces in Kuwait are geared up and ready to go when the orders come down. But there's an old expression in the Army -- hurry up and wait.
Karl Penhaul is with some of those troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Painted models on a military chart. But the games are over. While U.S. Army Apache helicopters continue to fly training exercises in the Kuwaiti desert, the soldiers of First Attack Battalion load 30 millimeter rounds for the cannon and prep Hellfire missiles, devastating against armored vehicles.
(on camera): Of course, no firm date is being mentioned here for the launch of the invasion of Iraq, but commanders here say they sense the order from President Bush could come sooner, not later.
(voice-over): The battalion's lining up its fuel and ammunition trucks. When the war begins, plans are for this convoy to set off on a long trek several hundred miles inside Iraq to set up a refueling dump for the Apache copters. Many of the soldiers say it's too soon to be afraid but some are getting frustrated with the wait.
STAFF SGT SOTO, U.S. ARMY: I want to go and get this over with. I want to go back home and see the family. But for now it's getting prepared and we're knowing, we're getting trucks lined up, we're getting the aircraft ready.
PENHAUL: In the last few days, unit commanders have been briefing their soldiers about the fight to come, going over basic drills, everything from avoiding snakes to clearing jammed bullets. Young soldiers' minds inevitably stray back to their homes and families.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a lot of families back home that are worried about their loved ones. We know when we left there was tears shed.
PENHAUL: As command tents are packed away, Sergeant First Class Mark Lynn (ph) is lowering the flag of Texas, home state of First Attack Battalion. He's vowed to hoist it again in Iraq.
Karl Penhaul for CNN in northern Kuwait.
(END VIDEOTAPE) 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 March 17, 2003 - 05:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. forces in Kuwait are geared up and ready to go when the orders come down. But there's an old expression in the Army -- hurry up and wait.
Karl Penhaul is with some of those troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Painted models on a military chart. But the games are over. While U.S. Army Apache helicopters continue to fly training exercises in the Kuwaiti desert, the soldiers of First Attack Battalion load 30 millimeter rounds for the cannon and prep Hellfire missiles, devastating against armored vehicles.
(on camera): Of course, no firm date is being mentioned here for the launch of the invasion of Iraq, but commanders here say they sense the order from President Bush could come sooner, not later.
(voice-over): The battalion's lining up its fuel and ammunition trucks. When the war begins, plans are for this convoy to set off on a long trek several hundred miles inside Iraq to set up a refueling dump for the Apache copters. Many of the soldiers say it's too soon to be afraid but some are getting frustrated with the wait.
STAFF SGT SOTO, U.S. ARMY: I want to go and get this over with. I want to go back home and see the family. But for now it's getting prepared and we're knowing, we're getting trucks lined up, we're getting the aircraft ready.
PENHAUL: In the last few days, unit commanders have been briefing their soldiers about the fight to come, going over basic drills, everything from avoiding snakes to clearing jammed bullets. Young soldiers' minds inevitably stray back to their homes and families.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a lot of families back home that are worried about their loved ones. We know when we left there was tears shed.
PENHAUL: As command tents are packed away, Sergeant First Class Mark Lynn (ph) is lowering the flag of Texas, home state of First Attack Battalion. He's vowed to hoist it again in Iraq.
Karl Penhaul for CNN in northern Kuwait.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
