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CNN Live At Daybreak
POWs' Comrades Cheer
Aired April 14, 2003 - 06:08 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: Those rescued ex-POWs are now waiting to go home, and they could get their wish very soon now. It's been an emotional time for them, their families and their comrades.
CNN's Karl Penhaul has some reaction for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the desert of central Iraq, comrades from 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion cheer the news that two of their own have been found, that Apache helicopter pilots, Dave Williams and Ron Young, are free.
C.W.O. MATT MCELROY, U.S. ARMY: I think we've been on an emotional rollercoaster. I mean, we've been -- ever since we heard that they captured some POWs, they got our POWs back, as soon as it was confirmed that it was Ron and Dave, we got Ron and Dave back and that they're healthy, and I'm telling you, I don't think there was a dry eye in there in the tent.
PENHAUL: Williams and Young's aircraft was shot down early March 24 in the first battle of the war against Iraqi Republican Guard forces around the cities of Karbala and Al Hillah.
McElroy and fellow pilot, Fred Polidore, whirled overhead tried to save them, but heavy fire blasted their aircraft, too, forcing them to turn back to base.
Iraqi TV broadcast pictures of the downed Apache. Young and Williams, who is a specialist in survival and evasion, went on the run for more than 24 hours. But eventually, Iraqi forces captured them.
In the last few days, comrades from Charlie Company, nicknamed the "Vampires," dot the surviving helicopters with these somber POW missing in action symbols. Today, the mood is much lighter.
They will only be reunited with Young and Williams back at base in Fort Hood, Texas, but they sent them this message:
C.W.O. FRED POLIDORE, U.S. ARMY: We love you. We've been praying for you. And we knew this day would come, and everybody is just really, really excited. The battalion, the Vampires, it's a big relief -- big, big relief.
PENHAUL: Reconnaissance and security missions are continuing for the time being, but now their friends are safe, these Apache pilots feel their war is over. For the first time since the day Young and Williams were captured, they don't mind showing their emotions.
MCELROY: The only thing (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we probably won't quit hugging them until...
POLIDORE: Yes, hugging.
MCELROY: Hugging them. We're probably going to have to give them a big kiss on the...
(CROSSTALK)
POLIDORE: Yes, yes. We're going to hug them for sure.
PENHAUL: Karl Penhaul for CNN in central Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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 April 14, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Those rescued ex-POWs are now waiting to go home, and they could get their wish very soon now. It's been an emotional time for them, their families and their comrades.
CNN's Karl Penhaul has some reaction for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the desert of central Iraq, comrades from 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion cheer the news that two of their own have been found, that Apache helicopter pilots, Dave Williams and Ron Young, are free.
C.W.O. MATT MCELROY, U.S. ARMY: I think we've been on an emotional rollercoaster. I mean, we've been -- ever since we heard that they captured some POWs, they got our POWs back, as soon as it was confirmed that it was Ron and Dave, we got Ron and Dave back and that they're healthy, and I'm telling you, I don't think there was a dry eye in there in the tent.
PENHAUL: Williams and Young's aircraft was shot down early March 24 in the first battle of the war against Iraqi Republican Guard forces around the cities of Karbala and Al Hillah.
McElroy and fellow pilot, Fred Polidore, whirled overhead tried to save them, but heavy fire blasted their aircraft, too, forcing them to turn back to base.
Iraqi TV broadcast pictures of the downed Apache. Young and Williams, who is a specialist in survival and evasion, went on the run for more than 24 hours. But eventually, Iraqi forces captured them.
In the last few days, comrades from Charlie Company, nicknamed the "Vampires," dot the surviving helicopters with these somber POW missing in action symbols. Today, the mood is much lighter.
They will only be reunited with Young and Williams back at base in Fort Hood, Texas, but they sent them this message:
C.W.O. FRED POLIDORE, U.S. ARMY: We love you. We've been praying for you. And we knew this day would come, and everybody is just really, really excited. The battalion, the Vampires, it's a big relief -- big, big relief.
PENHAUL: Reconnaissance and security missions are continuing for the time being, but now their friends are safe, these Apache pilots feel their war is over. For the first time since the day Young and Williams were captured, they don't mind showing their emotions.
MCELROY: The only thing (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we probably won't quit hugging them until...
POLIDORE: Yes, hugging.
MCELROY: Hugging them. We're probably going to have to give them a big kiss on the...
(CROSSTALK)
POLIDORE: Yes, yes. We're going to hug them for sure.
PENHAUL: Karl Penhaul for CNN in central Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
