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CNN Live Today
Ft. Bliss Hails Release of POWs
Aired April 14, 2003 - 10:02 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: We're going to begin right now at Ft. Bliss, Texas. That's, as we said, the home base of the U.S. Army's 507th Company and Thelma Gutierrez is standing by there.
Hello, Thelma.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Leon.
Well, you know, this is home for five of seven of those POWs, based right here at Ft. Bliss. As you mentioned, this is home to the 507th Maintenance Company. Now those people were all captured, three days after this war began and you can imagine here, Leon, that people are very thankful for their release.
Now, yesterday, as you mentioned, all seven released by lower ranking Iraqi soldiers and turned over to U.S. Marines. Now, some of the family members who saw this video say that some of them appeared thin but clearly in high spirits as they boarded a military aircraft on their way to Kuwait to be debriefed and examined by doctors.
Now the released POWs are Shoshana Johnson, Joseph Hudson, Edgar Hernandez, James Riley and Patrick Miller, all from Ft. Bliss. Ronald D. Young and David S. Williams, who are pilots shot down over Iraq, are from Ft. Hood.
Now the good news: when that was released yesterday, there were tears of joy outside of the home of Shoshana Johnson. In fact, an Army buddy of her father's stopped by. He drove in on his big rig to celebrate with the family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(HORN BLARING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you Jesus!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank God!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My joy is your joy. I'm so happy, I can't help it! I've been praying for her. My faith is your faith. Million was Americans -- we were all pulling for you. Now look at it, coming home! God bless you! thank you, Jesus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Well, there were of tears of joy.... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my joy. Take care, folks!
While there were tears of joy at the home of the Johnsons, there were tears of sorrow for the family of 18-year-old Reuben Estella Jr. He was also with the 507th and he will be buried later today here in El Paso. Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Thelma. We will get back to you in just a bit. We want to try to get some more of these family reactions in this morning.
We'll see you soon.
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 - 10:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin right now at Ft. Bliss, Texas. That's, as we said, the home base of the U.S. Army's 507th Company and Thelma Gutierrez is standing by there.
Hello, Thelma.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Leon.
Well, you know, this is home for five of seven of those POWs, based right here at Ft. Bliss. As you mentioned, this is home to the 507th Maintenance Company. Now those people were all captured, three days after this war began and you can imagine here, Leon, that people are very thankful for their release.
Now, yesterday, as you mentioned, all seven released by lower ranking Iraqi soldiers and turned over to U.S. Marines. Now, some of the family members who saw this video say that some of them appeared thin but clearly in high spirits as they boarded a military aircraft on their way to Kuwait to be debriefed and examined by doctors.
Now the released POWs are Shoshana Johnson, Joseph Hudson, Edgar Hernandez, James Riley and Patrick Miller, all from Ft. Bliss. Ronald D. Young and David S. Williams, who are pilots shot down over Iraq, are from Ft. Hood.
Now the good news: when that was released yesterday, there were tears of joy outside of the home of Shoshana Johnson. In fact, an Army buddy of her father's stopped by. He drove in on his big rig to celebrate with the family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(HORN BLARING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you Jesus!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank God!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My joy is your joy. I'm so happy, I can't help it! I've been praying for her. My faith is your faith. Million was Americans -- we were all pulling for you. Now look at it, coming home! God bless you! thank you, Jesus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Well, there were of tears of joy.... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my joy. Take care, folks!
While there were tears of joy at the home of the Johnsons, there were tears of sorrow for the family of 18-year-old Reuben Estella Jr. He was also with the 507th and he will be buried later today here in El Paso. Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Thelma. We will get back to you in just a bit. We want to try to get some more of these family reactions in this morning.
We'll see you soon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
