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CNN Live Today

Family of Rescued POW Ronald D. Young Jr. Celebrates

Aired April 14, 2003 - 10:05   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The family of freed Apache helicopter pilot Ronald D. Young Jr. first learned of his release by watching CNN and seeing grainy video images as the story unfolded.
Young's father says -- quote -- "it may have been the greatest day in my life."

CNN's Susan Candiotti spent the day of celebrations with them and she joins us now from the Young family home in Lithia Springs, Georgia.

What a great day, indeed, Susan, right?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. We spent a lot of time with them this morning as well.

As a matter of fact, the Young family woke up today to learn new and harrowing details of their son's capture and release. According to a "Washington Post" reporter, pilot Ronald Young said he and fellow pilot David Williams, after the helicopter was shot down, jumped into a canal up to their necks in water, tried to make it cross a field and finally were captured at gunpoint.

Young said the POWs were moved several times and one point they might have had an opportunity to escape in Baghdad, but they didn't want to take the risk of being killed. Young's family, his parents especially, are relieved they did not take that risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure that goes through your mind over there, you want to get away. But he said probably the best thing because of the fact that Republican Guard was all around there, they were trained and probably would have been shot if they had gotten out.

KAYE YOUNG, MOTHER OF RESCUED POW: It scares me to death to think of that, and I'm really glad I didn't know it because it would just be terrifying for me and -- as it would any mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now the family was overwhelmed to see their son and all POWs for the first time yesterday on CNN. They did have a short phone call from their son from Kuwait. They said he sounded strong and was even cracking jokes. Now, what do they think he might want to do when he finally gets some time off?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

K. YOUNG: He told me from Kuwait, when he called that time, that he wanted to go fishing. And that's his favorite thing to do. And so I think he'll work out a way to just go fishing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now today the Youngs are celebrating much more than their son's release. It happens to also be his mother's birthday, Kaye Young's birthday. So they'll be celebrating that this day. And of course, look forward to seeing their son, that will make the thing -- their birthday -- her birthday her very best ever. Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Unbelievable coincidence, Susan.

Let me also ask you, any idea at this point -- might be too early to tell but, first of all, how much time is left on their son's commitment with the military and if indeed he has any plans to finish that commitment?

CANDIOTTI: Well, his parents say that he did plan on spending about seven years with the Army, but they're really not sure what his plans are now, having gone through what he did. But his dream was to always be a pilots and certainly he's been fulfilling that dream

Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Indeed, he has. All right. Susan Candiotti in Lithia Springs, Georgia, thanks so much.

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 - 10:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The family of freed Apache helicopter pilot Ronald D. Young Jr. first learned of his release by watching CNN and seeing grainy video images as the story unfolded.
Young's father says -- quote -- "it may have been the greatest day in my life."

CNN's Susan Candiotti spent the day of celebrations with them and she joins us now from the Young family home in Lithia Springs, Georgia.

What a great day, indeed, Susan, right?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. We spent a lot of time with them this morning as well.

As a matter of fact, the Young family woke up today to learn new and harrowing details of their son's capture and release. According to a "Washington Post" reporter, pilot Ronald Young said he and fellow pilot David Williams, after the helicopter was shot down, jumped into a canal up to their necks in water, tried to make it cross a field and finally were captured at gunpoint.

Young said the POWs were moved several times and one point they might have had an opportunity to escape in Baghdad, but they didn't want to take the risk of being killed. Young's family, his parents especially, are relieved they did not take that risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure that goes through your mind over there, you want to get away. But he said probably the best thing because of the fact that Republican Guard was all around there, they were trained and probably would have been shot if they had gotten out.

KAYE YOUNG, MOTHER OF RESCUED POW: It scares me to death to think of that, and I'm really glad I didn't know it because it would just be terrifying for me and -- as it would any mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now the family was overwhelmed to see their son and all POWs for the first time yesterday on CNN. They did have a short phone call from their son from Kuwait. They said he sounded strong and was even cracking jokes. Now, what do they think he might want to do when he finally gets some time off?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

K. YOUNG: He told me from Kuwait, when he called that time, that he wanted to go fishing. And that's his favorite thing to do. And so I think he'll work out a way to just go fishing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now today the Youngs are celebrating much more than their son's release. It happens to also be his mother's birthday, Kaye Young's birthday. So they'll be celebrating that this day. And of course, look forward to seeing their son, that will make the thing -- their birthday -- her birthday her very best ever. Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Unbelievable coincidence, Susan.

Let me also ask you, any idea at this point -- might be too early to tell but, first of all, how much time is left on their son's commitment with the military and if indeed he has any plans to finish that commitment?

CANDIOTTI: Well, his parents say that he did plan on spending about seven years with the Army, but they're really not sure what his plans are now, having gone through what he did. But his dream was to always be a pilots and certainly he's been fulfilling that dream

Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Indeed, he has. All right. Susan Candiotti in Lithia Springs, Georgia, thanks so much.

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