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CNN Live Today
Ex-POWs May Be Back in U.S. in a Few Days
Aired April 14, 2003 - 11:35 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: We are learning more now about the seven POWs who were recovered yesterday in Iraq, and what big news it was. In particular, though, we are learning about PFC Patrick Miller, and his family in Kansas, and when possibly they might be reunited.
CNN's Jeff Flock is in Valley Center, Kansas, just outside Wichita -- hello to you, Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, hello to you. Perhaps you see the signs of joy all around me. That one back there for the local restaurant just down the street from where Pat Miller went to high school and was a wrestler. You talk about this issue of when they might be back, Pat Miller talked to his wife Jesse (ph) by telephone, and he told her that he expected they would be overseas for perhaps another day or two, maybe in Germany, and then they would all come back to a military base somewhere on the East coast, and then at that time, they would all have a reunion there, so the family members would all come there.
So that was his understanding, at least, as of yesterday. Now, as you report, in towns like this one all across America, friends and family are pretty happy. We talked to both friends as well as family members of Private first class Pat Miller, who say they knew he was going to survive because he was so tough. I mentioned that he was a wrestler at the high school down the street. They said he showed a lot of toughness there, and they are sure that is carried him through. His dad has -- since his son was captured, a button on his chest with his son's picture on it. Yesterday, he updated that button.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MILLER, FATHER OF FORMER POW: Did have just his capture date. Now it has his release date. Yesterday was my birthday. My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I told her I wanted my son home. I got it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always hope for the best, prepare for the worst, but I knew I'd see him again. You always hope for that, and it came true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Lots of yellow ribbons around this town, as you might expect, and his family, Pat Miller's family, saying let's leave the yellow ribbons up because though their favorite son is home, a lot of them aren't. Let's leave them up until everybody is home, they say.
That's the latest from Valley Center, Kansas. Heidi, Leon, back to you.
COLLINS: Very important notion to keep in mind. All right. Jeff Flock, 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 - 11:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We are learning more now about the seven POWs who were recovered yesterday in Iraq, and what big news it was. In particular, though, we are learning about PFC Patrick Miller, and his family in Kansas, and when possibly they might be reunited.
CNN's Jeff Flock is in Valley Center, Kansas, just outside Wichita -- hello to you, Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, hello to you. Perhaps you see the signs of joy all around me. That one back there for the local restaurant just down the street from where Pat Miller went to high school and was a wrestler. You talk about this issue of when they might be back, Pat Miller talked to his wife Jesse (ph) by telephone, and he told her that he expected they would be overseas for perhaps another day or two, maybe in Germany, and then they would all come back to a military base somewhere on the East coast, and then at that time, they would all have a reunion there, so the family members would all come there.
So that was his understanding, at least, as of yesterday. Now, as you report, in towns like this one all across America, friends and family are pretty happy. We talked to both friends as well as family members of Private first class Pat Miller, who say they knew he was going to survive because he was so tough. I mentioned that he was a wrestler at the high school down the street. They said he showed a lot of toughness there, and they are sure that is carried him through. His dad has -- since his son was captured, a button on his chest with his son's picture on it. Yesterday, he updated that button.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MILLER, FATHER OF FORMER POW: Did have just his capture date. Now it has his release date. Yesterday was my birthday. My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I told her I wanted my son home. I got it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always hope for the best, prepare for the worst, but I knew I'd see him again. You always hope for that, and it came true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Lots of yellow ribbons around this town, as you might expect, and his family, Pat Miller's family, saying let's leave the yellow ribbons up because though their favorite son is home, a lot of them aren't. Let's leave them up until everybody is home, they say.
That's the latest from Valley Center, Kansas. Heidi, Leon, back to you.
COLLINS: Very important notion to keep in mind. All right. Jeff Flock, 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
