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CNN Live Today
Seven Former POWs Heading Home as Early as Tomorrow
Aired April 18, 2003 - 12:07 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Seven former Americans, of course, held prisoner in Iraq are going to be heading home as early as tomorrow. They have been recovering at a U.S. military hospital in Germany since Wednesday.
CNN's Matthew Chance was at Ramstein Air Base when U.S. officials announced the trip home.
Matthew, it must have been quite announcement.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly, it's been widely anticipated after they've undergone the medical treatment that they've been conducting here at the Landstuhl Medical Facility in Germany. All seven of those freed U.S. prisoners came out on to the balcony of their hospital here at that medical facility in Germany to face the gathered international media, even Shoshana Johnson, who's been injured, of course, shot through both of her ankles, was lifted up and supported by two colleagues out of her wheelchair sole she could stand and see over the balustrade as well.
Warrant Officer David Williams who's the pilot of the downed Apache gunship spoke for all of them with relief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, FMR. POW: I'd like to take a brief moment to let everyone know that we're receiving outstanding medical care, and I'd like to thank all of my fellow Americans -- we all would like to thank our Americans for the tremendous support we've been getting, and we're looking forward to coming home as soon as we possibly can. I'd just like to remind everyone to say a special prayer for all those who are still fighting on the American fence, OK? And god bless America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, those relaxed scenes could hardly have contrasted more with the first time we saw a number of those individuals on the television screen, certainly around the world when they were paraded on Iraqi Television, some of them looking absolutely terrified as they were being asked questions by Iraqi journalists. But their treatment in Iraqi hands is still a matter of deep concern, say U.S. officials here, even though the medical authorities who have been treating him say that their physical wounds, at least, have been healing very well.
There is another point of concern though for all people and soldiers, and anyone else who are involved in this kind of traumatic experience, we're told by medical officials, and that is what kind of long-term emotional or psychological problems will have been caused by it.
For that reason, there have been therapy given to all seven of those freed U.S. prisoners by specialist combat psychologists, to make sure they're truly well and okay in body and mind before they return home to their friends and loved ones.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, we talked to a wife of a former POW from the first Gulf War who said it is a very long transition process and the psychological as important, if not more so, than the physical part.
Matthew Chance, thanks very 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 18, 2003 - 12:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Seven former Americans, of course, held prisoner in Iraq are going to be heading home as early as tomorrow. They have been recovering at a U.S. military hospital in Germany since Wednesday.
CNN's Matthew Chance was at Ramstein Air Base when U.S. officials announced the trip home.
Matthew, it must have been quite announcement.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly, it's been widely anticipated after they've undergone the medical treatment that they've been conducting here at the Landstuhl Medical Facility in Germany. All seven of those freed U.S. prisoners came out on to the balcony of their hospital here at that medical facility in Germany to face the gathered international media, even Shoshana Johnson, who's been injured, of course, shot through both of her ankles, was lifted up and supported by two colleagues out of her wheelchair sole she could stand and see over the balustrade as well.
Warrant Officer David Williams who's the pilot of the downed Apache gunship spoke for all of them with relief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, FMR. POW: I'd like to take a brief moment to let everyone know that we're receiving outstanding medical care, and I'd like to thank all of my fellow Americans -- we all would like to thank our Americans for the tremendous support we've been getting, and we're looking forward to coming home as soon as we possibly can. I'd just like to remind everyone to say a special prayer for all those who are still fighting on the American fence, OK? And god bless America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, those relaxed scenes could hardly have contrasted more with the first time we saw a number of those individuals on the television screen, certainly around the world when they were paraded on Iraqi Television, some of them looking absolutely terrified as they were being asked questions by Iraqi journalists. But their treatment in Iraqi hands is still a matter of deep concern, say U.S. officials here, even though the medical authorities who have been treating him say that their physical wounds, at least, have been healing very well.
There is another point of concern though for all people and soldiers, and anyone else who are involved in this kind of traumatic experience, we're told by medical officials, and that is what kind of long-term emotional or psychological problems will have been caused by it.
For that reason, there have been therapy given to all seven of those freed U.S. prisoners by specialist combat psychologists, to make sure they're truly well and okay in body and mind before they return home to their friends and loved ones.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, we talked to a wife of a former POW from the first Gulf War who said it is a very long transition process and the psychological as important, if not more so, than the physical part.
Matthew Chance, thanks very 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
