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CNN Live Today
Families Await Return of Loved Ones
Aired May 02, 2003 - 10:54 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: Now the folks he left behind onboard the "USS Abraham Lincoln" are now heading home, and they've got to be getting antsy as can be. They are just a matter of minutes away from their final deployment. They'll actually be touching down on terra firma, home in the U.S. and they'll be spending finally, for the first time in 10 months, extended time with their families. And the last half hour has got to be about the toughest half hour for those onboard, and maybe the same thing for those who are on the deck -- on the dock, rather, waiting for those guys on deck to come off.
Our Thelma Gutierrez is standing by, and she's been watching and talking to the crowds out there who gathered on the dock there in San Diego. Let's check and see what she's got happening there. Thelma? .
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, you talked about the last half hour being the most difficult. I can tell you, it certainly is for some of the families that we have talked to out here. In fact, many of them have been out here for the last three to four hours waiting with very eager anticipation.
We are standing here on the pier which is where the ship will actually pull up very shortly now, but right behind me you can see a fence, a barrier, to hold the hundreds of people who have shown up behind until the ship arrives. And that's just a crowd control measure. We'll see how well that works.
But take a look right behind me. Hundreds of people now with posters; they're carrying flags, wearing T-shirts saying my dad is a hero. Many "Welcome Home" signs. Lots of eager people very excited about seeing their loved ones for the first time in 10 months.
Now, joining me, right behind me is a very special guest. His name is Caleb (ph). Caleb (ph) is just three weeks old. He was born while his father was away.
And you have not seen your husband, Jennifer Brown (ph), in about 10 months.
JENNIFER BROWN (ph): No.
GUTIERREZ: You said you found out that you were pregnant on the day that he left.
What is this moment like for you?
BROWN (ph): It's incredible. There was nights that I thought that I wasn't going to make it. And just to be able to think about is - it's just incredible. I'm so happy.
GUTIERREZ: What are you going to tell your husband when you finally see him?
BROWN (ph): Just that I love him very much.
GUTIERREZ: How will you present your son?
BROWN (ph): I don't really know yet. I'm just going to give him to him.
GUTIERREZ: Talk to me about the most difficult moments of having your husband far away while you were pregnant with your first child?
BROWN (ph): It was just so -- I just -- I don't know how to explain it. And there was just -- I just don't know how to explain it, it was - but it's just so incredible that he's coming home, and finally, at last he's going to be here. And when I thought he was coming home in January, I was so happy he was going to be here when he was born, and then they didn't come home. But we made it, and we're here.
GUTIERREZ: What has your husband said about this particular moment?
BROWN (ph): He's very excited. He's cried on the phone to me. And he just can't wait to meet his son and to be here.
GUTIERREZ: Thank you, Jennifer Brown (ph).
Now, joining me now, is Ken Brown (ph), and you are Jeffrey's (ph) father.
KEN BROWN (ph): I'm actually his stepfather, yes.
GUTIERREZ: Stepfather. Talk to me about this moment for you?
K. BROWN (ph): Well, we are just so proud of him, you know? And happy he's come home.
GUTIERREZ: Very emotional moment?
K. BROWN (ph): Yeah. Yeah.
GUTIERREZ: Tell me about your grandson?
K. BROWN (ph): Well, just take a look. He's beautiful. Beautiful boy, and Jeffrey's (ph) going to -- he's going to just die when he sees him. Such a beautiful, beautiful young boy.
GUTIERREZ: Well, hopefully we'll be here for the reunion so that Jeffrey (ph) can see his son for the very first time.
Leon, many more stories like that right out here on the pier at Coronado Island, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Thelma.
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 May 2, 2003 - 10:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now the folks he left behind onboard the "USS Abraham Lincoln" are now heading home, and they've got to be getting antsy as can be. They are just a matter of minutes away from their final deployment. They'll actually be touching down on terra firma, home in the U.S. and they'll be spending finally, for the first time in 10 months, extended time with their families. And the last half hour has got to be about the toughest half hour for those onboard, and maybe the same thing for those who are on the deck -- on the dock, rather, waiting for those guys on deck to come off.
Our Thelma Gutierrez is standing by, and she's been watching and talking to the crowds out there who gathered on the dock there in San Diego. Let's check and see what she's got happening there. Thelma? .
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, you talked about the last half hour being the most difficult. I can tell you, it certainly is for some of the families that we have talked to out here. In fact, many of them have been out here for the last three to four hours waiting with very eager anticipation.
We are standing here on the pier which is where the ship will actually pull up very shortly now, but right behind me you can see a fence, a barrier, to hold the hundreds of people who have shown up behind until the ship arrives. And that's just a crowd control measure. We'll see how well that works.
But take a look right behind me. Hundreds of people now with posters; they're carrying flags, wearing T-shirts saying my dad is a hero. Many "Welcome Home" signs. Lots of eager people very excited about seeing their loved ones for the first time in 10 months.
Now, joining me, right behind me is a very special guest. His name is Caleb (ph). Caleb (ph) is just three weeks old. He was born while his father was away.
And you have not seen your husband, Jennifer Brown (ph), in about 10 months.
JENNIFER BROWN (ph): No.
GUTIERREZ: You said you found out that you were pregnant on the day that he left.
What is this moment like for you?
BROWN (ph): It's incredible. There was nights that I thought that I wasn't going to make it. And just to be able to think about is - it's just incredible. I'm so happy.
GUTIERREZ: What are you going to tell your husband when you finally see him?
BROWN (ph): Just that I love him very much.
GUTIERREZ: How will you present your son?
BROWN (ph): I don't really know yet. I'm just going to give him to him.
GUTIERREZ: Talk to me about the most difficult moments of having your husband far away while you were pregnant with your first child?
BROWN (ph): It was just so -- I just -- I don't know how to explain it. And there was just -- I just don't know how to explain it, it was - but it's just so incredible that he's coming home, and finally, at last he's going to be here. And when I thought he was coming home in January, I was so happy he was going to be here when he was born, and then they didn't come home. But we made it, and we're here.
GUTIERREZ: What has your husband said about this particular moment?
BROWN (ph): He's very excited. He's cried on the phone to me. And he just can't wait to meet his son and to be here.
GUTIERREZ: Thank you, Jennifer Brown (ph).
Now, joining me now, is Ken Brown (ph), and you are Jeffrey's (ph) father.
KEN BROWN (ph): I'm actually his stepfather, yes.
GUTIERREZ: Stepfather. Talk to me about this moment for you?
K. BROWN (ph): Well, we are just so proud of him, you know? And happy he's come home.
GUTIERREZ: Very emotional moment?
K. BROWN (ph): Yeah. Yeah.
GUTIERREZ: Tell me about your grandson?
K. BROWN (ph): Well, just take a look. He's beautiful. Beautiful boy, and Jeffrey's (ph) going to -- he's going to just die when he sees him. Such a beautiful, beautiful young boy.
GUTIERREZ: Well, hopefully we'll be here for the reunion so that Jeffrey (ph) can see his son for the very first time.
Leon, many more stories like that right out here on the pier at Coronado Island, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Thelma.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
