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CNN Live Today

Interview With Cecil Powell

Aired November 03, 2003 - 10:36   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the casualties in the helicopter crash were soldiers based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Fort Sill near Lawton, Oklahoma. We have the mayor of that city, Cecil Powell, on the phone with us right now. Mr. Mayor, thanks for being on with us.
MAYOR CECIL POWELL, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA: Well thank you all for giving us a call down here and letting us share what has happened in our community and the sadness that we have here.

KAGAN: I can only imagine it has a huge impact on your city, sir.

POWELL: Certainly does. And to be very honest with you, this being a military town and just in hand in hand with Fort Sill, any time there's a person in uniform that is a casualty, regardless of where it is, we are saddened.

But particularly when it hits right here at Fort Sill, this gives probably a special meaning. And this community here is totally, totally supporting Fort Sill and those people that work closely with the soldiers there.

KAGAN: Understandable. We're not going to the exact numbers yet about how many soldiers were killed or wounded from individual bases, but we have said some do in fact come from Fort Sill. Do you expect the injured to be heading back to that area?

POWELL: I do not know that. That type of information will be released from the Army. I have talked to the commanding general, General Maplozare (ph). And they will -- I'm sure probably in due time a release out there, press release out there. But that type of information will come from the Army.

KAGAN: I understand that.

Meanwhile, can you tell us what your city will be doing to support those on the base? The very difficult job of waiting to find out information about what happened to their loved ones?

POWELL: Well, we started supporting the efforts of those people long before the first shot was ever fired. We organized a United Pray for Peace Campaign down here through our faith-based community. And a lot of people joined hands and a lot of businesses joining hands with that.

The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Chaplain Fowler (ph) at Fort Sill called a meeting out there and about 80 of us went out and attended his meeting and of how we can support. And Fort Sill has one of the greatest, greatest support teams that there is in the United States of America joined by the citizens here in the city of Lawton.

KAGAN: Well, Mayor, it's a difficult time for your city and for the surrounding community and for Fort Sill. We wish you well and send you our thoughts.

POWELL: Thank you so much and we appreciate that.

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 November 3, 2003 - 10:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the casualties in the helicopter crash were soldiers based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Fort Sill near Lawton, Oklahoma. We have the mayor of that city, Cecil Powell, on the phone with us right now. Mr. Mayor, thanks for being on with us.
MAYOR CECIL POWELL, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA: Well thank you all for giving us a call down here and letting us share what has happened in our community and the sadness that we have here.

KAGAN: I can only imagine it has a huge impact on your city, sir.

POWELL: Certainly does. And to be very honest with you, this being a military town and just in hand in hand with Fort Sill, any time there's a person in uniform that is a casualty, regardless of where it is, we are saddened.

But particularly when it hits right here at Fort Sill, this gives probably a special meaning. And this community here is totally, totally supporting Fort Sill and those people that work closely with the soldiers there.

KAGAN: Understandable. We're not going to the exact numbers yet about how many soldiers were killed or wounded from individual bases, but we have said some do in fact come from Fort Sill. Do you expect the injured to be heading back to that area?

POWELL: I do not know that. That type of information will be released from the Army. I have talked to the commanding general, General Maplozare (ph). And they will -- I'm sure probably in due time a release out there, press release out there. But that type of information will come from the Army.

KAGAN: I understand that.

Meanwhile, can you tell us what your city will be doing to support those on the base? The very difficult job of waiting to find out information about what happened to their loved ones?

POWELL: Well, we started supporting the efforts of those people long before the first shot was ever fired. We organized a United Pray for Peace Campaign down here through our faith-based community. And a lot of people joined hands and a lot of businesses joining hands with that.

The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Chaplain Fowler (ph) at Fort Sill called a meeting out there and about 80 of us went out and attended his meeting and of how we can support. And Fort Sill has one of the greatest, greatest support teams that there is in the United States of America joined by the citizens here in the city of Lawton.

KAGAN: Well, Mayor, it's a difficult time for your city and for the surrounding community and for Fort Sill. We wish you well and send you our thoughts.

POWELL: Thank you so much and we appreciate that.

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