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CNN Live Today

The Deadliest Day

Aired November 03, 2003 - 07:33   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go back to Iraq at this hour and the deadliest day in a single strike against U.S. forces since the invasion of Iraq back in March. Sixteen U.S. troops were killed when a helicopter was struck by a missile and then crashed. In all, 19 Americans died yesterday in Iraq.
For a sense of just how military personnel here in the U.S. are responding to that attack, Bob Franken is live for us at Fort Carson in Colorado -- Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And at Fort Carson alone, 12,000 have been sent to Iraq and there's been a large loss of lives already. Twenty-one people had lost their lives. They're not giving any numbers here on how many were affected at this base. They will only tell us that some have been affected. And, of course, at other Army bases around the country they're getting the same bitter word. And it is a bitter irony, of course, Soledad, because the fact is is that many of these people were coming home to the United States for a happy break from the really desperate conditions that they face in Iraq. And, of course, that makes things even tougher, although, of course, the military people will always say that it's just a fear and it's just a danger that goes with the job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. THOMAS BUDZYNA, FORT CARSON PAO: We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends and units of those who were killed and injured. This incident underscores the sacrifices our young men and women take every day in defense of our country. And as I told many of you earlier today, this incident not only affected Fort Carson but it affected other military installations throughout the Army family, as well as active duty National Guard and Army Reserve units.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: So now they/'re going to swing into the sad routine here at Fort Carson and at the other bases around the country where the families who have suffered losses here are going to go through counseling. They're going to get the various services that the military all knows only too well to provide with the certain knowledge, Soledad, that this will not be the last time they'll have to provide these services -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A sad day there, for sure. Bob Franken, thanks.

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



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Aired November 3, 2003 - 07:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go back to Iraq at this hour and the deadliest day in a single strike against U.S. forces since the invasion of Iraq back in March. Sixteen U.S. troops were killed when a helicopter was struck by a missile and then crashed. In all, 19 Americans died yesterday in Iraq.
For a sense of just how military personnel here in the U.S. are responding to that attack, Bob Franken is live for us at Fort Carson in Colorado -- Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And at Fort Carson alone, 12,000 have been sent to Iraq and there's been a large loss of lives already. Twenty-one people had lost their lives. They're not giving any numbers here on how many were affected at this base. They will only tell us that some have been affected. And, of course, at other Army bases around the country they're getting the same bitter word. And it is a bitter irony, of course, Soledad, because the fact is is that many of these people were coming home to the United States for a happy break from the really desperate conditions that they face in Iraq. And, of course, that makes things even tougher, although, of course, the military people will always say that it's just a fear and it's just a danger that goes with the job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. THOMAS BUDZYNA, FORT CARSON PAO: We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends and units of those who were killed and injured. This incident underscores the sacrifices our young men and women take every day in defense of our country. And as I told many of you earlier today, this incident not only affected Fort Carson but it affected other military installations throughout the Army family, as well as active duty National Guard and Army Reserve units.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: So now they/'re going to swing into the sad routine here at Fort Carson and at the other bases around the country where the families who have suffered losses here are going to go through counseling. They're going to get the various services that the military all knows only too well to provide with the certain knowledge, Soledad, that this will not be the last time they'll have to provide these services -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A sad day there, for sure. Bob Franken, thanks.

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



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