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CNN Live Sunday
Interview With Vera Hamill; Interview With Dorothy Baker-Hines
Aired May 02, 2004 - 11:00 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's 7:00 p.m. in Kirkuk, Iraq, 10:00 a.m. in Macon, Mississippi, where news is happening this May 2. Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY from Atlanta. I'm Betty Winn.
No longer captive, civilian contractor Thomas Hamill escapes his captors and is in good condition. The latest from Iraq.
Also, reaction from Hamill's family to the news.
And later...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They planted some artillery rounds in the ground. Went off underneath our vehicle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was over in Kuwait. A fuel tank exploded and got my face and my arms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meet some of the true war heroes and how they deal with life-altering injuries and keep a positive attitude. But first, the top stories.
An Israeli family wiped out today by gunmen in Gaza. They opened fire on Israeli settlers near one of the settlements. A pregnant mother and her four children were killed. Israeli soldiers killed the two gunmen.
The violence came as the ruling Likud party in Israel was voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Sharon says if the referendum fails, Israel may face new elections.
Now to northern Iraq, and late word of an attack in Kirkuk today that killed one U.S. soldier. Ten other soldiers were wounded in that attack and that reportedly involved an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
From Iraq this morning, some good news for the family of Thomas Hamill. The Macon, Mississippi truck driver abducted by insurgent gunmen last month walked out of a building south of Tikrit today and identified himself to American troops. Details from Ben Wedeman live in Baghdad. Ben? BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Thomas Hamill's 23-day ordeal is now over. It ended this morning when he apparently walked out of the building where he was being held in the town of Balad, which is about 30 miles south of Baghdad. It appears that he simply escaped. This is what the coalition spokesman are saying. They said that a U.S. patrol in Balad was approached by a wounded man claiming to be an American, claiming to be that American who had been kidnapped in that convoy. This is what Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said following his announcement of his release.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KIMMITT, BRIGADIER GENERAL, U.S. ARMY: He came out of a building. Identified himself to American soldiers. It looked like he was an escape. This is the preliminary reports that we have would indicate that he escaped from the building. When he saw the American forces, identified himself and was subsequently recovered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: And Betty, when he ran into this American patrol, he was able to actually take them back to the building where he was held. They put up a cordon around it and they detained two Iraqis, one of whom had in his position an AK-47 rifle. Now, he's been flown to Baghdad. He's described in stable condition, although there are reports that he has an infected gun wound -- gunshot wound in one of his arms. And of course, the military is asking him a lot of questions at this point. They want to know, of course, who were his kidnappers, the conditions he was in and so forth.
Now, this news was very welcome to the coalition but there are still others being held by kidnappers in Iraq, including Private Keith Maupin. In total, there are six known hostages being held and five people known to be missing. Nine people have been known to have been killed by their hostages.
Regarding violence in Iraq today, this morning one soldier was killed and ten were wounded during an attack on a base near Kirkuk. Now in addition to that, yesterday, two soldiers were killed, two U.S. soldiers were killed and two members of the Iraqi security wounded by a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad. In addition to that, a U.S. convoy was ambushed in Amara, which is in the southern part of the country. In that attack, two soldiers were also killed. Betty?
NGUYEN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad, a very busy day, thank you.
Back in Macon, Mississippi, ecstasy today at the news that Thomas Hamill is free. Hamill has a wife, two children and several other family members in Macon, and his wife Kelly commented this morning.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KELLY HAMILL, WIFE OF THOMAS HAMILL: I feel great. I can't help it. I have to go pray. I'm so thankful. I feel wonderful. It's best the feeling I've had. I'm so ecstatic and I just want to thank everybody that prayed and sent prayers to us. Thank you all so very much.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And joining us now on the phone from Macon is Vera Hamill, the freed hostage's grandmother. Thanks for joining us.
VERA HAMILL, GRANDMOTHER OF THOMAS HAMILL: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, Vera, it goes without saying that you have to be extremely happy today to hear this news.
HAMILL: I am so happy. I just can't hardly -- I'm just praising the Lord all the time. It just makes me so happy. I knew that he would come back. That God would bring him back for I had faith that he would, and all the prayers that my friends and the little town of Macon has been so wonderful. They have prayed for him each night. And we all prayed. I prayed at home. I'm crippled and I can't get about much, but I'm his grandmother and he knows I love him.
NGUYEN: Of course he does. Vera, we hearing word that he has been able to call home. Have you been able to speak with him yet?
HAMILL: No. Kelly might; his wife might. I haven't got to talk to any of my family because I been so busy on the phone with reporters. I don't know -- they always go to church and I -- look at the preachers on the TV. I'm at home. I used to go to church pretty often and -- but I can't get about too much now.
NGUYEN: Vera, when you do get to speak to him, what do you want to know and what are you going to say?
HAMILL: Well, I just want to know was they good to him and how he was treated. And I just want to him give a good hug.
NGUYEN: Of course.
Thomas Hamill's grandmother, Vera Hamill on the phone with us. We thank you for joining us.
And as you might expect, Hamill's hometown is celebrating, according to Mayor Dorothy Baker-Hines, who is now on the phone from Macon. Good morning to you.
DOROTHY BAKER-HINES, MAYOR, MACON, MISSISSIPPI: Good morning.
NGUYEN: Well, this has been quite a day for the town of Macon. Hasn't it?
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. We're all just -- just can't say praise the Lord enough.
NGUYEN: When did you get word?
BAKER-HINES: I got a phone call at 6:15 this morning central time from CBS news said that do I want to hear some good news? I said, I sure do. They told me that he was free. NGUYEN: Have you spoken with Kelly Hamill? Because we understand that she has spoken with Thomas.
BAKER-HINES: I talked to Kelly at 6:30 a.m., and she had -- she told me she had gotten the news at 5:45. We were both crying and talking so, that she didn't first know who it was, and then when I finally told her who it was, she said, Miss Dorothy, I'm so happy and then she was interrupted by a family member said the media is outside. We had to cut the conversation short.
NGUYEN: I imagine the whole town has come together to offer support for the family.
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. We're already planning, you know trying to get together tonight like we did that Sunday night that he, you know, that first Sunday night which was Easter, we gathered at the courthouse and trying to plan to get all that going again tonight and praise the Lord and thank him for letting him, you know, be free.
NGUYEN: What kind of welcome home party do you have planned for Thomas Hamill?
BAKER-HINES: We have said in the past we were going to have a parade and we want, you know, to have everybody turn out for that, and that we also maybe try to do some type of cooking where we can feed him some good old southern cooking, and then I hope we can all gather and have a prayer vigil to just praise and thank the Lord for this miracle.
NGUYEN: We're looking at video now, yellow ribbons have been put up all around. This has been a huge bit of support for not only the family but for all those that know Thomas Hamill in that town. Was he well known there?
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. You know, in a small community -- I have lived here -- I been here around 30 years and everybody knows everybody. And, you know, when there's times of trouble, everybody tries to come together and rallies around each other and helps in any way we can. I believe the community is closer and I know I have talked to many people and we have all -- our faith has been stronger now in the Lord and just renewed with some and we just, you know, this little community is stronger than ever and we're going to -- when Tommy comes home, he's going to know he was loved and prayed for.
NGUYEN: When you get a chance to speak with him, what will you tell him?
BAKER-HINES: I'm going to say, welcome home, young man. We're just so -- that you're a miracle, a walking miracle.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. All right. We want to thank you for joining us. That's Dorothy Baker-Hines, who is the mayor of Macon.
As Ben mentioned, several Americans, military and civilian, were captured or killed during that ambush April 9, west of Baghdad. And days later, al-Jazeera TV broadcast this photo of PFC Keith Maupin of Batavia, Ohio. The 20-year-old soldier is the only American serviceman taken hostage in Iraq and it's believed he is still being held there. The bodies of four Americans were found after the ambush. Others are still missing.
You've likely seen the photographs aired last week that prompted international outrage over the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. Now, more extensive allegations of abuse are being detailed in an article in "The New Yorker." The magazine quotes a 53-page internal U.S. report, completed in February and not intended for public release, as saying Iraqi prisoners face numerous quote sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses. The report, written by Major General Antonio M. Taguba also cites the detailed witness statements and extremely graphic photographic evidence. A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the article to Reuters, but does say all reports of detainee abuse are taken seriously and all allegations thoroughly investigated.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said he is disgusted by the photographs. Charges are filed against six soldiers working at military police at Abu Ghraib and 17 others have been relieved of duty until the investigation can be completed.
CNN will have much more on this story on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Seymour Hersh, who authored the article, is a guest. That's "LATE EDITION" at noon eastern.
Up ahead, on the day Israel votes on the West Bank pullback plan, a family is shot to death near a Gaza settlement. We'll go live to the scene.
And later, the price of war. Inspiring words from men who have paid beyond their share.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: In the Mideast crisis, a family is gunned down on a road leading to a Jewish settlement in Gaza. The dead include a pregnant mother and children. Paula Hancocks is live from Gaza. She and her crew traveled that same road only moments before the fatal shootings. They brought back exclusive pictures.
Good afternoon.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, we were driving along that road that goes from Israel over to the Gush Khatif settlement block, that's the largest settlement block within Gaza. As we were driving along that road, we came under fire from two gunmen, who were firing and running towards our first car, an armored car, and then behind our cameraman, Yeeda Hemill (ph), who was in an unarmored car. Luckily, he managed to get through unhurt but he said as he was going through and as the fire was around his car, he saw a van and he saw a white car speeding in the opposite direction.
Now, it does appear that that white car was less lucky. That's the car that was carrying the mother and her four children. A 34- year-old mother, a social worker from Gush Khatif settlement block, she was 8 months pregnant, and her children also killed alongside her, aged 11, 9, 7 and 2 years old.
Now, as soon as we came out of the fire, we stopped cars going in the opposite direction, we alerted the soldiers who sent ambulances and armored cars with tanks as well. One tank we saw going towards the scene, the Israeli soldiers killed the two Palestinian gunmen.
Now we went back to the scene just moments late to see the bodies being taken away and the Israeli ambulance. The two Palestinian gunmen were killed, as I say. There was a tank on its way to protect the area. They immediately closed off the road. These in particular family was on its way to Israel, on its way to lobby against the disengagement plan from Ariel Sharon. It's a Likud party referendum vote today. They were on the way to try to campaign against moving their settlements out of Gaza when the road was closed off. There were other settlers trying to get through to Israel to try and do the same campaigning and to stop the disengagement plan.
Now, we have had responsibility claimed by the popular resistance, which is an amalgamation of different Palestinian militant groups. They distributed a leaflet saying it was their responsibility. And also, a comment from the settlers, saying this killing proves that we should not move out in the face of terror. Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. Paula Hancocks in Gush Khatif, Gaza, thank you.
Well, coming up, in the rain and mud, Smarty Jones makes a dash and a splash at the Kentucky derby.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: What a race. A memorable run for the roses for one of the pre-race favorites, Smarty Jones. The three-year-old won going away in the 130th Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones won the roses and a $5 million bonus for being undefeated and taking the Derby. The next target in horse racing's triple crown, the Preakness stakes in two weeks at Baltimore's Pimlico course.
Well, it was only the fourth time the Derby was run on a sloppy track after rain on Saturday, and meteorologist Rob Marciano has the latest on the forecast. A lot of folks saw some rain yesterday.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, lots of folks, including the track, which was pretty much dry right up until the race and then...
NGUYEN: Exactly. That's how it happens, right?
MARCIANO: Yes. They were due for a little rain.
NGUYEN: Makes it exciting.
MARCIANO: Well, we've got better news for Kentucky, at least today, if not tomorrow. We start you off with what happened yesterday. Cool air across the mid-section of the country. Warm air out east. Along the jet is where the storms fired up and slow moving one and expect it to move off to the east and it's doing that today. Mostly east of the Appalachian Mountains and across the eastern seaboard. Ahead of it is warm, humid air, if you live on the eastern seaboard, you know what I'm talking about.
Meanwhile, the upper Midwest, the great looks, kind of cool. Record breaking heat expected across southern California with offshore flow expected there. 85 or better in L.A. 70 degrees expected in Seattle. 75 in Salt Lake. Here's the cool air in Chicago, 50 degrees. And 75 in New York. Likely see showers and storms pop up in the afternoon.
Here's the latest imagery. Not a lot in the I-95 corridor. Out towards the Ohio River valley, that's where most of the rain is so far this morning slowly marches off to the east. Chicago on the dry side and cool. St. Louis, cool, showers yesterday. A slight chance of a shower there today. Big time rain last night and yesterday afternoon in Houston. That line of thunderstorms moved across yesterday and now moving across Georgia. Drier weather where they need it. Tomorrow in New Orleans, 75 degrees. Not bad looking Monday. In Chicago, 52. Drier weather.
If they ran the Kentucky derby today or tomorrow, perfect.
NGUYEN: Of course, that's how it goes, as always.
MARCIANO: Yes.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
MARCIANO: You bet.
NGUYEN: The bottom of the hour, "RELIABLE SOURCES;" here's Howard Kurtz with a preview.
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Coming up, the media and John Kerry's military medals. Were some news organizations used by the Republicans?
Plus, Barbara Walters apologizes for the way her adoption program was promoted, while Ted Koppel doesn't apologize for reading the names of the fallen in Iraq being read.
And a conversation with Wonkette, the hot new Internet blogger who dishes politics, Washington, and sex. All that ahead on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
NGUYEN: Up ahead, a gathering of men who are reminded every day of the sacrifice they made for their country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hundreds of American troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq have paid the ultimate price. They've given their lives. Thousands of others who survived the battlefield now bear the physical scars of war. Bill Tucker takes us to an annual banquet that honors disabled veterans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The cost of war is not measured only by the dead, as these men bear witness. Men like Leslie Brown, beaten as a prisoner of war.
LESLIE BROWN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I was beaten the inch of my life. I lost half of my liver of that beating.
TUCKER: Sergeant Tyler Hall, who suffered a punctured lung, a broken back and a face that's built on skeleton of titanium after every bone in it was broken in it.
TYLER HALL, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: They planted some artillery rounds in the ground. Went off underneath our vehicle.
IAN LENNON, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I was over in Kuwait and a fuel tank exploded and got my face and my arms.
VICTOR THIBEAULT, AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERAN: I lost four of my fingers, my thumb, pointer, half my middle finger and my ring finger.
TUCKER: Men learned to reject self-pity and radiate honor.
BOBBY BARRERA, VIETNAM VETERAN: There's hero after hero. Those that are recognized at events such as this represent thousands and thousands of others who served quietly, never asked for anything. Never complained about anything.
CHAD COLLEY, VIETNAM VETERAN: I'm a triple amputee. The left arm's off below the elbow. I have no left leg or hip whatsoever. My right leg is nine inches long. Fortunately, the rest of me is whole.
Some stuff that happens in life is not good. But it doesn't mean you have to be defined by it.
JEREMY FELDBUSCH, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I'm definitely honored that I was a soldier for this country and honored to do what I had done and I lost my vision doing what I was doing. I would have given my life doing what I was doing.
BRIG. GEN. PETER DAWKINS, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): We're shoulder to shoulder with heroes here.
TUCKER: And with people who want them recognized.
ROSS PEROT, BUSINESSMAN: For those who fought and almost died, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.
LOIS POPE, DISABLED VETERANS MEMORIAL FDN.: So many Americans who are unaware of the sacrifices that they gave for our democracy and freedom. ANTHONY PRINCIPI, SECRETARY, VETERANS AFFAIRS: We have the greatest fighting force and they're very dedicated, they're very courageous. And it's our responsibility to care for them when they come home.
GARY SINISE, ACTOR: One of the things that we learned from Vietnam is you support the troops no matter who sends them out and no matter where they go.
TUCKER: To care and honor those who have served.
Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: There's more ahead on CNN SUNDAY. "RELIABLE SOURCES" is next, on John Kerry's war record.
Then, "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Among the guests, coalition spokesman Dan Senior and furor over allegations of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
At 2:00 p.m. eastern, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," profiling the cast of "Friends" as the show concludes its 10-year run.
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, 2004 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's 7:00 p.m. in Kirkuk, Iraq, 10:00 a.m. in Macon, Mississippi, where news is happening this May 2. Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY from Atlanta. I'm Betty Winn.
No longer captive, civilian contractor Thomas Hamill escapes his captors and is in good condition. The latest from Iraq.
Also, reaction from Hamill's family to the news.
And later...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They planted some artillery rounds in the ground. Went off underneath our vehicle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was over in Kuwait. A fuel tank exploded and got my face and my arms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meet some of the true war heroes and how they deal with life-altering injuries and keep a positive attitude. But first, the top stories.
An Israeli family wiped out today by gunmen in Gaza. They opened fire on Israeli settlers near one of the settlements. A pregnant mother and her four children were killed. Israeli soldiers killed the two gunmen.
The violence came as the ruling Likud party in Israel was voting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Sharon says if the referendum fails, Israel may face new elections.
Now to northern Iraq, and late word of an attack in Kirkuk today that killed one U.S. soldier. Ten other soldiers were wounded in that attack and that reportedly involved an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
From Iraq this morning, some good news for the family of Thomas Hamill. The Macon, Mississippi truck driver abducted by insurgent gunmen last month walked out of a building south of Tikrit today and identified himself to American troops. Details from Ben Wedeman live in Baghdad. Ben? BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Thomas Hamill's 23-day ordeal is now over. It ended this morning when he apparently walked out of the building where he was being held in the town of Balad, which is about 30 miles south of Baghdad. It appears that he simply escaped. This is what the coalition spokesman are saying. They said that a U.S. patrol in Balad was approached by a wounded man claiming to be an American, claiming to be that American who had been kidnapped in that convoy. This is what Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said following his announcement of his release.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KIMMITT, BRIGADIER GENERAL, U.S. ARMY: He came out of a building. Identified himself to American soldiers. It looked like he was an escape. This is the preliminary reports that we have would indicate that he escaped from the building. When he saw the American forces, identified himself and was subsequently recovered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: And Betty, when he ran into this American patrol, he was able to actually take them back to the building where he was held. They put up a cordon around it and they detained two Iraqis, one of whom had in his position an AK-47 rifle. Now, he's been flown to Baghdad. He's described in stable condition, although there are reports that he has an infected gun wound -- gunshot wound in one of his arms. And of course, the military is asking him a lot of questions at this point. They want to know, of course, who were his kidnappers, the conditions he was in and so forth.
Now, this news was very welcome to the coalition but there are still others being held by kidnappers in Iraq, including Private Keith Maupin. In total, there are six known hostages being held and five people known to be missing. Nine people have been known to have been killed by their hostages.
Regarding violence in Iraq today, this morning one soldier was killed and ten were wounded during an attack on a base near Kirkuk. Now in addition to that, yesterday, two soldiers were killed, two U.S. soldiers were killed and two members of the Iraqi security wounded by a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad. In addition to that, a U.S. convoy was ambushed in Amara, which is in the southern part of the country. In that attack, two soldiers were also killed. Betty?
NGUYEN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad, a very busy day, thank you.
Back in Macon, Mississippi, ecstasy today at the news that Thomas Hamill is free. Hamill has a wife, two children and several other family members in Macon, and his wife Kelly commented this morning.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KELLY HAMILL, WIFE OF THOMAS HAMILL: I feel great. I can't help it. I have to go pray. I'm so thankful. I feel wonderful. It's best the feeling I've had. I'm so ecstatic and I just want to thank everybody that prayed and sent prayers to us. Thank you all so very much.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And joining us now on the phone from Macon is Vera Hamill, the freed hostage's grandmother. Thanks for joining us.
VERA HAMILL, GRANDMOTHER OF THOMAS HAMILL: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, Vera, it goes without saying that you have to be extremely happy today to hear this news.
HAMILL: I am so happy. I just can't hardly -- I'm just praising the Lord all the time. It just makes me so happy. I knew that he would come back. That God would bring him back for I had faith that he would, and all the prayers that my friends and the little town of Macon has been so wonderful. They have prayed for him each night. And we all prayed. I prayed at home. I'm crippled and I can't get about much, but I'm his grandmother and he knows I love him.
NGUYEN: Of course he does. Vera, we hearing word that he has been able to call home. Have you been able to speak with him yet?
HAMILL: No. Kelly might; his wife might. I haven't got to talk to any of my family because I been so busy on the phone with reporters. I don't know -- they always go to church and I -- look at the preachers on the TV. I'm at home. I used to go to church pretty often and -- but I can't get about too much now.
NGUYEN: Vera, when you do get to speak to him, what do you want to know and what are you going to say?
HAMILL: Well, I just want to know was they good to him and how he was treated. And I just want to him give a good hug.
NGUYEN: Of course.
Thomas Hamill's grandmother, Vera Hamill on the phone with us. We thank you for joining us.
And as you might expect, Hamill's hometown is celebrating, according to Mayor Dorothy Baker-Hines, who is now on the phone from Macon. Good morning to you.
DOROTHY BAKER-HINES, MAYOR, MACON, MISSISSIPPI: Good morning.
NGUYEN: Well, this has been quite a day for the town of Macon. Hasn't it?
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. We're all just -- just can't say praise the Lord enough.
NGUYEN: When did you get word?
BAKER-HINES: I got a phone call at 6:15 this morning central time from CBS news said that do I want to hear some good news? I said, I sure do. They told me that he was free. NGUYEN: Have you spoken with Kelly Hamill? Because we understand that she has spoken with Thomas.
BAKER-HINES: I talked to Kelly at 6:30 a.m., and she had -- she told me she had gotten the news at 5:45. We were both crying and talking so, that she didn't first know who it was, and then when I finally told her who it was, she said, Miss Dorothy, I'm so happy and then she was interrupted by a family member said the media is outside. We had to cut the conversation short.
NGUYEN: I imagine the whole town has come together to offer support for the family.
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. We're already planning, you know trying to get together tonight like we did that Sunday night that he, you know, that first Sunday night which was Easter, we gathered at the courthouse and trying to plan to get all that going again tonight and praise the Lord and thank him for letting him, you know, be free.
NGUYEN: What kind of welcome home party do you have planned for Thomas Hamill?
BAKER-HINES: We have said in the past we were going to have a parade and we want, you know, to have everybody turn out for that, and that we also maybe try to do some type of cooking where we can feed him some good old southern cooking, and then I hope we can all gather and have a prayer vigil to just praise and thank the Lord for this miracle.
NGUYEN: We're looking at video now, yellow ribbons have been put up all around. This has been a huge bit of support for not only the family but for all those that know Thomas Hamill in that town. Was he well known there?
BAKER-HINES: Yes, ma'am. You know, in a small community -- I have lived here -- I been here around 30 years and everybody knows everybody. And, you know, when there's times of trouble, everybody tries to come together and rallies around each other and helps in any way we can. I believe the community is closer and I know I have talked to many people and we have all -- our faith has been stronger now in the Lord and just renewed with some and we just, you know, this little community is stronger than ever and we're going to -- when Tommy comes home, he's going to know he was loved and prayed for.
NGUYEN: When you get a chance to speak with him, what will you tell him?
BAKER-HINES: I'm going to say, welcome home, young man. We're just so -- that you're a miracle, a walking miracle.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. All right. We want to thank you for joining us. That's Dorothy Baker-Hines, who is the mayor of Macon.
As Ben mentioned, several Americans, military and civilian, were captured or killed during that ambush April 9, west of Baghdad. And days later, al-Jazeera TV broadcast this photo of PFC Keith Maupin of Batavia, Ohio. The 20-year-old soldier is the only American serviceman taken hostage in Iraq and it's believed he is still being held there. The bodies of four Americans were found after the ambush. Others are still missing.
You've likely seen the photographs aired last week that prompted international outrage over the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. Now, more extensive allegations of abuse are being detailed in an article in "The New Yorker." The magazine quotes a 53-page internal U.S. report, completed in February and not intended for public release, as saying Iraqi prisoners face numerous quote sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses. The report, written by Major General Antonio M. Taguba also cites the detailed witness statements and extremely graphic photographic evidence. A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the article to Reuters, but does say all reports of detainee abuse are taken seriously and all allegations thoroughly investigated.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said he is disgusted by the photographs. Charges are filed against six soldiers working at military police at Abu Ghraib and 17 others have been relieved of duty until the investigation can be completed.
CNN will have much more on this story on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Seymour Hersh, who authored the article, is a guest. That's "LATE EDITION" at noon eastern.
Up ahead, on the day Israel votes on the West Bank pullback plan, a family is shot to death near a Gaza settlement. We'll go live to the scene.
And later, the price of war. Inspiring words from men who have paid beyond their share.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: In the Mideast crisis, a family is gunned down on a road leading to a Jewish settlement in Gaza. The dead include a pregnant mother and children. Paula Hancocks is live from Gaza. She and her crew traveled that same road only moments before the fatal shootings. They brought back exclusive pictures.
Good afternoon.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, we were driving along that road that goes from Israel over to the Gush Khatif settlement block, that's the largest settlement block within Gaza. As we were driving along that road, we came under fire from two gunmen, who were firing and running towards our first car, an armored car, and then behind our cameraman, Yeeda Hemill (ph), who was in an unarmored car. Luckily, he managed to get through unhurt but he said as he was going through and as the fire was around his car, he saw a van and he saw a white car speeding in the opposite direction.
Now, it does appear that that white car was less lucky. That's the car that was carrying the mother and her four children. A 34- year-old mother, a social worker from Gush Khatif settlement block, she was 8 months pregnant, and her children also killed alongside her, aged 11, 9, 7 and 2 years old.
Now, as soon as we came out of the fire, we stopped cars going in the opposite direction, we alerted the soldiers who sent ambulances and armored cars with tanks as well. One tank we saw going towards the scene, the Israeli soldiers killed the two Palestinian gunmen.
Now we went back to the scene just moments late to see the bodies being taken away and the Israeli ambulance. The two Palestinian gunmen were killed, as I say. There was a tank on its way to protect the area. They immediately closed off the road. These in particular family was on its way to Israel, on its way to lobby against the disengagement plan from Ariel Sharon. It's a Likud party referendum vote today. They were on the way to try to campaign against moving their settlements out of Gaza when the road was closed off. There were other settlers trying to get through to Israel to try and do the same campaigning and to stop the disengagement plan.
Now, we have had responsibility claimed by the popular resistance, which is an amalgamation of different Palestinian militant groups. They distributed a leaflet saying it was their responsibility. And also, a comment from the settlers, saying this killing proves that we should not move out in the face of terror. Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. Paula Hancocks in Gush Khatif, Gaza, thank you.
Well, coming up, in the rain and mud, Smarty Jones makes a dash and a splash at the Kentucky derby.
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NGUYEN: What a race. A memorable run for the roses for one of the pre-race favorites, Smarty Jones. The three-year-old won going away in the 130th Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones won the roses and a $5 million bonus for being undefeated and taking the Derby. The next target in horse racing's triple crown, the Preakness stakes in two weeks at Baltimore's Pimlico course.
Well, it was only the fourth time the Derby was run on a sloppy track after rain on Saturday, and meteorologist Rob Marciano has the latest on the forecast. A lot of folks saw some rain yesterday.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, lots of folks, including the track, which was pretty much dry right up until the race and then...
NGUYEN: Exactly. That's how it happens, right?
MARCIANO: Yes. They were due for a little rain.
NGUYEN: Makes it exciting.
MARCIANO: Well, we've got better news for Kentucky, at least today, if not tomorrow. We start you off with what happened yesterday. Cool air across the mid-section of the country. Warm air out east. Along the jet is where the storms fired up and slow moving one and expect it to move off to the east and it's doing that today. Mostly east of the Appalachian Mountains and across the eastern seaboard. Ahead of it is warm, humid air, if you live on the eastern seaboard, you know what I'm talking about.
Meanwhile, the upper Midwest, the great looks, kind of cool. Record breaking heat expected across southern California with offshore flow expected there. 85 or better in L.A. 70 degrees expected in Seattle. 75 in Salt Lake. Here's the cool air in Chicago, 50 degrees. And 75 in New York. Likely see showers and storms pop up in the afternoon.
Here's the latest imagery. Not a lot in the I-95 corridor. Out towards the Ohio River valley, that's where most of the rain is so far this morning slowly marches off to the east. Chicago on the dry side and cool. St. Louis, cool, showers yesterday. A slight chance of a shower there today. Big time rain last night and yesterday afternoon in Houston. That line of thunderstorms moved across yesterday and now moving across Georgia. Drier weather where they need it. Tomorrow in New Orleans, 75 degrees. Not bad looking Monday. In Chicago, 52. Drier weather.
If they ran the Kentucky derby today or tomorrow, perfect.
NGUYEN: Of course, that's how it goes, as always.
MARCIANO: Yes.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
MARCIANO: You bet.
NGUYEN: The bottom of the hour, "RELIABLE SOURCES;" here's Howard Kurtz with a preview.
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Coming up, the media and John Kerry's military medals. Were some news organizations used by the Republicans?
Plus, Barbara Walters apologizes for the way her adoption program was promoted, while Ted Koppel doesn't apologize for reading the names of the fallen in Iraq being read.
And a conversation with Wonkette, the hot new Internet blogger who dishes politics, Washington, and sex. All that ahead on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
NGUYEN: Up ahead, a gathering of men who are reminded every day of the sacrifice they made for their country.
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NGUYEN: Hundreds of American troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq have paid the ultimate price. They've given their lives. Thousands of others who survived the battlefield now bear the physical scars of war. Bill Tucker takes us to an annual banquet that honors disabled veterans.
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BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The cost of war is not measured only by the dead, as these men bear witness. Men like Leslie Brown, beaten as a prisoner of war.
LESLIE BROWN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I was beaten the inch of my life. I lost half of my liver of that beating.
TUCKER: Sergeant Tyler Hall, who suffered a punctured lung, a broken back and a face that's built on skeleton of titanium after every bone in it was broken in it.
TYLER HALL, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: They planted some artillery rounds in the ground. Went off underneath our vehicle.
IAN LENNON, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I was over in Kuwait and a fuel tank exploded and got my face and my arms.
VICTOR THIBEAULT, AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERAN: I lost four of my fingers, my thumb, pointer, half my middle finger and my ring finger.
TUCKER: Men learned to reject self-pity and radiate honor.
BOBBY BARRERA, VIETNAM VETERAN: There's hero after hero. Those that are recognized at events such as this represent thousands and thousands of others who served quietly, never asked for anything. Never complained about anything.
CHAD COLLEY, VIETNAM VETERAN: I'm a triple amputee. The left arm's off below the elbow. I have no left leg or hip whatsoever. My right leg is nine inches long. Fortunately, the rest of me is whole.
Some stuff that happens in life is not good. But it doesn't mean you have to be defined by it.
JEREMY FELDBUSCH, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I'm definitely honored that I was a soldier for this country and honored to do what I had done and I lost my vision doing what I was doing. I would have given my life doing what I was doing.
BRIG. GEN. PETER DAWKINS, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): We're shoulder to shoulder with heroes here.
TUCKER: And with people who want them recognized.
ROSS PEROT, BUSINESSMAN: For those who fought and almost died, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.
LOIS POPE, DISABLED VETERANS MEMORIAL FDN.: So many Americans who are unaware of the sacrifices that they gave for our democracy and freedom. ANTHONY PRINCIPI, SECRETARY, VETERANS AFFAIRS: We have the greatest fighting force and they're very dedicated, they're very courageous. And it's our responsibility to care for them when they come home.
GARY SINISE, ACTOR: One of the things that we learned from Vietnam is you support the troops no matter who sends them out and no matter where they go.
TUCKER: To care and honor those who have served.
Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: There's more ahead on CNN SUNDAY. "RELIABLE SOURCES" is next, on John Kerry's war record.
Then, "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Among the guests, coalition spokesman Dan Senior and furor over allegations of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
At 2:00 p.m. eastern, "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," profiling the cast of "Friends" as the show concludes its 10-year run.
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