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American Morning
Nation's Midsection Slammed by More Than 80 Tornadoes Over Weekend, Causing Damage in Eight Different States
Aired May 31, 2004 - 08:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
The Midwest pummeled again by tornadoes. The storm system that hit so hard on Sunday still going strong today.
From Iraq, a truce in Kufa shattered with a fierce battle between the insurgents and U.S. forces there.
And beating the odds -- the little boy who amazed his doctors and his family after a risky operation to repair a broken neck. His story this morning on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Hope you're having a good holiday.
It is Memorial Day across the country.
I'm Bill Hemmer along with Heidi Collins.
Soledad has the day off today. We hope she's getting some sleep.
How are you doing?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm doing great.
HEMMER: Yes?
COLLINS: Yes. I'm ready for some barbecue, though.
HEMMER: I bet. OK. Two more hours.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: In a few moments, we'll look at some of what's happening on this Memorial Day across the country. Here in New York City, the city continues to host thousands of sailors for Fleet Week. We'll look at what's being done to make their visit special. They come every year and again this year.
COLLINS: Yes, looking forward to that.
Also, we are going to go to the town of Marengo, Indiana, where tornadoes hit hardest over the weekend. We'll talk to one resident from there and find out how families are coping. HEMMER: And what a tough, tough today it is for them now.
Jack Cafferty has the day off. Filling in for him tornado, Andy Borowitz. In a moment, Andy checks your e-mail, answers, in a few moments, looking at the case of Martha Stewart. That was reported "Newsweek" magazine. We'll get to Andy in a moment here.
In the meantime, though, the nation's mid section slammed by more than 80 tornadoes over the weekend, causing damage in eight different states. Heavy storms and harsh winds battered parts of Kentucky. At least three people died; another missing due to flooding there.
Some of the heaviest damage came in southern Indiana. Storms killed one person. Dozens of homes were destroyed there, as well. In a moment, we'll talk to an eyewitness there, a resident of the small town of Marengo, Indiana, so hard hit yesterday, on Sunday.
The first check of the weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: We're going to continue on that same story. The town of Marengo, Indiana, population 800, among the areas hardest hit over the weekend.
How are residents coping there?
Randall Meriwether is live in Marengo to talk about his experience.
And I know the sun up, Randall, good morning to you.
And we certainly appreciate your time.
If you could, for our viewers and the sake of our listening audience here, what do you see this morning in your town, Randall?
RANDALL MERIWETHER, MARENGO, INDIANA: Did you cut out? I didn't hear you.
HEMMER: Yes, Randall, hi.
Bill Hemmer, CNN, New York.
We're going to try it again here. I know the conditions there are still tough going.
If you can hear me, what are you seeing at daybreak, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, everything looks real bad. They're, people are all right. One neighbor didn't make it. Other than that, everything is going to grow back and we'll rebuild, you know? If you're still alive, you've got it made.
HEMMER: How much are you able to recognize of your neighborhood and your town? MERIWETHER: Well, all my neighbors are all right except one that didn't make it.
HEMMER: Tell us...
MERIWETHER: Most of them were gone yesterday.
HEMMER: Did you know that man, the man who was killed?
MERIWETHER: Oh, yes I did.
HEMMER: Tell us about him. Was he a friend of yours, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, a neighbor. It's a small town. You're all neighbors. And since it's over with, I went around and checked and make sure everybody's all right. But as I say, most of the neighbors were gone. I noticed his trailer turned over and the gas was on. I tried to shut it off. It was broke off. Then I realized his trailer was upside down and got in and got the stuff off him, but he was already gone.
HEMMER: Yes. Our condolences to his family; to you, as well, dealing with this.
MERIWETHER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Did you get much of a warning, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, you cut out then. I didn't hear you.
HEMMER: Yes, I apologize. I'll try it again. I'll be patient.
Randall, did you get much of a warning with this storm?
MERIWETHER: It was on TV that there was a tornado warning. And then the power went out. And I went outside. I figured that's the best way to find out. And I heard the wind coming from the west. And it got real strong. I told a woman, I told her to get back inside. And by the time I got in the door, it hit. In a matter of five seconds, it was over with. I come out, looked around and started checking neighbors.
HEMMER: Where did you take cover?
MERIWETHER: Not much to find. I'm glad everybody was gone.
HEMMER: Randall Meriwether is a resident there in the town of Marengo, southern Indiana, about 35 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky; about the midway point between Louisville and Evansville, Indiana, in the southwestern portion of the Hoosier State.
Randall Meriwether, an eyewitness and a resident of Marengo.
Thank you, Randall, and our best to you and everybody else. A huge job ahead tornado.
Now Heidi.
COLLINS: A brutal 25 hour hostage ordeal in the Saudi oil city of Khobar. Twenty-two people are dead. A man believed to be the chief al Qaeda operative in the region claimed responsibility. Saudi security forces stormed this residential building to end the stand-off after word some hostages were being executed.
Forty-one hostages were freed. This man watched the rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VENKATARAMANI BASKAR, WITNESS: Suddenly at four o'clock we started hearing the grenade charges. So they were carrying grenades and I could hear the grenades being rolled on the ground and busting out. That scared me a lot because I could hear tatatatatata, a rolling noise and then a big bang. And the whole building was shaking. So at one point, I thought the building might collapse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: One of the four attackers was captured, but the others escaped.
Thousands of sailors and Marines are spending this Memorial Day in New York City. Their stay is part of what's called Fleet Week. And it's a chance for those in uniform to catch up with visiting family and friends.
Jason Carroll is on the USS Anzio.
He's joining us now live -- good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Heidi.
You know, anyone on this ship will tell you how important it is to get down time for morale. What's even better is when you get to spend that time with family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): It's Fleet Week and Angel Alvarado is following tradition.
ANGEL ALVARADO, USS ANZIO: Going back there, those are our communications antennas.
CARROLL: Giving tours of ship, the USS Anzio.
ALVARADO: And watch your steps. Two steps up.
CARROLL: But this tour is different. This group is Alvarado's family.
MARIA ROSADO, SAILOR'S MOTHER: I'm so proud of him. I never dreamed that he would do all this. ROSA ROSADO-CAMPBELL, SAILOR'S AUNT: Surprised about the amount of responsibility that he has in his hands, you know?
ALVARADO: You still see me as a little boy, is that right?
ROSADO-CAMPBELL: Well, no, no. But, you know, it's like...
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: It's the first time Alvarado has had a chance to have some of his family on board and show them what he does as chief petty officer.
ALVARADO: We have firefighting equipment all throughout the ship.
CARROLL: Alvarado hasn't been to the Middle East yet. But it's likely he'll go soon, an unsettling thought for him and his family.
ALVARADO: It's hard to have to explain something to a family member. But the bottom line is it's my job. I have to do it.
ALVARADO: It's worrisome. But, you know, I also said that god is so good and he's so great that he's going to protect him whatever he does.
SONIA ACEVEDO, SAILOR'S FAMILY FRIEND: He should stay here. He shouldn't go anywhere, as far as we're concerned.
CARROLL: For the time being, they're grateful to have him here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you so much. You know I do.
CARROLL: And treasuring their time with him now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: A nice moment there with the Alvarado family. Most of the men and women out here will get about a week of down time. Then some of these ships will actually be heading back to the Middle East. Some of the ships will be like the USS Anzio, heading back to their home ports for a little bit more training -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Any idea, Jason, when these sailors will get to see their family again, who are obviously so very, very proud of them?
CARROLL: Oh, absolutely. It was especially nice to see the Alvarado family. You really get a sense of how proud there are, but, also, you also get a sense, Heidi, about how worried they are for these sailors to be going overseas.
COLLINS: All right, hopefully they'll get to be reunited once again very, very soon.
Jason Carroll, thanks so much this morning.
CARROLL: All right.
HEMMER: Heidi, about 10 minutes past the hour now.
As Americans pay tribute today to those who fought and died in previous wars, a new book is a monument of sorts to the service and the sacrifice of African-Americans, constructed in their own words. It's called "We Were There: Voices of African-American Veterans from World War 2 to the War In Iraq."
The author, journalist Yvonne Latty, is with us now in New York, along with Janet Pennick, a Gulf War veteran of 1991, the first Persian Gulf War; and Major Anthony LaSure, a former Air Force pilot, now with the New Jersey Air National Guard.
Nice to see you, Major.
Good morning.
And thanks for taking time from your holiday tornado.
Let's start with you, Yvonne.
You're the one who wrote the book. What major changes have you seen in attitude or in actions in the U.S. military regarding blacks?
YVONNE LATTY, AUTHOR, "WE WERE THERE": Well, during World War 2, African-Americans were -- weren't even considered good enough to die for our country. And today you have people like Anthony LaSure, Major Anthony LaSure, entering the first Iraq war. The second, the first half of the Iraq war, the first part of the conflict, when you turned your television set on, the face that you saw telling America what was going on was Vincent Brookes.
We're coming from a place where African-Americans aren't considered good enough to die for their country to a place where we're the face telling the world what's going on.
HEMMER: What does that say to you about American society tornado?
LATTY: We've come a long way. We have definitely come a long way. There's places we need to go. There's still a struggle. But we are moving forward. And I think if you read "We Were There," you see where we came from and where we are today...
HEMMER: And you...
LATTY: And that's a cause of celebration.
HEMMER: You have a true sense of pride, too.
LATTY: Yes, I do.
HEMMER: I can hear it in your voice.
LATTY: Yes, I do! Yes, I do! HEMMER: That's what I'm looking for.
LATTY: Yes!
HEMMER: Janet, tell me about your experience back in 1991, the first Persian Gulf War. You say you felt like you were going to be killed or possibly die every day.
Why did you have that feeling?
JANET PENNICK, GULF WAR VETERAN: Oh, as soon as we landed in Saudi Arabia, we were under fire. There were scud missiles over and we had to run for cover. We didn't know where to run. We'd just landed. So it was, it was just frightening. We found out later the Patriots were right there. They were hitting the scuds. We didn't know what was going on.
So we -- it was just a horrendous experience.
HEMMER: Yes, 13 years later you can reflect on that, clearly.
And, Major, what you reflect on are the events of 9/11. You flew an F16 guarding the skies over the U.S., the eastern seaboard.
Were you the only black as a pilot that day?
MAJ. ANTHONY LASURE, NEW JERSEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD: Well, from my unit I was. I'm not sure across America who stood up to go fly that day. But from Atlantic City, I was the only minority.
HEMMER: What did that mean to you that day?
LASURE: It was the single most horrible day of my life. It was, it was disastrous to think that we could be attacked on our own soil. We were all used to doing the mission over, in Operation Southern Watch, for patrolling the Iraqi skies, but we weren't used to doing it here at home.
HEMMER: Yes. We have a picture here. You have four kids, right?
LASURE: Yes, I do.
HEMMER: Your youngest son is Spencer?
LASURE: Yes, he is.
HEMMER: When you reflect on African-American attitudes, blacks in the military today, what sort of example are you trying to set for him, if he decides to serve at some point in his adult life?
LASURE: Well, I would like all my children and all of the children across the nation to want to be the best. Forget about the fact that you're African-American, because you know you are. Just be on the pointy end. And we need more African-American youth to get on the pointy end, especially in the Air Force. And the pointy end, I mean the operational side, flying the fighters, the next generation fighters, and maybe spacecraft.
HEMMER: Oh, I like that. Very good.
Janet, do you think we are less colorblind tornado?
PENNICK: Yes, I do. Yes.
HEMMER: Where do you see it?
PENNICK: The promotions are there. We're coming to the forefront, just like Anthony said. We do have majors, captains, lieutenant colonels, colonels. My, I have a brother that was a lieutenant colonel. Years ago, you just didn't see that to the forefront.
HEMMER: Very, a point well taken. Yes.
How's your enthusiasm?
LATTY: My enthusiasm is high. I mean I think "We Were There" is an important book. I think people need to know the contributions of African-American veterans. We've been there since the Revolutionary War and we're there today and it's time to celebrate that.
HEMMER: Thanks.
"We Were There" is the name of the book. Yvonne Latty, Janet Pennick and Major Anthony LaSure, thanks all three of you. And have a great holiday, OK?
PENNICK: Thank you.
LATTY: Thank you.
LASURE: Thanks.
HEMMER: Nice to chat with you -- here's Heidi.
COLLINS: Fourteen minutes past the hour now and here's what's happening in other news.
A deadly car bombing in Baghdad. At least two people killed, more than a dozen others injured. The blast taking place on a road commonly used by coalition forces and Iraqi officials.
And U.S. troops continue to battle fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Two American soldiers killed in overnight clashes in Kufa. Military officials say about 45 insurgents were killed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of American soldiers are commemorating Memorial Day in Iraq. General Ricardo Sanchez spoke to U.S. troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad earlier today. General Sanchez remembered the fallen soldiers, calling them American heroes who laid down their lives so Iraqis could enjoy freedom. Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in South Africa. He and his wife took refuge in Jamaica following a coup in Haiti three months ago. Aristide said South Africa would be his temporary home, until he can safely go back to Haiti. South African President Thabo Mbeke and a delegation of officials welcomed the ousted president.
The price of the Summer Olympics in Athens will apparently cost the country of Greece a whole lot more than expected. The country's finance minister told a newspaper the Games are reportedly costly $1 billion more because of unexpected delays in construction and increased security expenses. The official says Greece's image has been hurt by the delays. The games are scheduled for August 13 through the 29.
And huge crowds of excited British fans welcomed Harry Potter to London. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard, signed autographs at the premier yesterday as fans flocked to catch the latest installment. Author J.K. Rawling was there, too. The U.S. premier was last week. And if you listen to our 90 Second Pop, folks, they say there could be some scary moments for little Daniel there.
HEMMER: Yes? Is that so?
COLLINS: Well, actually, it's Daniel who says that.
HEMMER: Yes?
COLLINS: That he might not make it through the last book.
HEMMER: And your son's afraid of the dark?
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: Nothing new there, huh?
COLLINS: He loves the movies but...
HEMMER: What is he, three?
COLLINS: Yes. So he loves the movies but just when they turn the lights down there's a problem.
HEMMER: Yes, good (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Jack Cafferty has the holiday off today.
Time to check in now with Andy Borowitz and the Question of the Day.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Well...
HEMMER: This should be good.
BOROWITZ: Oh, my gosh.
HEMMER: Martha Stewart's on the mind, huh?
BOROWITZ: Yes, well, "Newsweek" reports that Martha Stewart would like to do community service instead of jail time. I know, a shocker. And the question is what community service should Martha Stewart do? And boy do you have some great ideas.
Patricia from Madison, Alabama says: "Martha Stewart could use her cleaning skills in community service by cleaning up the streets and roadways. I'd like to see Martha with a pole in her hand picking up all the paper and cans along the highway." Maybe in one of those orange jumpsuits. That's my contribution, by the way.
Marj from Williamstown, West Virginia says -- this is an interesting one: "Rather than tear down the prison in Iraq, have Martha redecorate it." Hmmm. That seems like an idea that would please everybody.
And Laurie from Warren, Michigan says: "Martha Stewart should do jail time. She is no different than the rest of us. It makes me sick." So I guess the Abu Ghraib thing will not work for Laurie.
And finally, Zephyr -- I love that name. That's awesome. Zephyr from Honolulu, Hawaii: "I think Martha's community service should be teaching George Bush how to ride a bike without training wheels. It may be hard work, but someone has to do it."
HEMMER: Zephyr's up early, huh?
BOROWITZ: Zephyr is working on it.
HEMMER: It's got to be five in the morning out there.
BOROWITZ: He's working it.
HEMMER: Pacific Coast time.
BOROWITZ: Have to get that Question of the Day.
HEMMER: The art of science -- I'm sorry, this is "Newsweek" magazine, right?
BOROWITZ: Right.
HEMMER: The art and science of cleaning is something that she could teach?
BOROWITZ: Yes. Well, she's, she's very imaginative to sort of put that together.
COLLINS: Custodial engineering.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
COLLINS: Clear?
BOROWITZ: Clearly. Clearly. We all could -- look, your desk is a mess here. You could use her.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: Three hours of TV, bro, come on.
COLLINS: Where is she? They're nice neat piles.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
All right, keep your e-mails coming, am@cnn.com. We'll get to them throughout the morning.
BOROWITZ: We'll be back.
HEMMER: Good to have you, by the way.
BOROWITZ: Well, thank you.
HEMMER: Thanks for spending time your holiday.
BOROWITZ: Thanks for inviting me to your glass desk.
HEMMER: Yes.
Thank you, Drew.
In a moment here after a break, an amazing story of hope and survival. Some say there's only one way to describe this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If miracle means unusual, unexpected, very rare recovery, this certainly would appropriately be called a miracle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The extraordinary story today of one of teen's roads to recovery, coming up in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead this Memorial Day, a compelling story of heroism from World War 2. We'll talk to a soldier who made an incredible sacrifice to save a friend's life.
HEMMER: Also, seeing green at the movies this weekend and lots and lots of it. We'll talk about the two big green halls this week. And you've got "Shrek 2" out there, "The Day After Tomorrow," both hauled in a bunch of loot.
Back in a moment after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SHREK 2")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told you coming here was a bad idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're my parents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello? They locked you...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: This Memorial Day is, of course, extra special for veterans of World War 2, who now have a monument of their very own in Washington.
Retired Marine Captain Jack Lucas is among the World War 2 vets featured in the book "Medal of Honor." It pays tribute to those who have received the nation's highest military award.
Captain Lucas is joining us now from the site of the newly dedicated memorial in Washington.
Captain, hello to you.
Can you hear me all right?
CAPT. JACK LUCAS (RET.), WORLD WAR 2 MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT: Yes.
COLLINS: I want to ask you, in reading your story in this beautiful book, you were 14 years old when you enlisted. In fact, you had to forge your mother's signature because she said that she wouldn't lie for you.
What was it about serving this country that was so very important to you at such a young age?
LUCAS: Well, I'm standing here in the rain trying to honor talking to you.
COLLINS: What made you want to sign up all those years ago, sir?
LUCAS: I didn't understand you.
COLLINS: I'm going to try it one more time for you.
We're going back to way back when you enlisted in the Marines, all of those years ago.
Can you tell me what was in your heart and why you wanted to serve this country so badly?
LUCAS: Well, I was a 13-year-old boy when the war broke out and I was in military school. And when I heard about Pearl Harbor, a cold chill ran down my spine. And from that day one I became obsessed that I wanted to kill Japanese who harmed my country and I wanted to fight for my country. It wasn't anything stopped me from going to battle. I forged my mother's consent papers and entered the Marine Corps on August the 6th, 1942, at 14 years old.
COLLINS: Yes. It is an incredible story. Tell me what happened, Captain Lucas, when you were 17. There was a grenade and you jumped on top of it to help save some of your fellow soldiers. Tell me about that moment.
LUCAS: Well, I did that for my fellow Marines at Iwo Jima. I had my -- I stowed away on a ship to get to that battle. I wasn't even supposed to be there. But wasn't anything stopping me from going to war. I wanted to serve my country and I felt a supreme duty to do what I could do to get there.
I stowed away on a ship, January the 10th, 1945, went to Iwo Jima, turned myself in before I got to the battlefield and they armed me and they centered me on the ship and let me go to war to kill Japanese.
I did what I could. I saved the lives of my comrades and I did not do it for any type of medals or anything else. I had just become 17 years old February the 14th and this action that I received the Medal of Honor for occurred on February the 20th, 1945, in the battle of Iwo Jima.
COLLINS: Captain Lucas, you are the recipient of the Medal of Honor, along with about 140 so others who are still with us today.
We certainly appreciate your time of service and your time on this very special Memorial Day.
LUCAS: Well, I appreciate that.
COLLINS: Captain Lucas, thank you again.
All right, have a great...
LUCAS: I appreciate the fact that I am one of the living recipients that's in the Medal of Honor portraits of valor book that displays the courage of those living remaining recipients. And I invite anybody to look at the wonderful story of those brave men who fought for America.
COLLINS: It is a beautiful book, sir.
We appreciate your time once again, retried Marine Captain Jack Lucas tornado.
HEMMER: Forging the papers at 17 to enter. So many stories over the weekend, too. I think they had well over 60,000 veterans of the Second World War.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: So many are in their 70s and 80s and into their 90s, as well, on the Mall. It was a heck of a sight and so many...
COLLINS: Especially the pride. I mean you can just see it all over their faces when you look at them.
HEMMER: Very true. I was down at the memorial about a month ago. I really liked it, just the way they fitted it. The line of sight with the Lincoln Memorial, especially at sundown, is really, really well done.
COLLINS: Beautiful.
HEMMER: When I walked up to it, there's so many fountains there...
COLLINS: Yes?
HEMMER: It's something out of Las Vegas or something, the initial impression you get.
COLLINS: Not quite.
HEMMER: Well, the water was such a major component of the Pacific theater in World War 2.
COLLINS: It makes sense, yes.
HEMMER: Hence the reason for Wives Incorporated (ph). It's a stunning memorial, actually. And it does not have the tenor of the Vietnam Memorial.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: It's much more happy and cheerful, as you can see.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here, much of the Midwest took a beating over the weekend from these weather and these storms. Wow! What can we expect today? A forecast in a moment here. Chad says that it's still tough going out there.
Off to your -- if you're off to the beach on this day, stick around, too. We'll show you how to protect yourself against one of the biggest dangers out there. Part of our week long summer safety series.
Back in a moment on this Memorial Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired May 31, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
The Midwest pummeled again by tornadoes. The storm system that hit so hard on Sunday still going strong today.
From Iraq, a truce in Kufa shattered with a fierce battle between the insurgents and U.S. forces there.
And beating the odds -- the little boy who amazed his doctors and his family after a risky operation to repair a broken neck. His story this morning on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Hope you're having a good holiday.
It is Memorial Day across the country.
I'm Bill Hemmer along with Heidi Collins.
Soledad has the day off today. We hope she's getting some sleep.
How are you doing?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm doing great.
HEMMER: Yes?
COLLINS: Yes. I'm ready for some barbecue, though.
HEMMER: I bet. OK. Two more hours.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: In a few moments, we'll look at some of what's happening on this Memorial Day across the country. Here in New York City, the city continues to host thousands of sailors for Fleet Week. We'll look at what's being done to make their visit special. They come every year and again this year.
COLLINS: Yes, looking forward to that.
Also, we are going to go to the town of Marengo, Indiana, where tornadoes hit hardest over the weekend. We'll talk to one resident from there and find out how families are coping. HEMMER: And what a tough, tough today it is for them now.
Jack Cafferty has the day off. Filling in for him tornado, Andy Borowitz. In a moment, Andy checks your e-mail, answers, in a few moments, looking at the case of Martha Stewart. That was reported "Newsweek" magazine. We'll get to Andy in a moment here.
In the meantime, though, the nation's mid section slammed by more than 80 tornadoes over the weekend, causing damage in eight different states. Heavy storms and harsh winds battered parts of Kentucky. At least three people died; another missing due to flooding there.
Some of the heaviest damage came in southern Indiana. Storms killed one person. Dozens of homes were destroyed there, as well. In a moment, we'll talk to an eyewitness there, a resident of the small town of Marengo, Indiana, so hard hit yesterday, on Sunday.
The first check of the weather.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: We're going to continue on that same story. The town of Marengo, Indiana, population 800, among the areas hardest hit over the weekend.
How are residents coping there?
Randall Meriwether is live in Marengo to talk about his experience.
And I know the sun up, Randall, good morning to you.
And we certainly appreciate your time.
If you could, for our viewers and the sake of our listening audience here, what do you see this morning in your town, Randall?
RANDALL MERIWETHER, MARENGO, INDIANA: Did you cut out? I didn't hear you.
HEMMER: Yes, Randall, hi.
Bill Hemmer, CNN, New York.
We're going to try it again here. I know the conditions there are still tough going.
If you can hear me, what are you seeing at daybreak, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, everything looks real bad. They're, people are all right. One neighbor didn't make it. Other than that, everything is going to grow back and we'll rebuild, you know? If you're still alive, you've got it made.
HEMMER: How much are you able to recognize of your neighborhood and your town? MERIWETHER: Well, all my neighbors are all right except one that didn't make it.
HEMMER: Tell us...
MERIWETHER: Most of them were gone yesterday.
HEMMER: Did you know that man, the man who was killed?
MERIWETHER: Oh, yes I did.
HEMMER: Tell us about him. Was he a friend of yours, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, a neighbor. It's a small town. You're all neighbors. And since it's over with, I went around and checked and make sure everybody's all right. But as I say, most of the neighbors were gone. I noticed his trailer turned over and the gas was on. I tried to shut it off. It was broke off. Then I realized his trailer was upside down and got in and got the stuff off him, but he was already gone.
HEMMER: Yes. Our condolences to his family; to you, as well, dealing with this.
MERIWETHER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Did you get much of a warning, Randall?
MERIWETHER: Well, you cut out then. I didn't hear you.
HEMMER: Yes, I apologize. I'll try it again. I'll be patient.
Randall, did you get much of a warning with this storm?
MERIWETHER: It was on TV that there was a tornado warning. And then the power went out. And I went outside. I figured that's the best way to find out. And I heard the wind coming from the west. And it got real strong. I told a woman, I told her to get back inside. And by the time I got in the door, it hit. In a matter of five seconds, it was over with. I come out, looked around and started checking neighbors.
HEMMER: Where did you take cover?
MERIWETHER: Not much to find. I'm glad everybody was gone.
HEMMER: Randall Meriwether is a resident there in the town of Marengo, southern Indiana, about 35 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky; about the midway point between Louisville and Evansville, Indiana, in the southwestern portion of the Hoosier State.
Randall Meriwether, an eyewitness and a resident of Marengo.
Thank you, Randall, and our best to you and everybody else. A huge job ahead tornado.
Now Heidi.
COLLINS: A brutal 25 hour hostage ordeal in the Saudi oil city of Khobar. Twenty-two people are dead. A man believed to be the chief al Qaeda operative in the region claimed responsibility. Saudi security forces stormed this residential building to end the stand-off after word some hostages were being executed.
Forty-one hostages were freed. This man watched the rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VENKATARAMANI BASKAR, WITNESS: Suddenly at four o'clock we started hearing the grenade charges. So they were carrying grenades and I could hear the grenades being rolled on the ground and busting out. That scared me a lot because I could hear tatatatatata, a rolling noise and then a big bang. And the whole building was shaking. So at one point, I thought the building might collapse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: One of the four attackers was captured, but the others escaped.
Thousands of sailors and Marines are spending this Memorial Day in New York City. Their stay is part of what's called Fleet Week. And it's a chance for those in uniform to catch up with visiting family and friends.
Jason Carroll is on the USS Anzio.
He's joining us now live -- good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Heidi.
You know, anyone on this ship will tell you how important it is to get down time for morale. What's even better is when you get to spend that time with family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): It's Fleet Week and Angel Alvarado is following tradition.
ANGEL ALVARADO, USS ANZIO: Going back there, those are our communications antennas.
CARROLL: Giving tours of ship, the USS Anzio.
ALVARADO: And watch your steps. Two steps up.
CARROLL: But this tour is different. This group is Alvarado's family.
MARIA ROSADO, SAILOR'S MOTHER: I'm so proud of him. I never dreamed that he would do all this. ROSA ROSADO-CAMPBELL, SAILOR'S AUNT: Surprised about the amount of responsibility that he has in his hands, you know?
ALVARADO: You still see me as a little boy, is that right?
ROSADO-CAMPBELL: Well, no, no. But, you know, it's like...
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: It's the first time Alvarado has had a chance to have some of his family on board and show them what he does as chief petty officer.
ALVARADO: We have firefighting equipment all throughout the ship.
CARROLL: Alvarado hasn't been to the Middle East yet. But it's likely he'll go soon, an unsettling thought for him and his family.
ALVARADO: It's hard to have to explain something to a family member. But the bottom line is it's my job. I have to do it.
ALVARADO: It's worrisome. But, you know, I also said that god is so good and he's so great that he's going to protect him whatever he does.
SONIA ACEVEDO, SAILOR'S FAMILY FRIEND: He should stay here. He shouldn't go anywhere, as far as we're concerned.
CARROLL: For the time being, they're grateful to have him here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you so much. You know I do.
CARROLL: And treasuring their time with him now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: A nice moment there with the Alvarado family. Most of the men and women out here will get about a week of down time. Then some of these ships will actually be heading back to the Middle East. Some of the ships will be like the USS Anzio, heading back to their home ports for a little bit more training -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Any idea, Jason, when these sailors will get to see their family again, who are obviously so very, very proud of them?
CARROLL: Oh, absolutely. It was especially nice to see the Alvarado family. You really get a sense of how proud there are, but, also, you also get a sense, Heidi, about how worried they are for these sailors to be going overseas.
COLLINS: All right, hopefully they'll get to be reunited once again very, very soon.
Jason Carroll, thanks so much this morning.
CARROLL: All right.
HEMMER: Heidi, about 10 minutes past the hour now.
As Americans pay tribute today to those who fought and died in previous wars, a new book is a monument of sorts to the service and the sacrifice of African-Americans, constructed in their own words. It's called "We Were There: Voices of African-American Veterans from World War 2 to the War In Iraq."
The author, journalist Yvonne Latty, is with us now in New York, along with Janet Pennick, a Gulf War veteran of 1991, the first Persian Gulf War; and Major Anthony LaSure, a former Air Force pilot, now with the New Jersey Air National Guard.
Nice to see you, Major.
Good morning.
And thanks for taking time from your holiday tornado.
Let's start with you, Yvonne.
You're the one who wrote the book. What major changes have you seen in attitude or in actions in the U.S. military regarding blacks?
YVONNE LATTY, AUTHOR, "WE WERE THERE": Well, during World War 2, African-Americans were -- weren't even considered good enough to die for our country. And today you have people like Anthony LaSure, Major Anthony LaSure, entering the first Iraq war. The second, the first half of the Iraq war, the first part of the conflict, when you turned your television set on, the face that you saw telling America what was going on was Vincent Brookes.
We're coming from a place where African-Americans aren't considered good enough to die for their country to a place where we're the face telling the world what's going on.
HEMMER: What does that say to you about American society tornado?
LATTY: We've come a long way. We have definitely come a long way. There's places we need to go. There's still a struggle. But we are moving forward. And I think if you read "We Were There," you see where we came from and where we are today...
HEMMER: And you...
LATTY: And that's a cause of celebration.
HEMMER: You have a true sense of pride, too.
LATTY: Yes, I do.
HEMMER: I can hear it in your voice.
LATTY: Yes, I do! Yes, I do! HEMMER: That's what I'm looking for.
LATTY: Yes!
HEMMER: Janet, tell me about your experience back in 1991, the first Persian Gulf War. You say you felt like you were going to be killed or possibly die every day.
Why did you have that feeling?
JANET PENNICK, GULF WAR VETERAN: Oh, as soon as we landed in Saudi Arabia, we were under fire. There were scud missiles over and we had to run for cover. We didn't know where to run. We'd just landed. So it was, it was just frightening. We found out later the Patriots were right there. They were hitting the scuds. We didn't know what was going on.
So we -- it was just a horrendous experience.
HEMMER: Yes, 13 years later you can reflect on that, clearly.
And, Major, what you reflect on are the events of 9/11. You flew an F16 guarding the skies over the U.S., the eastern seaboard.
Were you the only black as a pilot that day?
MAJ. ANTHONY LASURE, NEW JERSEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD: Well, from my unit I was. I'm not sure across America who stood up to go fly that day. But from Atlantic City, I was the only minority.
HEMMER: What did that mean to you that day?
LASURE: It was the single most horrible day of my life. It was, it was disastrous to think that we could be attacked on our own soil. We were all used to doing the mission over, in Operation Southern Watch, for patrolling the Iraqi skies, but we weren't used to doing it here at home.
HEMMER: Yes. We have a picture here. You have four kids, right?
LASURE: Yes, I do.
HEMMER: Your youngest son is Spencer?
LASURE: Yes, he is.
HEMMER: When you reflect on African-American attitudes, blacks in the military today, what sort of example are you trying to set for him, if he decides to serve at some point in his adult life?
LASURE: Well, I would like all my children and all of the children across the nation to want to be the best. Forget about the fact that you're African-American, because you know you are. Just be on the pointy end. And we need more African-American youth to get on the pointy end, especially in the Air Force. And the pointy end, I mean the operational side, flying the fighters, the next generation fighters, and maybe spacecraft.
HEMMER: Oh, I like that. Very good.
Janet, do you think we are less colorblind tornado?
PENNICK: Yes, I do. Yes.
HEMMER: Where do you see it?
PENNICK: The promotions are there. We're coming to the forefront, just like Anthony said. We do have majors, captains, lieutenant colonels, colonels. My, I have a brother that was a lieutenant colonel. Years ago, you just didn't see that to the forefront.
HEMMER: Very, a point well taken. Yes.
How's your enthusiasm?
LATTY: My enthusiasm is high. I mean I think "We Were There" is an important book. I think people need to know the contributions of African-American veterans. We've been there since the Revolutionary War and we're there today and it's time to celebrate that.
HEMMER: Thanks.
"We Were There" is the name of the book. Yvonne Latty, Janet Pennick and Major Anthony LaSure, thanks all three of you. And have a great holiday, OK?
PENNICK: Thank you.
LATTY: Thank you.
LASURE: Thanks.
HEMMER: Nice to chat with you -- here's Heidi.
COLLINS: Fourteen minutes past the hour now and here's what's happening in other news.
A deadly car bombing in Baghdad. At least two people killed, more than a dozen others injured. The blast taking place on a road commonly used by coalition forces and Iraqi officials.
And U.S. troops continue to battle fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Two American soldiers killed in overnight clashes in Kufa. Military officials say about 45 insurgents were killed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of American soldiers are commemorating Memorial Day in Iraq. General Ricardo Sanchez spoke to U.S. troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad earlier today. General Sanchez remembered the fallen soldiers, calling them American heroes who laid down their lives so Iraqis could enjoy freedom. Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in South Africa. He and his wife took refuge in Jamaica following a coup in Haiti three months ago. Aristide said South Africa would be his temporary home, until he can safely go back to Haiti. South African President Thabo Mbeke and a delegation of officials welcomed the ousted president.
The price of the Summer Olympics in Athens will apparently cost the country of Greece a whole lot more than expected. The country's finance minister told a newspaper the Games are reportedly costly $1 billion more because of unexpected delays in construction and increased security expenses. The official says Greece's image has been hurt by the delays. The games are scheduled for August 13 through the 29.
And huge crowds of excited British fans welcomed Harry Potter to London. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard, signed autographs at the premier yesterday as fans flocked to catch the latest installment. Author J.K. Rawling was there, too. The U.S. premier was last week. And if you listen to our 90 Second Pop, folks, they say there could be some scary moments for little Daniel there.
HEMMER: Yes? Is that so?
COLLINS: Well, actually, it's Daniel who says that.
HEMMER: Yes?
COLLINS: That he might not make it through the last book.
HEMMER: And your son's afraid of the dark?
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: Nothing new there, huh?
COLLINS: He loves the movies but...
HEMMER: What is he, three?
COLLINS: Yes. So he loves the movies but just when they turn the lights down there's a problem.
HEMMER: Yes, good (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Jack Cafferty has the holiday off today.
Time to check in now with Andy Borowitz and the Question of the Day.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Well...
HEMMER: This should be good.
BOROWITZ: Oh, my gosh.
HEMMER: Martha Stewart's on the mind, huh?
BOROWITZ: Yes, well, "Newsweek" reports that Martha Stewart would like to do community service instead of jail time. I know, a shocker. And the question is what community service should Martha Stewart do? And boy do you have some great ideas.
Patricia from Madison, Alabama says: "Martha Stewart could use her cleaning skills in community service by cleaning up the streets and roadways. I'd like to see Martha with a pole in her hand picking up all the paper and cans along the highway." Maybe in one of those orange jumpsuits. That's my contribution, by the way.
Marj from Williamstown, West Virginia says -- this is an interesting one: "Rather than tear down the prison in Iraq, have Martha redecorate it." Hmmm. That seems like an idea that would please everybody.
And Laurie from Warren, Michigan says: "Martha Stewart should do jail time. She is no different than the rest of us. It makes me sick." So I guess the Abu Ghraib thing will not work for Laurie.
And finally, Zephyr -- I love that name. That's awesome. Zephyr from Honolulu, Hawaii: "I think Martha's community service should be teaching George Bush how to ride a bike without training wheels. It may be hard work, but someone has to do it."
HEMMER: Zephyr's up early, huh?
BOROWITZ: Zephyr is working on it.
HEMMER: It's got to be five in the morning out there.
BOROWITZ: He's working it.
HEMMER: Pacific Coast time.
BOROWITZ: Have to get that Question of the Day.
HEMMER: The art of science -- I'm sorry, this is "Newsweek" magazine, right?
BOROWITZ: Right.
HEMMER: The art and science of cleaning is something that she could teach?
BOROWITZ: Yes. Well, she's, she's very imaginative to sort of put that together.
COLLINS: Custodial engineering.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
COLLINS: Clear?
BOROWITZ: Clearly. Clearly. We all could -- look, your desk is a mess here. You could use her.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: Three hours of TV, bro, come on.
COLLINS: Where is she? They're nice neat piles.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
All right, keep your e-mails coming, am@cnn.com. We'll get to them throughout the morning.
BOROWITZ: We'll be back.
HEMMER: Good to have you, by the way.
BOROWITZ: Well, thank you.
HEMMER: Thanks for spending time your holiday.
BOROWITZ: Thanks for inviting me to your glass desk.
HEMMER: Yes.
Thank you, Drew.
In a moment here after a break, an amazing story of hope and survival. Some say there's only one way to describe this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If miracle means unusual, unexpected, very rare recovery, this certainly would appropriately be called a miracle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The extraordinary story today of one of teen's roads to recovery, coming up in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead this Memorial Day, a compelling story of heroism from World War 2. We'll talk to a soldier who made an incredible sacrifice to save a friend's life.
HEMMER: Also, seeing green at the movies this weekend and lots and lots of it. We'll talk about the two big green halls this week. And you've got "Shrek 2" out there, "The Day After Tomorrow," both hauled in a bunch of loot.
Back in a moment after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SHREK 2")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told you coming here was a bad idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're my parents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello? They locked you...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: This Memorial Day is, of course, extra special for veterans of World War 2, who now have a monument of their very own in Washington.
Retired Marine Captain Jack Lucas is among the World War 2 vets featured in the book "Medal of Honor." It pays tribute to those who have received the nation's highest military award.
Captain Lucas is joining us now from the site of the newly dedicated memorial in Washington.
Captain, hello to you.
Can you hear me all right?
CAPT. JACK LUCAS (RET.), WORLD WAR 2 MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT: Yes.
COLLINS: I want to ask you, in reading your story in this beautiful book, you were 14 years old when you enlisted. In fact, you had to forge your mother's signature because she said that she wouldn't lie for you.
What was it about serving this country that was so very important to you at such a young age?
LUCAS: Well, I'm standing here in the rain trying to honor talking to you.
COLLINS: What made you want to sign up all those years ago, sir?
LUCAS: I didn't understand you.
COLLINS: I'm going to try it one more time for you.
We're going back to way back when you enlisted in the Marines, all of those years ago.
Can you tell me what was in your heart and why you wanted to serve this country so badly?
LUCAS: Well, I was a 13-year-old boy when the war broke out and I was in military school. And when I heard about Pearl Harbor, a cold chill ran down my spine. And from that day one I became obsessed that I wanted to kill Japanese who harmed my country and I wanted to fight for my country. It wasn't anything stopped me from going to battle. I forged my mother's consent papers and entered the Marine Corps on August the 6th, 1942, at 14 years old.
COLLINS: Yes. It is an incredible story. Tell me what happened, Captain Lucas, when you were 17. There was a grenade and you jumped on top of it to help save some of your fellow soldiers. Tell me about that moment.
LUCAS: Well, I did that for my fellow Marines at Iwo Jima. I had my -- I stowed away on a ship to get to that battle. I wasn't even supposed to be there. But wasn't anything stopping me from going to war. I wanted to serve my country and I felt a supreme duty to do what I could do to get there.
I stowed away on a ship, January the 10th, 1945, went to Iwo Jima, turned myself in before I got to the battlefield and they armed me and they centered me on the ship and let me go to war to kill Japanese.
I did what I could. I saved the lives of my comrades and I did not do it for any type of medals or anything else. I had just become 17 years old February the 14th and this action that I received the Medal of Honor for occurred on February the 20th, 1945, in the battle of Iwo Jima.
COLLINS: Captain Lucas, you are the recipient of the Medal of Honor, along with about 140 so others who are still with us today.
We certainly appreciate your time of service and your time on this very special Memorial Day.
LUCAS: Well, I appreciate that.
COLLINS: Captain Lucas, thank you again.
All right, have a great...
LUCAS: I appreciate the fact that I am one of the living recipients that's in the Medal of Honor portraits of valor book that displays the courage of those living remaining recipients. And I invite anybody to look at the wonderful story of those brave men who fought for America.
COLLINS: It is a beautiful book, sir.
We appreciate your time once again, retried Marine Captain Jack Lucas tornado.
HEMMER: Forging the papers at 17 to enter. So many stories over the weekend, too. I think they had well over 60,000 veterans of the Second World War.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: So many are in their 70s and 80s and into their 90s, as well, on the Mall. It was a heck of a sight and so many...
COLLINS: Especially the pride. I mean you can just see it all over their faces when you look at them.
HEMMER: Very true. I was down at the memorial about a month ago. I really liked it, just the way they fitted it. The line of sight with the Lincoln Memorial, especially at sundown, is really, really well done.
COLLINS: Beautiful.
HEMMER: When I walked up to it, there's so many fountains there...
COLLINS: Yes?
HEMMER: It's something out of Las Vegas or something, the initial impression you get.
COLLINS: Not quite.
HEMMER: Well, the water was such a major component of the Pacific theater in World War 2.
COLLINS: It makes sense, yes.
HEMMER: Hence the reason for Wives Incorporated (ph). It's a stunning memorial, actually. And it does not have the tenor of the Vietnam Memorial.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: It's much more happy and cheerful, as you can see.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here, much of the Midwest took a beating over the weekend from these weather and these storms. Wow! What can we expect today? A forecast in a moment here. Chad says that it's still tough going out there.
Off to your -- if you're off to the beach on this day, stick around, too. We'll show you how to protect yourself against one of the biggest dangers out there. Part of our week long summer safety series.
Back in a moment on this Memorial Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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