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War in Iraq Divides Americans

Aired May 26, 2007 - 22:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: If we lose the (INAUDIBLE) withdrawal as some of my Democrat friends want to, they're going to follow us home.

JOHN EDWARDS: I will stand strongly and proudly against this president because he's wrong. The war needs to end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: No holiday resting. Presidential candidates criss-cross the country. Iraq dividing them. Just as it does America.

No "welcome" signs here. U. Mass students and faculty show a former Bush aide the door.

Also, one story, seven GI's, how they gave their lives to save others, coming at you from the CNN NEWSROOM.

And hello, again, everybody I'm Rick Sanchez in the CNN NEWSROOM. It is Memorial Day weekend. And this year again, as Americans, we find ourselves in an uncomfortable spot, really. We're pausing to remember our combat dead while we struggle with an unpopular war where just this month, 101 troops have been killed.

Politics plays a big part of this story today. But before we take you there, let's not forget that two U.S. troops are still missing and haven't been seen or heard from in two weeks. This weekend, maybe more than most, it's important that we show you who they are. Private Byron Fouty, 19-years old, Specialist Alex Jimenez, 25-years old.

Here's Jimenez's mother today, sharing her struggle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA DURAN, SPEC. ALEX JIMENEZ'S MOTHER: I say, God, I put my son in your hand. You have the power. You can do everything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Well, this week, it was made official, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are paid for, at least until the funding issue comes up again in September. President Bush signed the $120 billion war supplement into law at Camp David. And today at West Point, Vice President Dick Cheney assured the class of newly commissioned officers that providing for them is priority 1.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Last night, President Bush signed into law the war supplemental that we worked hard to achieve. As we look to the future, I want to say this to the graduates and to all the men and women of the corps and to the families gathered in this stadium today. Whatever lies ahead, the United States Army will have all of the equipment, supplies, manpower, training, and support essential to victory. I give you this assurance on behalf of the president. You soldier for him and he soldier for you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Now this is an important issue, so we wanted to break it down for you. If you're wondering how the presidential hopefuls in Congress voted on the funding bill, there's some surprises by the way, but here's the breakdown.

Senators McCain and Biden voted for it. So did Representative Tancredo and Hunter. Against, Senators Clinton, Obama, and Dodd. Congressman Paul and Kucinich voted no as expected in their case.

By the way, tomorrow in the NEWSROOM, the only GOP presidential candidate to oppose the war in Iraq, there he is. Been a bit of a rock star of late, Republican Congressman Ron Paul. He rose from the shadows and has created quite a buzz for himself. He challenged Rudy Giuliani in the recent debate and got challenged back. I'm going to do my best to challenge him journalistically tomorrow night for you, Ron Paul, our Sunday spotlight, here.

So after the vote and on this Memorial Day weekend, what are presidential candidates saying about Iraq? Specifically from Iowa, the argument of our times continues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The war is the issue on the campaign trail, especially Memorial Day weekend. Democrat John Edwards got things started early this week when he blasted White House policies.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The war on terror is a slogan designed only for politics. It is not a strategy to make America safe. It's a bumper sticker, not a plan.

SANCHEZ: After getting lots of attention for saying that, he ramped up his comments, this time in Iowa.

EDWARDS: I will stand strongly and proudly against this president, because he's wrong about this war. This war needs to end. SANCHEZ: Also in Iowa, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Iraq, for her, politically, a bigger challenge because she initially voted for the war.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Iraq has been such a difficult challenge, because the president will not change course. And so, we are doing everything we can to persuade him to do that.

SANCHEZ: Also in Iowa and also on message, Democratic long-shot Joe Biden.

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The major issue that I've been working on is to end the war in Iraq, because until we end the war in Iraq, we're spending $100 billion a year on that war every year.

SANCHEZ: But Republican John McCain couldn't disagree more. He is firmly entrenching himself even further as a pro-Iraq War candidate by criticizing Democrats like Hillary Clinton, who voted against the Iraq War funding measure.

Here's what he said, "This vote may win favor with MoveOn and liberal primary voters, but it's the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda."

Joining us now is one of my favorite smart guys, Mike Allen, chief political correspondent for politico.com. Start with Hillary Clinton. Are you surprised by her position and the fact that somebody can use it now to say she voted against it before she voted for it?

MIKE ALLEN, THEPOLITICO.COM: Well, Rick, people definitely will say that. And Senator Clinton's vote was one of the biggest pieces of suspense going into the final vote on the war spending bill. Senator Clinton had indicated that she would vote for it. It was clear the bill was going to pass, so this is probably politically smart for her now. Certainly she's being beaten up as your viewers know from the left of her party.

But in the general election, could it create real troubles for her? She'll deal with that if and when she gets there. You've got to get there in order to have that problem.

SANCHEZ: You know what I was surprised by? I was surprised by Biden's vote. I mean, he's the one who first called for Rumsfeld's resignation. He's been anti-war all the way through. What's your take?

ALLEN: Well, Senator Biden had a very intellectual argument it for. He's been as tough, as you know, on this president as anyone.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

ALLEN: But he said one thing that he's been advocating for, he's gone on the radio and other places to advocate for increased armor for the vehicles for the troops. So he's gotten into the real specifics of what these men and women need. Like those young people we saw today at West Point where Vice President Cheney was speaking. Rick, it's sobering to think the fact that every one -- almost certainly everyone of the those young soldiers is going to be in Iraq. Probably soon. Probably dealing with things like how to protect a convoy, how to protect people driving through the airport...

SANCHEZ: Well, let me ask you something about Cheney. Let me press on this a little bit. Is Cheney the right guy to have out giving this speech, given that he's so mired in so many of the supposed bad choices that have taken place in Iraq?

ALLEN: Well, Rick, that's an astute point. And you can see why he was at West Point, where he obviously got a good reception. And he's not backing away from the role that the vice president has played since the very beginning of this administration, which is to warn Americans of what could be happening.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. I guess the question, though, the repercussions politically that can be used later on. I mean, he's not running, and the president isn't, but a lot of other Republicans are.

And let me take you to the other side now. Edwards, when he used that bumper sticker quote this week, saying that essentially the war on terror is more of a slogan or a bumper sticker than it is an actual strategy or tactic, wise politically to use such heated words?

ALLEN: Well, Rick, this shows how different Senator Edwards is this year from he was when he ran last time. When he ran last time, he was running as the most conservative Democrat in the field. This time, as your viewers well know, he's running as the most liberal in the field.

Some criticism today from veterans groups for making the points that you saw him make on Memorial Day weekend. Senator Edwards contending it's a higher form of patriotism to look out for the troops, but I'm so glad you showed those two missing soldiers this weekend. Very inspiring stories we're seeing this weekend. One that really hit me in the gut was a story about some Marines in Iraq...

SANCHEZ: Yes.

ALLEN: ...who are voluntarily reenlisting without a bonus.

SANCHEZ: You should see -- let me invite you to watch the one that we've put together. It's coming up here at 10:30. We're going to spend a half hour telling a story of those Marines as well.

ALLEN: Mark it down. I'm very looking forward to that. That looks like a great special.

SANCHEZ: Thanks so much. By the way, I should just mention Dems are up 126 percent in some of their campaign contributions, which is interesting when you factor in the point about whether the war on terror comment is going to hurt them or help, at least at this point. Mike Allen, can't wait to talk to you again.

ALLEN: Great coverage, Rick.

SANCHEZ: By the way, we want you to join us right here on CNN. The candidates are going to be debating the first real battleground live from New Hampshire. It's a two-parter. First, the Democrats battle on Sunday, June 3rd. Then the Republicans go at it Tuesday, June 5th. And you'll see it where? Only on CNN, of course.

Students were angry, people in the crowd made their sentiments known, but President Bush's former Chief of Staff Andy Card seemed unfazed by all the boos and the cat calls. Here it is. We're going to let you listen to it.

This is a tough crowd. Even some of the professors seemed to be holding placards behind him there. That response at the University of Massachusetts presented Card with an honorary doctorate. Protestors blamed Card in part they say or they wrote for the Iraq War.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: Unless you've lost a child, in our case, it's hard to understand the pain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: New graves, new tears. This Memorial Day, we take you to section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.

BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It got my cheek. Then and they were dragging me off the sidewalk. They were dragging me everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: One brave little girl recovering after getting attacked by a pair of dogs. Now her city is making sure it doesn't happen again.

And he's a true hero in our eyes. You'll meet a doctor who gives his all for those who have nothing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Without uttering a word, this exhibit at a Chicago park is leaving many people speechless. This is a tribute to U.S. troops killed in Iraq. More than 3400 pair of combat boots line an area about the size of two football fields now. Each pair is tagged with the name of a fallen soldier. The display ends Monday. And it's gotten so large, this is the last time it's going to be shown in its entirety. Next week, the boots are going to be divided and then sent to individual states of the fallen soldiers.

Now to a place that's at the center of Memorial Day's mourning. At Arlington National Cemetery, U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried in section 60. This is a sad coincidence that most of the U.S. troops buried there died in their teens. Here's CNN's Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY (voice- over): Arlington National Cemetery. This is section 60, where the orderly solitude gives way to pictures, mementos, teddy bears and toys - memories across the nearly 400 graves of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, a constant stream of people stopping to pay their respects.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most important, precious gift they could possibly give, and that is the life of their child.

STARR: Ray and Lisa Philippon have found community here at the grave of their 22-year-old son, Lawrence, killed on Mother's Day two years ago in Iraq.

LISA PHILIPPON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: It's an unbearable pain. Unless you've lost a child, in our case, it's hard to understand the pain. And so, we come here.

STARR (on camera): Here at section 60, there is utter heartbreak and grief. But there also is great love from the buddies who stop by here to visit their friends who didn't make it home alive from the war, to the families, especially the moms and dads who come here to visit their children, many of whom died so very young.

STARR (voice-over): More than 250 teenaged U.S. troops, 18 and 19 years old, have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Terri and Richard Clifton's son, Chad, was killed by a mortar in Iraq.

TERRI CLIFTON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Chad was 19. The last day I saw him was the day after his 19th birthday.

STARR: Richard remembers a teenager who listened to music from another war while he was on patrol. RICHARD CLIFTON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: This war didn't have its own soundtrack, and they kind of had to go back and adopt the soundtrack for Vietnam. And they listened to a lot of that retro music.

STARR: But this teenage Marine, like his buddies, wanted to serve. But he had an old man's sense of destiny.

Terri has compiled a book of Chad's e-mails and instant messages. His last letter home.

TERRI CLIFTON: "If you're reading this letter, it means I wasn't lucky this time. Everyone chooses their path, and mine has led me here.

"I just want you to know there's nothing I can write to express how sorry I am to have put this on you. I know you love me, and this will hurt you."

STARR: At section 60, the children walk, the parents grieve and buddies remember. And one more time, from another war, another generation pauses to say thank you.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Arlington National Cemetery.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: For 20 years, the veterans group Rolling Thunder has been organizing events like this wreath-laying ceremony held today at the Navy Memorial in Washington. Their mission -- to bring awareness to POW and MIA issues. When the group formed in 1987, about 2500 bikers took part in their Memorial Day rally. This Monday, more than 200,000 people are expected to participate in the traditional ride to the National Mall. The roar of all the bikes has been described as so loud, it sounds like a B-52 strike.

We can't tell you about Memorial Day celebrations without going to Chicago for its annual parade. The event has long been considered one of the country's largest Memorial Day observations. Overcast skies forced the military to cancel a flyover, but it didn't dampen anything else. Thousands turned out.

By the way, still to come, we are just now getting some information that's new to us being confirmed that actress Lindsay Lohan has been cited for driving under the influence. Beverly Hills police are now saying she lost control of her Mercedes convertible, hit a curb. There's way more to this story. It may involve cocaine, we're now hearing. We'll get the details. We'll have them for you right here after the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: All right, we're here in "B" control following what is now a breaking story for us. We've got new information on this situation that we've been following for you earlier in the evening. Actress Lindsay Lohan has now been cited on suspension of driving under the influence. And it's confirmed and that might only be the beginning.

Beverly Hills police have now said in news conferences that we've been monitoring that she lost control of her Mercedes convertible and struck a curb. A police spokesperson is also now saying that they have also found a drug that they've initially identified as cocaine in the vehicle.

The actress underwent a stint in rehab just earlier this year. Again, that's a developing story. As we get more information, we will be sharing it with you.

A few other stories on the radar to tell you about. In Pennsylvania, a little girl was mauled, bitten in the face, leg, and hand by a neighbor's pit bull while playing outside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIN DICKINSON, ATTACKED BY DOG: The dogs came outside. And they started running after my brother. Then, uh, I got in the middle of it. I jumped in and then they started running after me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The dog's owner, we understand, could be charged under a local dangerous dog law, which includes a $500 fine and a muzzle when the dog is in public as a warning to all parents.

By the way, in Connecticut, a 7-year-old boy with leukemia has one dying wish. Shane Bernier (ph) wants his name on the record books for having collected the most birthday cards. Thousands of people have gone online to help, including an entire middle school class.

(BEIGN VIDEO CLIP0

MATT GIANONI, MCGEE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT: It's nice to know that you're helping a kid out that's struggling and battling through cancer. It just make as difference in your day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Good for him. The record is 350 million cards, by the way. If you want to help him get there, just go to shaneswish.com.

Coming up, he could have made tons in private practice, but this doc chose the road less traveled.

Also this day more than most, they shouldn't be a statistic. I'll bring you the story of "Chopper Down."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We welcome you back. I'm Rick Sanchez here in the CNN NEWSROOM. All this year, CNN is introducing you to some remarkable people. They dedicate their lives to improving or saving the lives of others. So we call them CNN heroes, collectively.

We found one of them in the streets of Phoenix, in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Randy Christensen helps street kids who have no money and no way to pay for a doctor in case they get sick. This is a remarkable story. Here's today's "CNN Hero."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was 10-years old, I decided I'm going to run away from home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been on the streets from 12 till 20.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, it's scary to live on the streets. There's so many drugs and there's violence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I sleep in an abandoned house.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In a shack.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was taken away from my parents when I was like 10-years old.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My dad dropped me off at a dumpster. He told me, don't even think about going back home.

RANDY CHRISTENSEN, DR.: There are as many as five to ten thousand kids on the streets of Arizona. We've turned our heads. We don't look at them in their eyes. Many of the kids are truly forgotten.

I'm Dr. Randy Christensen. I'm the medial director for the Cruise and Health Mobile. We take care of kids on the streets through a medical mobile van. Everything that would be in a regular doctor's office is on the van. All of the kids that are seen by us are seen free of charge. Did you need anything? Did you need a new backpack?

It never really been about the money. I went to medical school thinking that I was going to be a surgeon, but everything that made me stop and think had to do with children and adolescents. I chose to come out on the streets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dr. Christensen, you make this where people actually want to come back and actually want to get help.

CHRISTENSEN: We pull up in the van. And within 5 to 10 minutes, there's 20 or 30 kids coming out of every different alley or different street. You get out there and you see some of these kids, and you talk to them, and you give them a little bit of dignity and respect. And all of a sudden, they open up. It's like a light bulb goes on. And they want to talk. And they want to tell you their story.

Here, let me listen to you. They think you might have a pneumonia. Take a deep breath. They still have that gleam of hope in their eyes. It's that hope that gives you hope. And at the very end, they give you a big hug and they say "thank you". And that means the most to me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Isn't that fabulous? Again, you can nominate somebody you think deserves a "CNN hero" award. All the details are at CNN.com/heroes.

Coming up, some could have been doctors, or lawyers. But they chose service above all and died in Iraq. Our special report, "Chopper Down."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: It is Memorial Day weekend and you're going to hear a lot of stories from military veterans young and not so young. Also, stories about the men and women who died fighting for our country. Bravery and patriotism, loyalty and sacrifice.

I have a story for you that involves a helicopter crash in Iraq. It's more about the people who were on board, what put them there, what else they could have been, and why they were there together that day. This is their story. This is "Chopper Down."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ (voice-over): There is no such thing as a safe job in a combat zone. Only degrees of dangers. And some military units, by their nature, are exposed to the enemy more often than not.

A U.S. Marine Corps casualty evacuation or cas u vac team is one of those units. They fly a tough as nails 40-year-old helicopter into a place where most people want to get away from -- right into combat, where bullets and rockets fly, people bleed, and sometimes die. Their job sounds simple -- get hurt people out. And they almost always have to fight their way to wounded patients.

Camp Pendleton, California, a sprawling U.S. Marine Corps base a world away from Iraq's desert. It's where Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Killeen commands a squadron called the Purple Foxes. They fly the CH- 46.

LT. COL. SHAWN KILLEEN, COMMANDING OFFICER, HMM-364: This is where we'll load the patients and take care of them. And this is the Ford F-150 pickup truck of the fleet. We'll take troops into combat. We'll carry cargo, we'll carry the wounded.

You get on our aircraft with a pulse, you have a 95 percent chance of survival. We don't care if you're American, Iraqi, or the enemy. We're going to do our damnedest to save your life.

SANCHEZ: Did you save enemy?

KILLEEN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Insurgents?

KILLEEN: Insurgents.

SANCHEZ: Could be al Qaeda?

KILLEEN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: You'd put them in that helicopter and you'd get them out of there?

KILLEEN: Without hesitation.

SANCHEZ: For one of his crews, cas u vac was their calling. Purple Fox pilot Captain Jennifer Harris always wanted to fly.

CAPT. JENNIFER HARRIS, USMC: Hi, everyone, it's me. Merry Christmas.

SANCHEZ: She grew up in Swampscott, Massachusetts on the water.

LINDA MACONE, HARRIS' AUNT: Sailing was kind of in her blood. So that's why we decided to take her to Annapolis to see what's that like. SANCHEZ: She chose the Naval Academy over West Point, was drawn to the Marines and eventually helicopters.

LT. ROSIE GOSCINSKI, U.S. NAVY: They have very limited abilities as far as Marine aviation goes. It's very selective. You have to be at the top of your class from Annapolis. I have a photo here of my roommate Captain Jennifer Harris.

SANCHEZ: Navy Lieutenant Rosie Goscinski looked to Harris for inspiration.

GOSCINSKI: She wanted to become a Marine. And specifically, she wanted to become a Marine Corps pilot with all of her heart and soul.

SANCHEZ: And she achieved both?

GOSCINSKI: She did.

SANCHEZ: In Iraq, Harris was a den mother of sorts. A three- tour veteran and mentor to younger pilots or "sticks," as they're called.

HARRIS: As you will find, I've had a great experience. This deployment with being one of the instructors in the squadron and kind of having to take a leadership role.

SANCHEZ: Harris was always one of the first to reach her aircraft.

GOSCINSKI: They would have to sprint across the tarmac about 100 yards. And I was told that they would always race to see who could get their the fastest. And Jen, time and time again would beat them all.

SANCHEZ: And February 7th was no different. At Alphakaydem (ph) Air Base...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said they're going to make a (INAUDIBLE).

SANCHEZ: Between Fallujah and Ramadi, the bell rang.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the bell rings, you go, full bore.

SANCHEZ: An urgent cas u vac call.

KILLEEN: An urgent is loss of life, limb, or eyesight within the hour if you don't get that person to medical facilities.

SANCHEZ: Harris was that day's air mission coordinator. She hand picked her crew for Morphine 1-2, the first helicopter on the line. This crew was tight. Harris bragged to Killeen about her first Lieutenant, Jared Landaker. She said he was that good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was her protege. She's the one identified him to me and said, sure, we've got a rising star. You need to fly with this guy and see what he's got.

SANCHEZ: Landaker spent his entire life overcoming odds. Doctors telling his parents...

JOE LANDAKER, FATHER: It was highly likely that Jared would have been mentally challenged, approximately 85 percent likely that he was going to be mentally retarded. So we took our chances with him. And he did well.

SANCHEZ: Well enough to earn a physics degree, join the Marines, go on to flight school, 5'6" in his socks, he could barely see over the offensive line as a high school quarterback.

LAURA LANDAKER, MOTHER: He had a short man's syndrome. He had a bad attitude, you know. If you said he couldn't do it, he'd prove you wrong.

JASON LANDAKER, BROTHER: He had a swagger, a cockiness to him, but he backed it up, you know, with his accomplishments. And he just had that drive.

SANCHEZ: Landaker always called himself a "patriot. ".

L. LANDAKER: 9/11 did something to him. It irritated him that they had the ability to come over and do this on his ground and everything. And from then on, he did whatever he had to do to get into an air contract.

J. LANDAKER: But he wasn't a fighter. And when he opted for helicopters over other aircraft, his opinion was, I'll take Marines in, but I want to take Marines out.

SANCHEZ: Crew Chief Sergeant Travis Pfister called Harris a buddy.

JESSICA PFISTER, WIFE: He's a lot like him. He would dish it out and she would have a comeback for everything.

SANCHEZ: Other Marines called him "Lunchbox" describing his appetite for food and for life.

PFISTER: His personality was just so huge that people knew who he was.

SANCHEZ: His wife, Jessica Pfister, also a Marine, recruited her husband back into the Marines after taking a civilian detour to work for Boeing.

LORRIE TALLETT, PFISTER'S MOTHER: He loved flying. And when he was out of the military for that year, he was not a happy fellow. He wanted to be helping his fellow Marines. And that's why he went back in.

SANCHEZ: Pfister was a tail gunner.

KILLEEN: You put your best guys back there because the enemy waits until you pass before they shoot at you.

SANCHEZ: Pfister trained Sergeant James Tijerina, T.J. to his friends on the fight line.

LILIA CARR, TIJERINA'S MOTHER: I think a call of duty is what he has had all his life. But he'd tell me over and over again, we're doing a good thing, mom. We're bringing democracy to Iraq. And I said, OK, all right.

SANCHEZ: KGO Radio reporter Greg Jarrett was embedded with the Purple Foxes in Iraq. He interviewed Tijerina in 2005.

GREG JARRETT, KGO RADIO: It wasn't that long ago that James was a student at K.D. High School. Now he's a crew chief on a CH-46 in Iraq and he has experienced his first mortar attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a reality check, you know, but you're always thinking about it, you know, any time. And that's what you signed up for. I guess that's what you have to expect.

SANCHEZ: Corporal Tommy Saba joined the Marines later in life at age 26, but he had a helicopter fascination early on.

BARBARA SABA, MOTHER: Since about seven years old, and we took him to a park there that had a children's ride, helicopters. And you would pull the stick up and it would raise the helicopter and that. And my mother-in-law had a fit because Tommy kept bringing the helicopter up.

SANCHEZ: Based in Okinawa and part of the storied Flying Tigers squadron, Saba was picked to crew a helicopter that ferried former Presidents Bush and Clinton through the tsunami-ravaged areas of Indonesia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He liked to help. And that's the kind of person he was.

SANCHEZ: He extended his service just to do a tour in Iraq. This fight was why he joined the Marines. Called it a privilege.

B. SABA: Tom was flying on his helicopter and said, sir, I can't believe we get paid for doing this. You know, they were seeing such beautiful scenery.

SANCHEZ: Saba had trained with Harris.

B. SABA: Which is probably why he volunteered to go up that day on that plane.

SANCHEZ: Navy hospital Corpsman joined them on cas u vac missions. And there were two docs on this one -- Petty Officer First- Class Gilbert Minjares, Jr. joined the Navy when he was 18. Pursued medicine because his grandmother was a nurse.

ROSA MINJARES, MOTHER: He always wanted to help people. And he would see how grandma would make people feel better and everything. And that's what he wanted to do.

SANCHEZ: A doting husband and father to son, Gilbert III and daughter newborn Miranda.

: My grandson was always asking, where are you going, daddy? And he would say I'm going to work. And this time when he left, he said I'm going to go and fight the bad men.

SANCHEZ: On his first tour in Iraq, he gave salsa lessons to the troops.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was the life of the party. He used to love to dance salsa. They called him "the salsa king."

SANCHEZ: Petty Officer Third Class Manuel Manny Ruiz had been on countless cas u vac missions. This was nothing new.

LISA RUIZ, MOTHER: He loved the Navy. He loved what he did, helping people.

SANCHEZ: This was his second tour. He wore a superman T-shirt under his flight suit. Knew he was saving people, would yell "game on" when a call came.

RUIZ: He said one time a little girl -- he gave her a lollipop and she was hugging on him and everything. And it made him feel good because he helped save her father.

SANCHEZ: This tour, he was working alongside his girlfriend, another field medic, Brandy Jenkins.

RUIZ: She's over there, too. And it's her first tour. So they look out for each other.

SANCHEZ: Harris requested a shift change on the 7th. She was looking ahead to her new assignment teaching ROTC at George Washington University.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was literally her last flight. She was supposed to be still on night duty. She wanted to do day so she could see the people, see the ground.

SANCHEZ: Did you did try and say, look, you're almost out of here, why do you want to do this last mission?

KILLEEN: I did argue with her, but everything she did for the squadron. And being Italian-Scotch mix, you wouldn't want an argument with her.

SANCHEZ: This call, one urgent, and two priority patients in Anbar province, an overcast sky.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe about a mile and a quarter vis.

SANCHEZ: And Morphine 1-2 is skirting below the cloud cover at 1500 feet. They pick up the three wounded and transport them to a field hospital in Balad. The crew heads out, but is called back to deliver desperately needed blood before flying to Fallujah without the cover of night.

(COMMERCIALBREAK)

LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everybody. All seven people aboard a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter today were killed with their C-9 crashed in al Anbar Province. The military says it is still investigating the cause of the crash.

B. SABA: I had my laptop. And the first thing that came up was the CH-46 in flames going down.

MINJARES: That morning when I came home, I saw the helicopter going down, but I just said, you know what, that can't be, that can't be my son, he just got there.

TONY MACONE, HARRIS' UNCLE: The first thing that comes to mind, where did it go down, what was the type of helicopter. And you get that pit in your stomach. And you just have that gut feeling. I mean, because you know -- you know, you know, where your child is in Iraq. You know the province. You know the unit, you know the type of helicopter.

SANCHEZ: The type, CH-46. The name, Morphine 1-2. The crew on board -- gone.

CARR: I decided to check CNN.com. I saw it and I broke down. I said -- I said, that's my son's helicopter. I knew it. I knew it.

J. LANDAKER: Two Marines and a chaplain came to the door. And at that time, you know what they're there for. So they -- they announced. And we knew then it was Jarred and that he wasn't coming home.

PFISTER: I talked to him right before he got on that flight. And I told him don't go. And I've never told him don't go, but I said you're going to get shot down today, baby, don't go. And he just laughed. He'd always said, baby, the crew chief never dies. And I'd said, John, yes, they do, I watch the news.

Oh, you watch too much TV. And he said he loved me and he would send me an e-mail to let me know he got back safe. So I never got the e-mail.

SANCHEZ: The cause of the crash was initially thought to be mechanical failure.

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MULTINATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ: As the investigation has continued, it's now been determined it was not, in fact, the case. That, in fact, it was downed by hostile fire.

SANCHEZ: From a surface-to-air missile. Video of that missile and the crash surfaced on the Internet. Insurgents claimed responsibility. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant Pfister was a tail gunner. You can see from the video that what I would estimate happened is he saw the missile shoot, called for a break turn, you see the aircraft do a break turn, but the missile still tracked on them.

SANCHEZ: Harris fought to maintain the aircraft. From the moment that she got hit until the moment she hit the ground, how much time passed?

KILLEEN: 58 seconds.

SANCHEZ: How did she respond in those 58 seconds?

KILLEEN: Exactly how I wanted her to. That entire crew flew the textbook profile. I've watched that tape over and over again to see what they could have done differently. And they did everything right. They just ran out of time.

SANCHEZ: What did she say?

KILLEEN: She said mayday, mayday, mayday. Morphine 1-2 is on fire. Making emergency landing northwest of Karbala.

SANCHEZ: All that without losing her cool?

KILLEEN: Like you and I conversing in a very calm and deliberate manner.

SANCHEZ: Controlled?

KILLEEN: Controlled and calm. Cool as could be.

SANCHEZ: What does that say?

KILLEEN: Grace under pressure. It speaks volumes. Sorry, it speaks volumes of their character.

SANCHEZ: Marines later found the wreckage, the bodies of the crew members still on board.

So they really went down fighting, didn't they?

KILLEEN: They went down fighting and they went down trying to save each other. That entire crew was all-star crew fronts and back. And they're all heroes.

CARR: One of J.R.'s friends was part of the investigation team that went in and to recover the aircraft and the individuals. He said that he found J.R. with a fire extinguisher in his hands. So I knew that he was still battling, fighting to the very end. And it comforted me to know that at least he still was trying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Seven military professionals, seven sons, daughters, husbands, fathers, and friends. They went to war in Iraq for a reason they believed in. And they died there. Their stories don't end here. They continue in seven home towns, where those who knew them and those who did not paid their respects, showed their appreciation, and mourned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want her story told for generations. I'll tell my kids about her. Somebody that they should want to become like and talk about how brave and courageous she was, just how beautiful of a person she was inside, how big of a heart she had. She kept her eyes on heaven. And she knew that things done down here on this earth for other people are the things that matter in her life. And that's why she flew. She flew so she could save others.

HARRIS: As much as we kind of complain a little bit about having to fly five or six hours, multiple nights in a row, it's also kind of a good feeling to know that you are helping people out and hopefully maybe saving a couple lives.

L. LANDAKER: It makes me feel proud that he had that compassion and was willing to put his life on the line. One thing he told me before he left was, if I don't come back, do not dishonor me. This is something I've chosen. As hard as it hurts, this was his choice. He wasn't drafted. He was a smart young man. He had plenty of options. He chose that, so I will honor his name until I die.

J. PFISTER: Passion, full of passion. He lived hard, he worked hard, and he loved hard, and he took care of me. He's my angel now. I'm very lucky. I can't wait to see him again. He's always here. He's still cracking jokes. I'll see him again, real soon.

Travis in true Travis fashion. He went out with a bang, he went out as a hero, and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

CARR: He knew he wanted to serve his country. He felt he had to do it. He felt that was his calling. He just loved saving lives, helping people. He was always striving to be the best. And he was going to be the best at anything he tried out for.

J.R. never had his eyes shut. He didn't wear blinders. He took life in. And he loved life. I'm very proud of him. I'm glad he succeeded in meeting his dreams. It's just sad that he's not here to do more.

ANTHONY SABA, FATHER: His feeling was that anybody that attacks us, he wanted to do something about. And if the country was at war, he wanted to be a part of that. He bled red, white, and blue. And I think that's something.

B. SABA: He had a wonderful smile. And everybody told us that. He had a good heart and everyone knew it. They knew that when Tom was with them, that they were -- things were going to go right. Isn't that a nice legacy to leave behind? I wish we had him instead. A legacy where you left and people know it.

RUIZ: Just all along the route, there was people alongside with flags. It was wonderful. It was a wonderful tribute. He didn't want to be stuck working in a hospital. He wanted to be in the field where the action is. Even if the war wasn't a world going on, he would want to be in the field working somewhere, working. You know, not in a building. That's why he wanted -- did this with the Marines.

J. MINJARES: He touched a lot of people. And he's very special. He's just a great man. He's my hero and I look up to him and will never forget him. He's my inspiration.

GILBERT MINJARES, SR., FATHER: My son was an outgoing guy, he loved life. He loved it. Everything that we have here is going to be for them so they can know when they grow up who their father was. But he's always with me, always with me. And here's proof.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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