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American-Egyptian Journalist Freed; 168,000 Lbs. of Turkey Served; Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; A Thanksgiving Feast for 6,400 Soldiers; Backstage Access to Kiss; DB Cooper's Tie Gives New Clues

Aired November 24, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Well, we got a lot straight ahead, let's begin in Egypt. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, everyone. Welcome to Studio 7. It is Happy Thanksgiving Day.

Military leaders in Egypt are apologizing now for the deaths of pro-democracy protesters.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

WHITFIELD: At least 38 people have been killed in demonstrations in the past six days. More than 3,000 others have been injured. The apology was posted on the Facebook page of the supreme council of the armed forces.

An Egyptian American journalist in Cairo is accusing the military police of sexual assault. Mona Eltahawy tweeted that she was, quote, "beaten and arrested in interior minister," end quote. This picture shows her arms are in casts. She has been released.

And Mona now joins me on the phone from Cairo.

Mona, first of all, how are you?

MONA ELTAHAWY, JOURNALIST (via telephone): Hi, Fredricka.

Well, as you said, both of my arms are broken. Well, its my right hand is broken and the my left arm is broken, and they are both in casts.

I want to correct one thing, Fredricka. It wasn't military police that assaulted me. It was the Egyptian riot police, part of the military of the interior. I wasn't assaulted by military police.

WHITFIELD: When we hear the supreme council of the armed forces issue an apology for the many deaths and injuries as a result of all that has transpired the last six days, what's your reaction to that apology?

ELTAHAWY: Well, my reaction is it's long overdue. But my reaction is that it is very clear to me from what happened to me and from what's been going on around Tahrir over the last few days the supreme military council which is supposed to be running Egypt right now is not in control of the police forces.

And that apology is too little too late because of the horrendous violence that has been unleashed by both ordinary police that belong to the military interior, but also army soldiers, the military police that have joined them in the attacks against people around Tahrir and Mohammed Mahmoud Streets.

And so, and the reason that I join you today because I want to use my case as one tiny example of what has been happening to activists in Egypt. And this is not why we had a revolution. We had a revolution to be free of brutality and we will not let the police nor the military to hijack our revolution.

WHITFIELD: Now, is that what the riot police that assaulted you -- explain to me what happened the conditions that unfolded. What happened?

ELTAHAWY: I was on the front line of where the confrontation had been happening between the protester and the military police on the street called Mohammad Mahmoud. There was some shooting from the police side, from the right police side, and we -- myself and a group of people ran for shelter close by and the riot police stormed in to our area where the confrontation is, beyond their no man's land -- and many people around me scattered and ran.

And I was cornered and surrounded by four or five riot police and their blows from their sticks just rained down upon me. On my arms and head and they were actually sexually assaulting me. They were groping my breasts. They've got their hands in between my legs. So many hands tried to go inside my jeans.

I tried to fight them as much as I could, but I was beaten at the same time. They were dragging me by the head to the military interior. It was an awful assault. I have never experienced anything like it in my life.

But it is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the kind of brutality that Egyptians have faced from security. And again, this is why we had a revolution. Our revolution was launched on January 25th, which is police state, to protest this brutality and it continues. And I blame the military for the fact that it continues because the military is in charge of the country and cannot control the police forces.

WHITFIELD: Now, you said you were with other people but you got separated from them and you were cornered before those four or five, you know, patrolmen or officers then cornered you.

Did you ever reconnect with your other friends or were you left alone and then were arrested?

ELTAHAWY: No. I was followed by the riot police who were also beating those around me and I think one other person was arrested but not taken to where I was.

So it was the riot police who did all of the beating and assaulting and took me away. And I heard that the other person was arrested at the same time had been release. I'm very glad to hear that, but we haven't made contact yet.

WHITFIELD: And then what happened once you were detained, the place where you were being held, what happened during that experience?

ELTAHAWY: Well, I was taken on the ministry of the interior where I was held for five to six hours where they wouldn't tell me why I was being held. They kept saying it is because I didn't have ID with me. I left it in Tahrir Square because I didn't want to leave it on the front lines and they would keep making excuses why they couldn't check my ID.

So, this went on for five hours and then I was brought on the military intelligence, again, no one told me why. Military intelligence, I was blindfolded for two hours, questioned for an hour until I said, I am a civilian and refuse to the military's questions anymore.

WHITFIELD: What were they asking you? You said you were questioned. What were they asking you?

ELTAHAWY: I'm sorry?

WHITFIELD: You said you were questioned. What were they asking you?

ELTAHAWY: They were asking me like identification questions like what's my name, where was I born, what's my address, my parents, my family's information. And also, why I moved to the U.S. because I moved to the -- I was married to the American citizen. Why I moved to the U.S., what was his name, personal questions.

They claimed they were trying to determine my identity and I kept telling them call my hotel and they will tell you what my passport is and what my identity is. But I have a feeling because I have a long history of anti-regime writing in Egypt, because I was a journalist in Egypt for 10 years before I left to the U.S., that when they went through my files in the ministry of the interior where I have been interrogated, they realize they have someone with a long history of anti-regime writing and reporting, and they didn't know what to do with me.

And in the end, the military police, the military intelligence officer said to apologize. He apologized for what the police did to me. He took down a statement about the sexual assault I experienced and said they would investigate it. They took pictures of my arm and my hand which were really bruised by then. They wouldn't let me see the doctor. For the entire 12 hours I was there, they wouldn't let me see the doctor.

So, I spent 12 hours with a broken hand and broken arm. And I kept saying bring me a doctor. And again, I emphasize what I experience is just a tiny drop compared to what Egyptians experience in state security and security forces and now the military. And I have experienced a long time.

We will not allow them to hijack our revolution which is one reason I'm getting my story out there because our revolution is against brutality, against many things. But against brutality and we will not allow them to hijack our revolution.

WHITFIELD: I know you were blindfolded for a period of time. Once the blindfold was removed, did you have an opportunity to see anyone else detained or talk them or get an idea to experience or witness how others were being treated?

ELTAHAWY: No. During the whole time I was detained, I sat by the ministry of the interior. All by military intelligence, I was the only person in detention. So, when they took my blindfold off for two hours at military intelligence, I was unable to see the military intelligence office who are had been questioning and interrogating me.

But there was no one there but me. At one point he said I honestly don't know why you are here -- which to me was a shock because if you don't know why I am here, then who does? The military is supposed to be running the country.

So, again, this is an indication to me of how the military is not in control of the police forces and that's exactly what so many revolution and in Tahrir have been saying for a such a long time, and we will not allow this lack of control by the supreme council and armed forces to hijack our revolution. Our revolution will succeed.

WHITFIELD: And, Mona, you said you were on the front line of the protesters when all of this began to unfold. Were you there as a protester? Were you there as a working journalist?

ELTAHAWY: I was there to take pictures with my phone. I was there -- I was standing on a rock taking pictures across no man's land of the police with my phone. I didn't want to take my camera in because I didn't want to break.

What I was doing was I was tweeting my observations and also taking pictures to post on Twitter. That's what I was for, because I don't have a press card in Egypt because I don't live in Egypt, they were saying things like well, how to we do know you are a journalist and not a spy. I said to them, well, you know, look up the hotel where I am staying, call up the ministry of information that used to give me a press card when I worked in Egypt as a journalist.

So, they have many avenues open to them, but I don't think it was a question of ideas. I said, I think when they discovered who I was by looking at the my files in the ministry of interior, where I had been interrogated in the past they realized they had a journalist who have been writing against the regime for a long time. But they just didn't know what to do with me.

But they know what to do with a lot of Egyptians that they arrest and that they treat with extreme brutality. And so, again, I'm speaking out because I want the world to know the kind of horrendous brutality that Egyptians routinely face at the hands of security and now the army, because the army was fighting alongside police against protester and this has to stop because our revolution will not be hijacked by the police or the army.

WHITFIELD: And, Mona, how long are you going to be staying in Cairo? Are you -- does this inspire you to leave anytime soon, leave earlier than previously scheduled? You do live state side, but what now?

ELTAHAWY: As you can imagine, my parents are in the U.S. right now and my brother and sister are also in the U.S. and worried sick. Paramount on my mind actually wasn't what I'm going through, but what my family was thinking because I knew they would be worried sick.

And so, as soon I tweeted -- I managed to tweet from the ministry at the interior. Even when I lost my phone, when I was getting beaten, an activist came in and I managed to use his phone very quickly to tweet I was arrested. And so, I tweeted when I was freed and I knew my family would be worried sick and my dad sent me a moving e-mail, asking if I want them to stop worrying to come back to the U.S.

And so, I haven't had a chance to reply yet, but I want to stay at least one more day, because on Friday, there will be a massive gathering in Tahrir, with that message that you will not hijack our revolution. Our revolution will succeed.

And I came to Egypt a few days earlier than I was supposed to, specifically to take part in this gathering in Tahrir Square to say that we will safeguard, we will safeguard our revolution and not the military. And so, I really want to be in Tahrir tomorrow and hopefully get people to sign my cast with some Tahrir love.

WHITFIELD: Mona Eltahawy, thanks so much for joining us and sharing your experience with us. We are glad you are well enough to share those experiences with us and do take care.

ELTAHAWY: Thank you, Fredricka. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, three American college students have been released in Cairo. They had been accused of throwing fire bombs at security forces during pro democracy demonstrations. It is unclear why they were suddenly are released. Derrik Sweeney, Gregory Porter, and Luke Gates attend classes at the American University in Cairo.

So, let's take a look at the rundown now for what's coming up over the next two hours. I will show you how troops are spending the holiday in Kuwait.

Plus, if you have Thanksgiving food questions, CNN's resident food expert has the answers for you.

It's been 40 years since sky-jacker D.B. Cooper vanished over Washington state. Now, new evidence in the case.

And, finally, from the makeup to the costumes, we go behind the scenes with legendary rock band KISS.

(BEGIN VIDEO LCIP)

CWO SEAN BYARD, U.S. ARMY: Hi, my name is CWO Sean Byard, currently at FOB Fenty in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, serving with the 117th Cav out of Ft. Bragg. Give a shout out to all down there in upstate New York. I hope you guys have a wonderful holiday and a happy Thanksgiving. I really wish I was there and give hugs and kisses to everybody. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving is being celebrated a half way around the world in Afghanistan.

Our Nick Paton Walsh is at Bagram Air Base with a Thanksgiving spread only the Pentagon could put together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This isn't just about people's holiday meal. It's also about an enormous logistical operation for the Pentagon. Around the world, they have moved 168,000 pounds of turkey to Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly 100,000 pounds worth of beef, a huge chunk of it there on the table over this. A lot of it is being consumed in this dining facility in Bagram Air Base.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not this big. No. I'd like to tell Pam I love her and I'll see you soon.

WALSH: Tell the camera, not me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. There you go. Hey, Pam, how are you doing? I love you. I'll be back soon.

WALSH: People are pouring down the line to get salad and various desserts.

UNIDENTIFEID FEMALE: I'm from California.

WALSH: Is this your first Afghanistan Thanksgiving?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, this is my first deployment.

WALSH: And your last?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, probably not.

WALSH: Why did you want to join the military?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to do something bigger than myself. It was my calling.

WALSH: Are you enjoying the day so far? There is a ridiculous amount of food.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a ridiculous amount of food and people here. I am getting food for my coworkers.

WALSH: That's your excuse, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much.

WALSH: Why are you still alive?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not enough cooking.

WALSH: Not enough cooking?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

WALSH: OK. Do you expect to survive the day?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope so.

WALSH: They haven't been aggressive to you yet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not yet.

WALSH: What nationality are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bosnian.

WALSH: Is this all the time?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just for today.

WALSH: You won't be a turkey tomorrow?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

WALSH: It's less dangerous being a turkey tomorrow, I understand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

WALSH: But at the same time, there is a slight tinge of sadness and remembrance here. This is the missing man table. Around that NATO insignia, the hats of many of the different nationalities who served and lost people here. And below it, an inverted cross and words behind it saying, "We can't toast these people at this time."

What an enormous operation of terrifying numbers here, just to see people here at Thanksgiving, but also remember this is America's longest war, a decade now here in Afghanistan. For many of these soldiers as the drawdown begins in the coming year, it could be the last time they come back to have Thanksgiving here. A sense of success for some, remembrance of others they have lost and also celebration of course with an excessively large amount of calories.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello to the United States of America. I can't wait to get back. I love everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy Thanksgiving!

WALSH: Nick Paton, Walsh, CNN, Bagram Air Base.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Happy Thanksgiving to all of them.

All right. So, this time next year, American military members serving in Iraq hope to be celebrating Thanksgiving with their families on U.S. soil. And we'll take you to Kuwait where many of them are beginning to make that journey home.

And just ahead on this Thanksgiving morning, if you are facing a frozen turkey or wondering how to handle annoying relatives, we've got some tips on surviving turkey day traumas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Today is a day for heaping servings of turkey, potatoes, pie, you name it. But before you ask for seconds of thirds of turkey dinner, David Letterman shows when it is time to put down the fork.

Here's your punch line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": And number five: pants button popped and knocked out grandma.

And number four, you are visible from the International Space Station.

Number three: your skin has taken on the hue of -- wait for it, wait for it -- ham glaze.

Number two: your ass went from Kourtney to Kim.

And the number one sign you have eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner, you have to loosen the buckle on your watch.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, so bad.

So, before getting stuffed on that turkey, you have to cook the bird, right, and everything that goes with it. Right now, many of you might be panicking because something has gone wrong in the kitchen. Have no fear.

Kat Kinsman, managing editor of CNN.com Eatocracy Web site is here. She is answering some of the most common questions that the Web site readers have been reading.

Kat, happy Thanksgiving.

KAT KINSMAN, MANAGING EDITOR, EATOCRACY.COM: Happy Thanksgiving, Fred. Glad to be here.

WHITFIELD: Great. Well, let's get straight to it.

Help! What can I do if the bird is still frozen?

KINSMAN: Do not panic. Refrain from panicking, this is our mantra. You are hardly alone in this situation and there's a simple solution.

All you have to just put the bird in to a plastic bag. This is key so the bird doesn't get too water logged and you put it in to cold water. The cold water is also key so you don't get into -- so you don't accidentally start cooking the bird or get to a dangerous temperature situation and change out the water every 30 minutes and that should bring it to temperature.

And at that point, if you are a little behind, you want to pick a slightly quicker cooking method. You can, by the way, stick it in to the microwave but then you have to cook it immediately.

WHITFIELD: Really?

KINSMAN: Yes. Depending on how big your microwave is. But use the defroster there. Get it to temperature and then pick a quick cooking method. I recommend spatchcocking the bird, which involves, you cut out the backbone and spread it like a library book.

WHITFIELD: OK. I was just going to say, what is that? Non- cook over here.

KINSMAN: Spatchcocking. It's fun to say. It's fun to do. You just cut out the backbone, spread it open like a library book and while you won't have the giant turkey on the tray, you are I making up for some lost time.

WHITFIELD: OK. Clearly, it's got to be pretty thawed out in order to do that.

OK. So, safely stuffing the turkey that's another question. How can I safely stuff the turkey?

KINSMAN: Everybody is always worried they are going to kill all of their relatives -- no. As long as you exercise caution. The number that you should have tattooed on your body at this point of the day is 165 for the meat, for the stuffing. You can absolutely stuff your bird so long as you exercise a little bit of caution.

Cook the stuffing before you put it in the bird, that easy. So, get your ingredients together. Make sure that you, you know, you cooked all of your mushrooms, your onions and things. Make sure that it's hot when it goes into the bird. Put it in the microwave if you need to.

Put it in there and it will help your turkey get up to temperature. And speed it along quickly. And you just want to make sure that at the center of the stuffing itself it is 165 and you're going to have a juicy, delicious bird with really tasty stuffing.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. I thought people were concerned about the raw paltry and the drippings going into the turkey, and that's why that lot of people cook it on the side and not the turkey in the bird.

KINSMAN: It is a concern but as long as everything gets to 165 degrees, it should be smooth sailing and if you are nervous, cook it on the side. Eliminate the fret from your life. You have enough to worry about today.

WHITFIELD: OK. And then, often what comes with big family gatherings maybe some heated moments, maybe not over the fact that the bird wasn't cooked well enough but other stuff.

So, how do you help this person deal with what they call annoying relatives?

KINSMAN: Well, as my therapist is always happy to say, magic bubble, magic bubble, magic bubble. It is just a meal and it will be over. So, short of putting some (INAUDIBLE) ax in your turkey or something like that --

WHITFIELD: Oh, no.

KINSMAN: -- it never hurts to take the high road in any conversation that is happening. Comport yourself with grace and you will never regret that decision. Otherwise, assign yourself a task only you can do.

I admire Martha Stewart for her cooking and everything, because when people are asking her question she didn't want to answer, she just said, I just want to concentrate on my salad.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Hey, it's thanksgiving. Just be thankful you are there with relatives, right?

KINSMAN: Exactly. It's a fantastic day. Comport yourself with grace. Make sure everything gets to 165 and don't forget the spatchcock and you will be happy.

WHITFIELD: OK. I'm going to remember it, 165 now.

All right. Kat, thanks so much. Happy Thanksgiving.

KINSMAN: Happy Thanksgiving to you.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate all the advice as well.

And you've heard of the nightmare scenarios of deep frying turkeys. Well, your turkey and maybe your home going up in flames. But Kat says you can safely fry that bird. You don't want that to happen. We will have the tips next hour.

And it's Thanksgiving which hat means four things -- food, family, football and, of course, parades. Our Jason Carroll is live at the 85th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York.

Oh, Jason, is it all wrapped up?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, but it was great.

You know, St. Nick who, of course, is the highlight of the parade, he is down Central Park west, heading towards Harold Square some 30 blocks down this.

But what a parade it was, Fredricka. I have to tell you, you know, out here the weather was nice. People were friendly. It wasn't raining. It wasn't snowing.

So, everyone was in a good mood. One of my favorites happens to be Snoopy. Yes, everyone is saying I want to get on TV.

Snoopy is one of my favorites, Hedgehog came back after an 18- year absence. That was one of the giant balloons that came down. Another popular one SpongeBob SquarePants, another popular balloon we see.

Spoke to folks out here -- 3.5 million spectators came out to view this parade this year. Spoke to some earlier about how early they came out and what was the highlight for them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello kitty.

CARROLL: Hello kitty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mary J. Blige had on fabulous shoes.

CARROLL: I liked Spiderman. I thought Spiderman made a good representation today. Snoopy as well.

How about for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cobra starship (INAUDIBLE).

CARROLL: Cobra starship.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love cobra starship.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I always like Santa the best.

CARROLL: Santa you like at the end.

What about for you? Any favorites?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tom Turkey, of course, and then Santa.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And, Fredricka, the woman who you heard from who was talking about Mary J. Blige being one of her favorites, she was out here at 1:00 a.m. So, that's a real die hard to stake your claim to a spot right at 1:00 in this morning. Can you believe that?

But that just goes to show you how many people like to come out here and enjoy this. I remember watching this parade as a kid, right, and to come out here and see it like this is a lot of fun.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, and you got the best view there, too.

Well, the one woman who was eyeballing Mary J. Blige's shoes, I really love that turkey hat the one young lady you were talking to had. I want to get my hands on that. That's hilarious.

Well, I'm glad you had a good time and so did the many other millions that were watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. Per usual, happy Thanksgiving, Jason.

CARROLL: Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.

WHITFIELD: All right. American troops are withdrawing from Iraq so fast that they are ending up in a bottleneck at the first stop. They may be stuck but they are not forgotten.

This Thanksgiving, we'll show you the magic of military logistics taking care of the troops, no matter where they are.

And so many of you wrote in response to Carol Costello's "Talk Back" question. We're sharing more today. American troops are you grateful for this Thanksgiving, and Katie write, "I'm grateful that my husband and I can pay our rent next month and our 6-year-old daughter still has a place to call home for Christmas.

I am also withdrawal for my family and that during these hard times we are all together this holiday.

And Joshua said, "I don't believe in god so I always say 'thanks, mom' for a great deal."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: And here's what's ahead on the rundown. Next standing in the Thanksgiving chow line in Kuwait. We'll check in with servicemen and women on their way home from Iraq.

Then a construction worker in Texas survives a bizarre staple gun accident. Boy, that's got to hurt. And at 11:40 Eastern I'll be going behind the face faint rock band Kiss.

More than 250 Georgia soldiers are home just in time for Thanksgiving. Two planes carrying troops from the 171st Aviation Regiment touched down at Dobbins Air Reserve Base yesterday. They've been serving in Iraq for the past year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today's probably one of the best days of my life honestly. I'm so happy to have him home.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What's your first order of business?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home and play with this one. He's been telling me for weeks now he has a whole list of things he wants to do with me so we will go home and knock the list down a bit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Thanksgiving -- happy thanksgiving to them.

And no one has forgotten the servicemen and women who have just left Iraq but aren't quite home yet. There's a huge backup of troops at Camp Virginia in Kuwait. The first stop where the masses of U.S. troops withdrawing from Iraq by year's end.

Martin Savidge joined them for Thanksgiving dinner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So here I am in the line waiting for Thanksgiving dinner at Camp Virginia in Kuwait. This is the big transit base for all the soldiers that are coming out of Iraq. But of course as I said, it's Thanksgiving so get a load of this.

Everybody washes their hands of course before you have dinner. Excuse us. Just coming through. But here's the feast. This is what you come to see.

Moms, don't worry, if there is anything that you have on your table for Thanksgiving I guarantee you it's here and it's here in massive amounts as everybody is getting served, it's going to go on for several hours.

No one, trust me, is going out of here hungry. In fact, let's talk with the woman who's actually in charge. This is Sergeant 1st Class Sue Porter. She's from the Minnesota National Guard and I like to refer to her, even though she's the supervisor, as the head mom. Looks after everyone here. How's it going?

SGT. `1ST CLASS SUE PORTER, MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very well.

SAVIDGE: How many people are are you anticipating?

PORTER: Roughly about 6,400.

SAVIDGE: In how much time.

PORTER: For three-and-a-half hours.

SAVIDGE: What's on the menu?

PORTER: Turkey and all the trimmings. We also have --

SAVIDGE: Dessert?

PORTER: Yes. Pie and cake and all kinds of goodies.

SAVIDGE: Cake, in fact. I'll show you in just a minute. Now normally you would be at home, I guess, making dinner for your own family, you're a mom and got grandkids as well.

PORTER: I do. Yes.

SAVIDGE: So who's taking that on this year?

PORTER: My daughter.

SAVIDGE: All right. But we wish you happy Thanksgiving.

PORTER: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: And good luck feeding the family here.

PORTER: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: Let me show you one more thing. Look at this. Have you ever seen a cake like that? And that's just one of them. There's another one floating around here. So, as they say, nobody, nobody is going hungry here this Thanksgiving.

Camp Virginia, Kuwait. I'm Martin Savidge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Thanks for bringing us that view.

And an unusual rescue taking place in Washington state. We'll tell you how this car landed right up against a tree.

And many of you are telling us what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving. Heather says, "I'm grateful for being married to my best friend and that my daughter was born healthy and beautiful."

And Chelsea writes, "I'm grateful for the chance I get to make a difference in someone's life every day that god gives me to live. And also grateful for my friends and family."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's been almost a year since Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head during a voters' event. Last night, Piers Morgan talked with her husband, Mark Kelly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": Does Gabby have any thoughts toward the man who shot her?

MARK KELLY, HUSBAND OF REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS: Well, you know she doesn't spend a lot of time being angry about it. Early on, she was asked -- I asked her what she would like to see, you know, happen to him as a sentence and it was interesting that for a woman that had a difficult time with words at the time that she was able to sum it up in one syllable which was rot is what she said. And I think she feels differently now. I mean she understands she's very sick and needs to be treated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Kelly and Giffords have written a book about their experience called "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope."

We're getting up close and personal with Kiss. It's an all- access pass. Go behind the music and behind the makeup with one of rock music's most enduring empires.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Images of Kiss, the band, are everywhere. Four rockers with iconic painted faces have created one of the most enduring and successful music empires. We get an exclusive look at the world of Kiss when the band invited us to go on tour.

Here's Poppy Harlow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's almost midnight and Kiss isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

Tonight the band's rocking hard in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's what they have been doing since 1973, putting on a spectacle to devoted fans. Their painted faces known worldwide. What got us here began eight hours ago, when we met the band in Minneapolis aboard the Kiss jet.

Not every day you get picked up in a private plane band members are in the front.

Band members Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer are in the front. Eric Singer and Gene Simmons in back.

We went on last night after 10:00. I didn't go to sleep until 4:00 in the morning.

HARLOW (on camera): How do you do that?

PAUL STANLEY, KISS: The adrenalin gets you through the show, but then afterwards, you sleep, get that deserved and much-needed sleep and tonight's another night, same thing.

GENE SIMMONS, KISS: The thing you are hearing is not bad CNN sound but the jet warming up.

HARLOW (voice-over): And then we're off to Oshkosh and nearly 30,000 Kiss fans.

(On camera): What do you think makes you guys different? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kiss is so unique. I mean where do you start? You know? Just the whole imagery, the outfits, and the makeup, and pyro, everything is over the top.

HARLOW: What about the groupies. Are we going to see some tonight?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those groupies, you know, I don't really partake as much in that now since I'm married.

HARLOW: Ballpark, what could you guys walk away from this one show tonight with?

SIMMONS: A million?

HARLOW: Not bad. You have 20 shows this summer. Touring makes sense.

SIMMONS: And that's why it's good to be me.

HARLOW: Here we go. That's a touchdown.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

(Voice-over): Backstage, it's a maze of trailer and port-a- potties. There's no running water but Kiss still gets fed well.

(On camera): Going to see their private chef. He goes everywhere with Kiss.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the catch of the day, deer?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, actually we have sea bass.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's see what my dressing room looks like.

HARLOW: Paul has his own dressing room, the others share one in a nearby trailer.

(On camera):

STANLEY: Not bad. I mean everything is all set up.

HARLOW: I love that Paul Stanley has an eyelash curler.

STANLEY: I don't know how to use it. But they put it here.

HARLOW: I can teach you how to use it.

STANLEY: Yes, you do?

HARLOW (voice-over): At dinner Doc McGhee, the band's longtime manager, reviews the song list. It's got to be cut down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We've got to only do an hour and a half.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is actually tough because, you know, Kiss has 400 songs to begin with and we've got a set of 18 songs.

HARLOW: You won't find any large entourage here, Kiss is anything but high maintenance. They do their own makeup and as the band preps and primps, we head out with Doc McGee who is fabulous in his own right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are the merchandise concept.

HARLOW (on camera): There, the kids stuff sold it there.

(Voice-over): Merchandise payoff is huge, especially in big venues.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Extra large and a double extra large.

It's quarter to 10:00. Kiss has been in makeup for two hours, which is a lot longer than I take to put my makeup on. But they are getting ready, rehearsing and we're going to get a very rare glimpse in to them finishing up the intense makeup process.

Look at you guys. What a transformation. Look at these heels. Look at these heels. Gene, is this all of your real hair.

SIMMONS: Mostly. Mostly.

HARLOW: Got some extensions in there?

SIMMONS: Yes. Some of it is in there.

HARLOW: How many years of practice did this take?

SIMMONS: Thirty-eight years.

HARLOW: So how does it not all drip off during the show?

SIMMONS: We bake it in. What happens is, this is a series of layers.

HARLOW: And they say it's on for the whole show.

SIMMONS: Well, actually some of it drips off but they love it when it does.

HARLOW: Can I help?

SIMMONS: Yes.

HARLOW: How many people can say that they have done Gene Simmons makeup?

SIMMONS: I would say none.

HARLOW: How did I do?

SIMMONS: Good.

HARLOW: What's your method?

SIMMONS: So my method is, as you've seen -- look at Gene's pig pen over there. It's now look mine. There's nothing anywhere I wipe everything off. I'm very, like, meticulous about it.

HARLOW: Very nice. What about these costumes? Look at these shoulder pads.

SIMMONS: This is not a costume.

HARLOW: Sorry. What do we call it?

SIMMONS: This is my space outfit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't play in the boots. Everybody always ask that question.

HARLOW: You don't. So you wear those when you are drumming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Uh-huh.

HARLOW (voice-over): We head over to check on Paul.

STANLEY: I'd always saved the last which is cheap red lip stick. Not bad, huh?

HARLOW (on camera): Not bad. Like a true woman. By the way, notice the knee pads.

STANLEY: I started to wear knee pads because my knees are just all scar tissue.

STANLEY: What are the fake nails for?

STANLEY: The fake nails is because I play guitar so hard that I literally wear through my nail. I put on a fake nail then cut it off. So basically all it's doing is it's a shield.

HARLOW: Who knew?

STANLEY: Who knew. Who knew.

HARLOW: The secrets of Kiss.

(Voice-over): In full regalia, it's time to meet the fans.

(On camera): So you're a little obsessed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bit. My wife calls me nuts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now the fun begins.

HARLOW: It is about show time, 11:00. Kiss making it up on stage. I just went out to check out the crowd, 30,000 screaming fans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The hottest band in the world. Kiss. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We take tremendous pride in what we do. When you come to see us, you are pummeled, deafened, blinded, it's an experience. It's a belief. It's an ideal. That's what Kiss is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow. So that's just a taste, that's Kiss, the band. But what about Kiss, the brand? This rock institution is big business with their images on some 3,000 pieces of merchandise. Coming up at 1:00 Eastern Time, Kiss Inc. airs as part of a "CNN PRESENTS" hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. 1ST CLASS NEIL MIDDLETON, U.S. ARMY: Hey, how you all doing? My name is Sgt. 1st Middleton. I'm based in Ft. Bragg currently deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

I would like to say happy Thanksgiving to my mother, my sister and my grandmother out of Philadelphia, PA. Hope you have a good time. I miss you all and I'll see you all soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Time to check stories CNN affiliates are covering "Cross Country."

A construction worker in Texas is making a remarkable recovery after a three-inch staple was accidentally shot into his head. Wow. It could have paralyzed or even killed him. He says the only pain he felt was when the staple was removed. He'll be back to work in about a month.

In Washington state, the driver of this car says he lost control, went over an embankment and then landed right up against a tree. Firefighters had to use a ladder truck to get him out.

And in Wisconsin a man turns himself in for drunk driving. Here's the unusual 911 call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been driving. I've been drinking. I just kind of want to turn myself in.

UNIDENTIFIED 911 DISPATCHER: OK. Were you just driving now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, no. I just -- I just parked myself but I've been trying to figure out how to call the police department and not 911.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And a clip-on tie could hold a new clue in the DB Cooper skyjacking case. Scientists lay out what new evidence could mean about the man who leapt out of a jet with $200,000, then disappeared 40 years ago. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This Thanksgiving marks 40 years since the skyjacker known as DB Cooper parachuted out of a jet with $200,000 cash and then vanished. Well, now there's new evidence in the legendary case and it comes from Cooper's clip-on tie.

Here's Chris Ingalls from CNN affiliate KING.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So this was the tie worn by DB Cooper.

CHRIS INGALLS, KING-TV CORRESPONDENT: The new evidence was lifted from this clip-on tie left behind on the plane by the hijacker known as DB Cooper. The Seattle FBI gave a team of private scientists unprecedented access to the tie and other artifacts from the nation's only unsolved skyjacking.

(On camera): What did you find?

TOM KAYE, COOPER RESEARCH TEAM: One of the most notable particles we found that had us the most excited was titanium metal.

INGALLS: Here's a titanium particle on the tie. Seen through an electron microscope.

Titanium is used in things from golf clubs to cookware these days, but back then it was extremely rare.

KAYE: In 1971 there was a big upheaval of titanium industry as the canceling of the SST project which happened to be at Boeing. And that laid off a lot of people in Titanium industries. So certainly Cooper could have been part of the fallout.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a severe disappointed to all of us.

INGALLS: Boeing cancelled its supersonic transport, one of the first civilian planes to use titanium just months before the 1971 hijacking.

But Cooper had been unemployed. And so desperate he would threaten to blow a passenger jet and then parachute with $200,000 ransom money.

KAYE: And because he wore a tie we think he was probably one of the engineers or manager in the company that went back out on the shop floor regularly.

INGALLS: He likely was not a Boeing employee. Scientists say the titanium is pure not processed, not the kind used in aircraft manufacturer.

They say Cooper was probably employed at a titanium production facility or chemical plant.

KAYE: Coming up with a profile that narrows him down to hundreds of people instead of millions we think is pretty significant.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So does the FBI feel the same way? The bureau's Seattle spokeswoman confirms the FBI received the team's new evidence but won't say much else. The FBI says the case is a low priority after all this time and points out the scientists are all volunteers who conducted their tests for free.