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CNN Live Saturday

Oak Harbor, Washington To Throw Parade for U.S. Spy Plane Crew

Aired April 28, 2001 - 12:23   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: With their Navy surveillance plane still in China's hands, some members of the EP-3 crew are home on Whidbey Island, Washington. The nearby city of Oak Harbor is throwing a big party today to honor the crew members, and CNN's James Hattori is there with the latest. Hi, James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Donna. We are about an hour and a half, two hours before the start of the parade, so things are still -- last-minute preparations are still getting under way.

We have with us, though, a guest, and that is Master Chief Dave Wallsteadt who was overseeing lot of the issues for the men who have returned. Today, we have eight crewmen that are going to be grand marshals of the parade. Where are the rest of the 24 crew members?

MASTER CHIEF DAVID WALLSTEADT, WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON: Well, they are still on leave with their families throughout the United States, and I think some of them have gone back to Japan also.

HATTORI: Crew members -- crewmen and women, I should point out. What about getting back since they have been back? How has that adjustment been going? You've been in touch with some of them?

WALLSTEADT: Yes, sir, I have. They are back to their routines. Some of the folks are doing -- attending the issues here at home. They're spending time with their families, and they are ready to come back and get back in the saddle and start flying.

HATTORI: It was, admittedly, a traumatic experience. I mean, they were held for 11 days, they went through a pretty harrowing landing. Has that been a problem for them getting back to...

WALLSTEADT: No, sir, not that I am aware of. They have shown their professionalism in what it is they do, and they represent the Navy very well.

HATTORI: Are they going to be more debriefings for the crew? Still a lot of information probably to be...

WALLSTEADT: Yes, sir, there might possibly be some.

HATTORI: OK. What about getting back in saddle, you talked about that. When is their next mission or is there one? WALLSTEADT: Well, I am not quite sure when that's going to be operational. They are going to come back, and they are going to go back into their regular ground jobs, and begin the process of getting ready to go on deployment again.

HATTORI: OK. Master chief, thank you very much for joining us.

WALLSTEADT: All right.

HATTORI: The festivities, there will be a parade, a big celebration, fireworks tonight, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders as well. Back to you in Atlanta.

KELLEY: Big day. Thanks, James Hattori in Oak Harbor, Washington.

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