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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With David C. Williams

Aired April 19, 2003 - 16:01   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First, to what so many Americans, particularly their loved ones, have been waiting for, the homecoming of the seven former prisoners of war. At this moment, they're on their way from Ramstein air base in Germany to Fort Bliss, Texas, near El Paso. Already gathering, hundreds to greet them. From there, the two Apache pilots on board will return to their home base at Fort Hood, Texas, near Killeen, and that's where our Jamie Colby is now, at Fort Hood. Jamie, what's going on there?
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, the families of both Ron Young and David Williams are gathering today, waiting as each hour goes by to wrap their arms around their loved ones. And though the Williams family is spending a quiet day today alone, they were not speaking to the media, David C. Williams, the father of David S. Williams, has been gracious enough to come and speak with CNN. So nice to see you, congratulations.

DAVID C. WILLIAMS, FATHER OF RESCUED POW: How are you doing?

COLBY: We're doing great. And when I saw the pictures of your son this morning, poking through a hatch on the plane on his way back, waving an American flag, I thought to myself that there are few photos in life that make history. And your son is now part of one. How do you feel about that?

WILLIAMS: Well, I think he's always been produced to be American and to represent America and do whatever it takes to protect America. And I think this is finally just his jubilation of being free, finally starting to come out.

COLBY: And it must be feeling freer and freer. I know how much he's looking forward to coming home. You have plans for the weekend, for an Easter weekend together. That's something that Michele wanted so badly. When I saw him on top of that plane, I thought to myself, and she confirmed this when I talked to her later, he has such a passion for flying. They both met in flight school at Fort Rucker. How early on in his life as a child even did you know that he loved planes?

WILLIAMS: Believe it or not, when he was 5 years old, he was so intense with planes that I would take him on weekends to wherever we lived, the major airport, so he could spend hours on end just walking up and down, talking to pilots, picking up time schedules, so that he would become more familiar. At one time, he could tell you every plane by just looking up and state, well, that's such and such a plane, it's going so and so. COLBY: Do you think he'll be itching to get back on board?

WILLIAMS: Oh, without a doubt. Without a doubt.

COLBY: And what are the plans for the weekend? You have a lot of family in from out of town. Tonight is obviously going to be special. What are you expecting?

WILLIAMS: Well, tonight will be quiet, subdued, and get acquainted again with each other. And then tomorrow, all the family will come together and we'll have a cookout, because that's what he's requested, and just have a nice, easy, quiet day and just enjoy family.

COLBY: I heard from Michele, we're not talking hot dogs and hamburgers. He's requested steak, something that he probably hasn't had in a while.

WILLIAMS: I'm sure of that.

COLBY: It's great. We're so happy for you. And what do you think will be the first thing that you'll want to tell your son?

WILLIAMS: Well, the first thing I plan on doing, when it's my turn to hug him, I'm sure his wife is going to be first and after his mother goes second. But then when it's my turn, I'm going to give him a big hug and just tell him how proud I am and how much I love him.

COLBY: He's a great American. All seven of the POWs, the now freed POWs have served their country well. You must be very, very proud.

WILLIAMS: Very proud and very happy that all seven came back. I think it would have been very incomplete if that didn't happen.

COLBY: And I'm sure proud of Michele as well. I've spent time with her over the last couple of weeks. She, herself, is a soldier and she has handled this with such grace and dignity.

WILLIAMS: Not only as a soldier, but also as a mother, as she has two young ones, a 6-month-old little girl and a 2-year-old. So she was doing military duty during the day and family life without a father at night. So she's done remarkably well.

COLBY: How important are those children to David?

WILLIAMS: Very much so, because he's a strong family person. And anything that they do, it's always surrounded what the family can do.

COLBY: And you've said to me before that, you know, faith and determination in his service to his country got him through. We are anxiously awaiting seeing him, and thank you so much for taking the time today.

WILLIAMS: Thank you. It's almost time. COLBY: Almost. We're counting the hours here, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Jamie Colby and Mr. Williams.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired April 19, 2003 - 16:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First, to what so many Americans, particularly their loved ones, have been waiting for, the homecoming of the seven former prisoners of war. At this moment, they're on their way from Ramstein air base in Germany to Fort Bliss, Texas, near El Paso. Already gathering, hundreds to greet them. From there, the two Apache pilots on board will return to their home base at Fort Hood, Texas, near Killeen, and that's where our Jamie Colby is now, at Fort Hood. Jamie, what's going on there?
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, the families of both Ron Young and David Williams are gathering today, waiting as each hour goes by to wrap their arms around their loved ones. And though the Williams family is spending a quiet day today alone, they were not speaking to the media, David C. Williams, the father of David S. Williams, has been gracious enough to come and speak with CNN. So nice to see you, congratulations.

DAVID C. WILLIAMS, FATHER OF RESCUED POW: How are you doing?

COLBY: We're doing great. And when I saw the pictures of your son this morning, poking through a hatch on the plane on his way back, waving an American flag, I thought to myself that there are few photos in life that make history. And your son is now part of one. How do you feel about that?

WILLIAMS: Well, I think he's always been produced to be American and to represent America and do whatever it takes to protect America. And I think this is finally just his jubilation of being free, finally starting to come out.

COLBY: And it must be feeling freer and freer. I know how much he's looking forward to coming home. You have plans for the weekend, for an Easter weekend together. That's something that Michele wanted so badly. When I saw him on top of that plane, I thought to myself, and she confirmed this when I talked to her later, he has such a passion for flying. They both met in flight school at Fort Rucker. How early on in his life as a child even did you know that he loved planes?

WILLIAMS: Believe it or not, when he was 5 years old, he was so intense with planes that I would take him on weekends to wherever we lived, the major airport, so he could spend hours on end just walking up and down, talking to pilots, picking up time schedules, so that he would become more familiar. At one time, he could tell you every plane by just looking up and state, well, that's such and such a plane, it's going so and so. COLBY: Do you think he'll be itching to get back on board?

WILLIAMS: Oh, without a doubt. Without a doubt.

COLBY: And what are the plans for the weekend? You have a lot of family in from out of town. Tonight is obviously going to be special. What are you expecting?

WILLIAMS: Well, tonight will be quiet, subdued, and get acquainted again with each other. And then tomorrow, all the family will come together and we'll have a cookout, because that's what he's requested, and just have a nice, easy, quiet day and just enjoy family.

COLBY: I heard from Michele, we're not talking hot dogs and hamburgers. He's requested steak, something that he probably hasn't had in a while.

WILLIAMS: I'm sure of that.

COLBY: It's great. We're so happy for you. And what do you think will be the first thing that you'll want to tell your son?

WILLIAMS: Well, the first thing I plan on doing, when it's my turn to hug him, I'm sure his wife is going to be first and after his mother goes second. But then when it's my turn, I'm going to give him a big hug and just tell him how proud I am and how much I love him.

COLBY: He's a great American. All seven of the POWs, the now freed POWs have served their country well. You must be very, very proud.

WILLIAMS: Very proud and very happy that all seven came back. I think it would have been very incomplete if that didn't happen.

COLBY: And I'm sure proud of Michele as well. I've spent time with her over the last couple of weeks. She, herself, is a soldier and she has handled this with such grace and dignity.

WILLIAMS: Not only as a soldier, but also as a mother, as she has two young ones, a 6-month-old little girl and a 2-year-old. So she was doing military duty during the day and family life without a father at night. So she's done remarkably well.

COLBY: How important are those children to David?

WILLIAMS: Very much so, because he's a strong family person. And anything that they do, it's always surrounded what the family can do.

COLBY: And you've said to me before that, you know, faith and determination in his service to his country got him through. We are anxiously awaiting seeing him, and thank you so much for taking the time today.

WILLIAMS: Thank you. It's almost time. COLBY: Almost. We're counting the hours here, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Jamie Colby and Mr. Williams.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com