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CNN Live Saturday
Fort Bliss Prepares for Arrival of Ex-POWs
Aired April 19, 2003 - 14:15 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Those seven former American prisoners of war are on a plane headed for Texas. Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson was smiling and waving as she and her colleagues boarded a military plane at Ramstein Air Base in Germany earlier today. They are expected to arrive at Fort Bliss, Texas, between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Eastern time tonight.
Joining us live from Fort Bliss is CNN's Thelma Gutierrez. So I know that they are revving up the band and they're getting ready for a big party, right?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They sure are, Andrea, but that party is still another six to eight hours away. So we are a little bit early today. Now, thousands are expected to attend the celebration tonight. And that's according to the base. The event will be opened to just about anybody in the public who wants to attend.
Now, the celebration will take place on the tarmac here at Fort Bliss, and early this morning, all seven former POWs boarded an aircraft at Ramstein air base in Germany, and they headed home.
Now, even though this is a very joyous occasion for the families of these soldiers, folks here at the base have not forgotten their fallen comrades from Fort Bliss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN OFFUTT, FORT BLISS PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR: This is a celebration for us, even though we do this with a bittersweet feeling. We know that nine other soldiers did die, and we have about 5,000 still there. So when they all come home, we will really celebrate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: And Shoshana Johnson's family told us that after so many weeks of worrying, she was overwhelmed by the good news.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA ROLAND, FRIEND OF FORMER POW: I'm so happy she's home. Just --- I'm just so happy she's home. And tell her how much, you know, that I love her. And --- probably once I hug her I am not going to want to let go.
(END VIDEO CLIP) GUTIERREZ: Now, according to a spokesperson here at the base, Easter Sunday tomorrow should be a very quiet and a very private time for the soldiers and their families. This, after a very public celebration tonight -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Well, we couldn't be happier for all of them. Thelma Gutierrez, thank you very much.
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 - 14:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Those seven former American prisoners of war are on a plane headed for Texas. Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson was smiling and waving as she and her colleagues boarded a military plane at Ramstein Air Base in Germany earlier today. They are expected to arrive at Fort Bliss, Texas, between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Eastern time tonight.
Joining us live from Fort Bliss is CNN's Thelma Gutierrez. So I know that they are revving up the band and they're getting ready for a big party, right?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They sure are, Andrea, but that party is still another six to eight hours away. So we are a little bit early today. Now, thousands are expected to attend the celebration tonight. And that's according to the base. The event will be opened to just about anybody in the public who wants to attend.
Now, the celebration will take place on the tarmac here at Fort Bliss, and early this morning, all seven former POWs boarded an aircraft at Ramstein air base in Germany, and they headed home.
Now, even though this is a very joyous occasion for the families of these soldiers, folks here at the base have not forgotten their fallen comrades from Fort Bliss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN OFFUTT, FORT BLISS PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR: This is a celebration for us, even though we do this with a bittersweet feeling. We know that nine other soldiers did die, and we have about 5,000 still there. So when they all come home, we will really celebrate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: And Shoshana Johnson's family told us that after so many weeks of worrying, she was overwhelmed by the good news.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA ROLAND, FRIEND OF FORMER POW: I'm so happy she's home. Just --- I'm just so happy she's home. And tell her how much, you know, that I love her. And --- probably once I hug her I am not going to want to let go.
(END VIDEO CLIP) GUTIERREZ: Now, according to a spokesperson here at the base, Easter Sunday tomorrow should be a very quiet and a very private time for the soldiers and their families. This, after a very public celebration tonight -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Well, we couldn't be happier for all of them. Thelma Gutierrez, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
