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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Donald Bishop, Sabrina Bishop

Aired May 03, 2003 - 14:21   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: It's a long sail home to hopefully lots of kisses and embraces just like that. After nearly 10 months at sea, the remaining sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are coming back from war. The troops should reach their home base in Everett, Washington, in about three days from now. Our Frank Buckley is making the trip with the crew. Hi, Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Fredricka. The ship now along the West Coast of the United States, just along the coast, off the coast of California. We are steaming north in the direction of Everett, Washington, the home port, as you -- we will take you up to the navigation bridge where you can see the folks who are actually steering this ship, pointing us in the right direction and moving us in the direction that these sailors want to go to, and as you look out into the waters, you can see a little bit of mist in the air. We had some rain this morning, but the ship is making about 30 knots as these sailors head home to Everett, Washington.

Among the sailors head home is this guy right here, Donald Bishop, and Donald just got married right before deployment, June 8, and then he deployed July 20. To your wife Sabrina who we have on shore in Everett, now, Sabrina, I am going to talk to Donald here and ask him a question you probably had, which is, what kind a honeymoon is this for Sabrina?

DONALD BISHOP, PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS: What kind of honeymoon, that's not a honeymoon. We had a good time, an actual honeymoon in Bermuda. Best place I think we can go. But I couldn't have expected something like this. Six months was all right; 10 is pushing it.

BUCKLEY: We should tell our viewers who don't know that this ship was headed home and had to turn around in Australia. Let me -- let me ask Sabrina there. Sabrina, you got a view there of Donald? Anything that you want to say to him?

SABRINA BISHOP, DONALD BISHOP'S WIFE: I miss you. And I love you. I can't wait to have you home.

BUCKLEY: We've got a monitor set up here, Sabrina, so that Donald can see you. And what do you think? How does she look?

D. BISHOP: Just as I remember. I wish I could be there. Three more days. Just how I remember. Three more days, and this is all over. Be happy. Best time.

BUCKLEY: What would you like to say to Sabrina? D. BISHOP: Definitely love you, I miss you. Can't wait to be there.

BUCKLEY: Let me ask both of you guys, it's obviously difficult to be separated at any point if you're a couple, but you guys have been separated for 10 months at the beginning of your marriage. How has that tested you guys? Sabrina, I'll ask you first.

S. BISHOP: Well, we've been together for four years this year, so three of them he has been in the Navy so and we are kind of used to it, but 10 months, like he said, is pushing it. I don't know. We call once a week -- well, he calls me once a week, and we try to keep contact with each other, and we do what we can. Nothing else you can do.

BUCKLEY: Donald, what about you?

D. BISHOP: Don't know, 10 months, it's a long time. Just I'm so happy it's almost over so I can get back to my life. I missed a lot of it, and so much I need to catch up on. I don't know.

BUCKLEY: You know, it's sort of a cliche to ask you guys what the first thing you are going to do. But I suspect it'll be at least a hug and a kiss.

D. BISHOP: More than that. I mean, definitely a kiss. Just want to hold her and take her home. Go out. Have a good time. Catch up on everything I've missed. It's going to be a good time.

BUCKLEY: And, Sabrina, can I ask you, in these long months, have the love letters been coming and has it been poetic?

S. BISHOP: It depends. He's a very busy boy. So he's out (UNINTELLIGIBLE) work most of the time, so I get my one or two-liner e-mails here and there, but as long as I get my phone call once a week, I'm good.

BUCKLEY: Anything in the last remaining seconds you guys want to say to each other as we peak in on you guys and intrude on your moment here? Donald, you first and then Sabrina.

D. BISHOP: I love you and I am just so happy that I am almost home. We are going to catch up. And I miss you so much. Love you, dear.

BUCKLEY: And Sabrina?

S. BISHOP: Love you too. Two more days and a week up, and that's it. Listen, you know -- less than a week.

BUCKLEY: OK, guys.

S. BISHOP: I love you.

D. BISHOP: Less than a week.

BUCKLEY: All right.

D. BISHOP: I love you too, dear.

BUCKLEY: All right, I appreciate your time, Donald, and Sabrina, you as well. And thanks for letting us intrude on your special moment here. There will be many more reunions like that when coming here as we steam toward Everett, and also of course thousands of reunions on the pier, pier one in Everett, Washington, when the USS Abraham Lincoln arrives home on Tuesday -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Frank, that's great that you helped to make that happy. I am sure an awful lot of other crew members are rather jealous that they didn't get the opportunity to get this kind of satellite link-up as well.

BUCKLEY: Yes, I tell you, these guys are just so eager to get home. You know, the other day, the president came to the ship and made the prime-time address to the nation, and while they were proud of that moment, and they were excited about it, when you talk to the sailors, and you put it to them this way, which is more exciting, the fact that you are almost home, or the fact that the president is here? A lot of them were tipping in the direction of I can't wait until we get home.

WHITFIELD: Yes, no kidding! The understatement of the year. Thanks a lot, Frank. Appreciate it.

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 May 3, 2003 - 14:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's a long sail home to hopefully lots of kisses and embraces just like that. After nearly 10 months at sea, the remaining sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are coming back from war. The troops should reach their home base in Everett, Washington, in about three days from now. Our Frank Buckley is making the trip with the crew. Hi, Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Fredricka. The ship now along the West Coast of the United States, just along the coast, off the coast of California. We are steaming north in the direction of Everett, Washington, the home port, as you -- we will take you up to the navigation bridge where you can see the folks who are actually steering this ship, pointing us in the right direction and moving us in the direction that these sailors want to go to, and as you look out into the waters, you can see a little bit of mist in the air. We had some rain this morning, but the ship is making about 30 knots as these sailors head home to Everett, Washington.

Among the sailors head home is this guy right here, Donald Bishop, and Donald just got married right before deployment, June 8, and then he deployed July 20. To your wife Sabrina who we have on shore in Everett, now, Sabrina, I am going to talk to Donald here and ask him a question you probably had, which is, what kind a honeymoon is this for Sabrina?

DONALD BISHOP, PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS: What kind of honeymoon, that's not a honeymoon. We had a good time, an actual honeymoon in Bermuda. Best place I think we can go. But I couldn't have expected something like this. Six months was all right; 10 is pushing it.

BUCKLEY: We should tell our viewers who don't know that this ship was headed home and had to turn around in Australia. Let me -- let me ask Sabrina there. Sabrina, you got a view there of Donald? Anything that you want to say to him?

SABRINA BISHOP, DONALD BISHOP'S WIFE: I miss you. And I love you. I can't wait to have you home.

BUCKLEY: We've got a monitor set up here, Sabrina, so that Donald can see you. And what do you think? How does she look?

D. BISHOP: Just as I remember. I wish I could be there. Three more days. Just how I remember. Three more days, and this is all over. Be happy. Best time.

BUCKLEY: What would you like to say to Sabrina? D. BISHOP: Definitely love you, I miss you. Can't wait to be there.

BUCKLEY: Let me ask both of you guys, it's obviously difficult to be separated at any point if you're a couple, but you guys have been separated for 10 months at the beginning of your marriage. How has that tested you guys? Sabrina, I'll ask you first.

S. BISHOP: Well, we've been together for four years this year, so three of them he has been in the Navy so and we are kind of used to it, but 10 months, like he said, is pushing it. I don't know. We call once a week -- well, he calls me once a week, and we try to keep contact with each other, and we do what we can. Nothing else you can do.

BUCKLEY: Donald, what about you?

D. BISHOP: Don't know, 10 months, it's a long time. Just I'm so happy it's almost over so I can get back to my life. I missed a lot of it, and so much I need to catch up on. I don't know.

BUCKLEY: You know, it's sort of a cliche to ask you guys what the first thing you are going to do. But I suspect it'll be at least a hug and a kiss.

D. BISHOP: More than that. I mean, definitely a kiss. Just want to hold her and take her home. Go out. Have a good time. Catch up on everything I've missed. It's going to be a good time.

BUCKLEY: And, Sabrina, can I ask you, in these long months, have the love letters been coming and has it been poetic?

S. BISHOP: It depends. He's a very busy boy. So he's out (UNINTELLIGIBLE) work most of the time, so I get my one or two-liner e-mails here and there, but as long as I get my phone call once a week, I'm good.

BUCKLEY: Anything in the last remaining seconds you guys want to say to each other as we peak in on you guys and intrude on your moment here? Donald, you first and then Sabrina.

D. BISHOP: I love you and I am just so happy that I am almost home. We are going to catch up. And I miss you so much. Love you, dear.

BUCKLEY: And Sabrina?

S. BISHOP: Love you too. Two more days and a week up, and that's it. Listen, you know -- less than a week.

BUCKLEY: OK, guys.

S. BISHOP: I love you.

D. BISHOP: Less than a week.

BUCKLEY: All right.

D. BISHOP: I love you too, dear.

BUCKLEY: All right, I appreciate your time, Donald, and Sabrina, you as well. And thanks for letting us intrude on your special moment here. There will be many more reunions like that when coming here as we steam toward Everett, and also of course thousands of reunions on the pier, pier one in Everett, Washington, when the USS Abraham Lincoln arrives home on Tuesday -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Frank, that's great that you helped to make that happy. I am sure an awful lot of other crew members are rather jealous that they didn't get the opportunity to get this kind of satellite link-up as well.

BUCKLEY: Yes, I tell you, these guys are just so eager to get home. You know, the other day, the president came to the ship and made the prime-time address to the nation, and while they were proud of that moment, and they were excited about it, when you talk to the sailors, and you put it to them this way, which is more exciting, the fact that you are almost home, or the fact that the president is here? A lot of them were tipping in the direction of I can't wait until we get home.

WHITFIELD: Yes, no kidding! The understatement of the year. Thanks a lot, Frank. Appreciate it.

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