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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's New War: Marines Training for War
Aired September 20, 2001 - 08:08 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, I'm going to check in with Brian Nelson, who joins us from Camp Lejeune.
What's going on there right now, Brian?
BRIAN NELSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, Paula.
Yes, this is Camp Lejeune, and it's the home of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. And as you can see behind me, all these Marines are preparing to ship out this morning for a previously scheduled rotation and deployment in the Middle East.
There's 2,200 in all. They are saying goodbyes to family and friends at the moment. They have just completed six months of intense training.
Now, what's interesting about this group is that they have a designation called "Special Ops Capable." And a lot of people are focusing on that and wondering if they're going to have any role in any post-terrorist attack in the coming weeks and months ahead.
So let us call over here Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Faulkner. You're the commander of the support group of this unit.
Colonel, what do you understand the mission to be?
LT. MARK FAULKNER, MARINE CORP: Well, what we're getting ready to do here today is really is what a regular rotation of forward deployed forces. So recognizing the incidents of the last week, this is something that we have done for years. And we're just rotating with another MEU-SOC in the Mediterranean Sea.
NELSON: Now, I understand that you can be deployed -- redeployed somewhere else at any moment once you're out on those ships:
FAULKNER: We could, we could be. And that's another one of our many attributes of this Marine air-ground task force is the fact that we are so flexible and adaptable that we can be used by the National Command Authority to respond to a myriad of missions.
NELSON: Now, this Special Ops Capable has many people wondering if you or this group -- part of this group anyway might be sent in behind certain lines. And tell me about that group?
FAULKNER: About my group?
NELSON: Yes, this Special Ops group element to this unit.
FAULKNER: Right. Well, the entire Marine Expeditionary Unit is certified as Special Operations Capable. Again, what that means is there are a good number of missions, be it a precision raid, be it an evacuation of an embassy, a non-combative evacuation operation, or a humanitarian assistance operation, which is what my unit does, so we could be called upon to do.
And again, the point with a Special Operations Capable, it really does address our flexibility to respond to any assigned mission.
NELSON: Have you any sense of a changed mandate coming since you began this deployment out?
FAULKNER: None. And I think it's dangerous to speculate, and we don't want to do that. We just want to focus on what we have to do, get to the Mediterranean Sea and participate and be called upon -- be ready to do whatever we're called upon to do.
NELSON: OK, thank you very much, Colonel.
FAULKNER: Yes, sir.
NELSON: And one of the many people who is being shipped out today is Lieutenant -- I'm sorry -- Lieutenant Corporal -- Lance Corporal, I should say, Landon (sic) Woollett. And his mother has come all the way from Houston to talk to him -- Terry -- Barbara Terry (sic).
Let's start with you, Corporal. How do you feel about this assignment?
LANCE CORPORAL TERRY WOOLLETT, SON: Well, I'm very motivated, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to returning home (UNINTELLIGIBLE) .
NELSON: Are you anticipating action other than a simple training mission?
T. WOLLETT: Yes, I am, actually. Through the news media that I've heard of, I am anticipating something to happen, sir.
NELSON: Would you like to get into action if that happens if the president calls?
T. WOLLETT: Yes, sir.
NELSON: You would, huh? Do you have any concerns?
T. WOLLETT: I am concerned about my safety and well being and as well as with the other Marines -- the sailors that I'll be with. And that's...
NELSON: Let me ask you about your sentiments to the awful events last week in New York and Washington. How did you feel when you saw that?
T. WOLLETT: Well, at the time I was busy working getting ready for this deployment. And when I heard about it, it just -- it took me by surprise. And it was really hard to soak it up and accept the fact that what happened, you know.
NELSON: You just step in here quickly before we go. Barbara Terry (sic), you drove all the way -- you flew all the way from Houston...
BARBARA WOLLETT, MOTHER: Right.
NELSON: ... to say goodbye to your son. And what's your feelings at this moment?
BARBARA WOOLLETT, MOTHER: Well, I came here to support him and to make him feel better about what he might be doing. But it's kind of ironic, because I'm falling apart inside, but he's the one -- so he's the one that's giving me support. He's very proud, and he's very, you know, positive, and he's keeping a high level of optimism. And as a mom, I am worried, and so it's kind of ironic, because he's giving me support.
So -- but, yes, I flew from Houston. We have two smaller daughters. And of course, they hear the news, and they don't understand it. One is as young as seven. And so -- and they love their brother. That's all they understand. They love their brother, and he might be going someplace a little bit more dangerous than Houston. And so, I am there -- I am here for them as well.
NELSON: I wish you stamina and strength...
B. WOLLETT: Thank you.
NELSON: ... Barbara Terry (sic) -- thank you. And Lance Corporal, wish you the best of luck.
T. WOOLLETT: Thank you.
NELSON: God speed, OK?
B. WOLLETT: Thanks.
NELSON: Well, that brings us to the end of this from Camp Lejeune, these troops of 2,200 members of the Marine Expeditionary Unit will be moving up to Morehead City, boarding three amphibious ships, and at this point, heading somewhere in the Middle East, unless their orders change.
This is Brian Nelson -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Brian. And we will be checking in with you throughout the morning to check out the progress of some of those folks you just interviewed at Camp Lejeune.
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