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Two Sets of Remains Found by U.S. Forces Not Americans
Aired April 03, 2003 - 15:53 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: When U.S. forces captured 19-year-old POW, Jessica Lynch, two nights ago in a daring raid, it was also reported that they had recovered the bodies, the remains of 11 others. We've been waiting to find out the identity of those. Our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon has more an that now -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Judy, there is some initial information. Defense officials are telling CNN that two sets of those remains have now been returned to an Iraqi hospital. There has been an initial determination that those two sets of remains were not the remains of Americans.
Now the other nine sets of remains are going to undergo complete DNA analysis. We believe that those remains will be processed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The military not making it precisely clear as to the location of those nine sets of remains at this time.
But at least now we do know that two of the sets of remains are being returned to an Iraqi hospital. The determination having been made that they are not Americans. The DNA analysis continues on the others -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: So Barbara, the signs seem to point in that direction, you're saying. But until they make positive identification, they're not saying?
STARR: That's correct. The U.S. military has a very well known, very intense process for the identification of the remains of servicemen and women recovered from the battlefield. There is extensive laboratory procedures that have to be undergone. And then there is an extensive family notification process, of course. So it could be some days before we get more information on it, but they do appear to be narrowing their search just a bit.
WOODRUFF: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon with more information on the remains that U.S. forces found when they made that daring raid on what Iraqis were calling a hospital near Nasiriya. They were able to bring out safely Jessica Lynch, and we are waiting right now for a news conference. Her parents are expecting to talk to reporters in just a short time from their home or near their home in Palestine, West Virginia.
Obviously, a very happy family. But we're waiting to hear more from them -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much. That will be very interesting to listen to the parents of Jessica Lynch.
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 3, 2003 - 15:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: When U.S. forces captured 19-year-old POW, Jessica Lynch, two nights ago in a daring raid, it was also reported that they had recovered the bodies, the remains of 11 others. We've been waiting to find out the identity of those. Our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon has more an that now -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Judy, there is some initial information. Defense officials are telling CNN that two sets of those remains have now been returned to an Iraqi hospital. There has been an initial determination that those two sets of remains were not the remains of Americans.
Now the other nine sets of remains are going to undergo complete DNA analysis. We believe that those remains will be processed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The military not making it precisely clear as to the location of those nine sets of remains at this time.
But at least now we do know that two of the sets of remains are being returned to an Iraqi hospital. The determination having been made that they are not Americans. The DNA analysis continues on the others -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: So Barbara, the signs seem to point in that direction, you're saying. But until they make positive identification, they're not saying?
STARR: That's correct. The U.S. military has a very well known, very intense process for the identification of the remains of servicemen and women recovered from the battlefield. There is extensive laboratory procedures that have to be undergone. And then there is an extensive family notification process, of course. So it could be some days before we get more information on it, but they do appear to be narrowing their search just a bit.
WOODRUFF: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon with more information on the remains that U.S. forces found when they made that daring raid on what Iraqis were calling a hospital near Nasiriya. They were able to bring out safely Jessica Lynch, and we are waiting right now for a news conference. Her parents are expecting to talk to reporters in just a short time from their home or near their home in Palestine, West Virginia.
Obviously, a very happy family. But we're waiting to hear more from them -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much. That will be very interesting to listen to the parents of Jessica Lynch.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
