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Interview With Snow Family

Aired April 16, 2003 - 14:16   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, yesterday we talked with Navy Lieutenant Commander Scott Snow on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. He and a ship full of excited sailors are on their way home from the Gulf after months at sea.
Commander Snow is one of the strike fighter pilots within the squadron VF-31, the Tomcatters. They were the first guys to launch off the carrier and drop bombs over Iraq. And today he's with us on the phone again and this time we have a little bit of a surprise in store.

With us from Virginia Beach, Virginia is Scott's wife, Fawn, and their new baby, Logan. And, Fauna, I have to tell you the entire newsroom is in love with that little boy.

FAWN SNOW, COMMANDER SNOW'S WIFE: Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Well, I've got to ask you, Fawn -- you've got to be one of the strongest women I've ever talked to. Nine months -- you were pregnant at that time that Scott first took off. Then just getting these letters from him, knowing what was happening in Iraq. How did you remain so strong?

F. SNOW: Definitely our faith in God help a lot. And then our family and friends and neighbors have been absolutely fantastic with their support of us. And of course just knowing so many Americans support us and are behind what we're doing in Iraq.

PHILLIPS: And, Scott, you were lucky enough to go home for just a couple of weeks, just in time for the birth of Logan. Take us back and tell us what it was like.

LT. CMDR. SCOTT SNOW, U.S. NAVY: Well, Kyra, sorry for the delay. It was very amazing. I was able to get home. I got recalled on New Year's Day and then lo and behold, four days later, Logan was born and I shipped out seven days after that

PHILLIPS: What was it like when you first saw him?

S. SNOW: I got to tell you, I cried my eyes out. It was such an amazing experience, something that you can never understand how other parents feel about their kids until you have one of your own. PHILLIPS: So, Scott, while you were there in Iraq, how did you keep up with Logan's growth? Was Fawn e-mailing you a number of pictures and writing letters on a constant basis?

S. SNOW: Yes. We would e-mail pretty much every day and I'd get a picture just about every other day. It turned out fantastic. I've gotten to see most of the outfits that he goes through. Apparently he will stand still or stay still for a couple of seconds to get the picture done and then he'll destroy that outfit and she'll throw another one on him.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Now, Fawn, something that definitely hasn't been destroyed -- and I learned this about your husband when I was overseas on the Abraham Lincoln. He's been writing letters to Logan, and I know you have with you one of the first ones that he wrote. Would you mind just reading to us the first part of that letter and the last part of that letter?

F. SNOW: Sure. Logan's daddy writes, "Dearest Logan, you are now just 2-months-old and I am on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Your mother is taking great care of you and sends me pictures every day.

"You are growing so fast and you change in every picture I see. I love that I was able to be at the hospital when you were born. I was recalled to my fighter squadron one week afterwards.

"The world is an ever changing place and currently we are helping liberate the people of Iraq, but we must first dispose of their evil leader Saddam Hussein and their weapons of mass destruction. He supports the terrorist that attack our country and others, causing thousands of innocent lives to be lost.

"I am flying the F-14D Super Tomcat Fighter Jets off the carrier as a department head in fighter squadron 31, the Tomcatters, with Felix the Cat as the squadron symbol and mascot.

"I miss you and love you very much. You are the son I have always dreamed of. You are a great and a very hungry son." Sorry about that.

"And Fawn and I are extremely excited to watch you grow and learn. We know you will always make us happy and proud to be your parents.

"I am working hard to make the world a safer place for you to live in. My hope is for the future as a world without terrorists, weapons of mass destruction and evil regimes like the ones we are after now. I hope by the time you read these letters there is peace on earth. You bring peace to my heart and joy to my soul. Thank you for being our son.

"Love, Dad."

PHILLIPS: Oh, Fawn. You should hear the newsroom. They're all saying aw.

Now, Scott, when you hear this letter again, the one that your wrote to Logan, his very first letter, tell me why you wrote letters and why you continue to write Logan letters.

S. SNOW: Well I -- Kyra, I wanted to make sure that he could experience and know while I was gone what I was trying to do for him and for the rest of America to make America a better place and to help us have peace on earth.

PHILLIPS: Now, you had kind of wish that your dad had done the same for you. You were telling me this was sort of an inspiration, kind of learning about your father and the war that he was in and how you wanted to make things a little different for Logan with regard to memories.

S. SNOW: Absolutely. I remember as a younger child that we ran across my dad's sailor uniforms in the closet. He was a signalman in the Korean War, but there was really not much. There was maybe two or three photos and then these -- all these old medals and sailor suits that we would wear around and jump around the house and play in dress up.

And the one thing I'd like to do for Logan is, you know, to able to give him these letters when he's you know 18, 19-years-old and he really understand them and kind of understand what I'm going through and the thoughts and feelings and how war really is and some of the things that happened to me as I'm going through the middle of getting shot at and having to jank (ph) around the jet and dropping bombs and doing all of that.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, when you read those letters from Scott to Logan and he did talk about being shot at and he did talk about dropping bombs over Baghdad, how did you absorb all of that?

F. SNOW: You know, it's something when you realize that the person that's your best friend and your husband and the father of your baby is actually a darn tough warrior. So I think that was one thing I had to absorb.

PHILLIPS: Do you think Logan is a lot like his father?

F. SNOW: I think Logan is perfect, so, yes, I think he is a lot like his father.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Scott, what do you think? Do you see a lot of yourself in your son?

S. SNOW: Well, he does a lot of eating and sleeping, so that's pretty much what I do a lot of as well, so...

PHILLIPS: Scott, what are you going to do the first time you see Logan? S. SNOW: Well, I'm going to kiss him on the head. And I hope he doesn't burp up on me and probably end up changing the diaper. But I think I'm going to hold on to him and on to Fawn and probably never let them go.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, how does that sound to you?

F. SNOW: Perfect. Very good.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, what do you think you've missed the most about your husband and the father of your son?

F. SNOW: Just having him here and -- this is our first child. So I know Scott's missed some things and I haven't been keeping track of all the diaper changes he's missed.

But I'll tell you what, Kyra, we'll be so glad to have him home. But we're very, very proud of all the things he and the other guys and girls have done out there.

PHILLIPS: Well before we let you go, Fawn, anything you want to say to Scott?

F. SNOW: Scott, we love you very much and we're getting bigger every day and Logan has a fabulous outfit to wear for your fly-in.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: And, Scott, how about you? A message to Fawn and Logan?

S. SNOW: Well, I just want to say I love them both very, very much and I cannot wait. These two weeks cannot go by fast enough until I can hold them again.

PHILLIPS: Well, we're going to be there for the homecoming. Lieutenant Commander Scott Snow on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Fawn and Logan Snow, thank you so much. You touched all of us today in a big way.

F. SNOW: Thank you.

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 16, 2003 - 14:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, yesterday we talked with Navy Lieutenant Commander Scott Snow on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. He and a ship full of excited sailors are on their way home from the Gulf after months at sea.
Commander Snow is one of the strike fighter pilots within the squadron VF-31, the Tomcatters. They were the first guys to launch off the carrier and drop bombs over Iraq. And today he's with us on the phone again and this time we have a little bit of a surprise in store.

With us from Virginia Beach, Virginia is Scott's wife, Fawn, and their new baby, Logan. And, Fauna, I have to tell you the entire newsroom is in love with that little boy.

FAWN SNOW, COMMANDER SNOW'S WIFE: Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Well, I've got to ask you, Fawn -- you've got to be one of the strongest women I've ever talked to. Nine months -- you were pregnant at that time that Scott first took off. Then just getting these letters from him, knowing what was happening in Iraq. How did you remain so strong?

F. SNOW: Definitely our faith in God help a lot. And then our family and friends and neighbors have been absolutely fantastic with their support of us. And of course just knowing so many Americans support us and are behind what we're doing in Iraq.

PHILLIPS: And, Scott, you were lucky enough to go home for just a couple of weeks, just in time for the birth of Logan. Take us back and tell us what it was like.

LT. CMDR. SCOTT SNOW, U.S. NAVY: Well, Kyra, sorry for the delay. It was very amazing. I was able to get home. I got recalled on New Year's Day and then lo and behold, four days later, Logan was born and I shipped out seven days after that

PHILLIPS: What was it like when you first saw him?

S. SNOW: I got to tell you, I cried my eyes out. It was such an amazing experience, something that you can never understand how other parents feel about their kids until you have one of your own. PHILLIPS: So, Scott, while you were there in Iraq, how did you keep up with Logan's growth? Was Fawn e-mailing you a number of pictures and writing letters on a constant basis?

S. SNOW: Yes. We would e-mail pretty much every day and I'd get a picture just about every other day. It turned out fantastic. I've gotten to see most of the outfits that he goes through. Apparently he will stand still or stay still for a couple of seconds to get the picture done and then he'll destroy that outfit and she'll throw another one on him.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Now, Fawn, something that definitely hasn't been destroyed -- and I learned this about your husband when I was overseas on the Abraham Lincoln. He's been writing letters to Logan, and I know you have with you one of the first ones that he wrote. Would you mind just reading to us the first part of that letter and the last part of that letter?

F. SNOW: Sure. Logan's daddy writes, "Dearest Logan, you are now just 2-months-old and I am on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Your mother is taking great care of you and sends me pictures every day.

"You are growing so fast and you change in every picture I see. I love that I was able to be at the hospital when you were born. I was recalled to my fighter squadron one week afterwards.

"The world is an ever changing place and currently we are helping liberate the people of Iraq, but we must first dispose of their evil leader Saddam Hussein and their weapons of mass destruction. He supports the terrorist that attack our country and others, causing thousands of innocent lives to be lost.

"I am flying the F-14D Super Tomcat Fighter Jets off the carrier as a department head in fighter squadron 31, the Tomcatters, with Felix the Cat as the squadron symbol and mascot.

"I miss you and love you very much. You are the son I have always dreamed of. You are a great and a very hungry son." Sorry about that.

"And Fawn and I are extremely excited to watch you grow and learn. We know you will always make us happy and proud to be your parents.

"I am working hard to make the world a safer place for you to live in. My hope is for the future as a world without terrorists, weapons of mass destruction and evil regimes like the ones we are after now. I hope by the time you read these letters there is peace on earth. You bring peace to my heart and joy to my soul. Thank you for being our son.

"Love, Dad."

PHILLIPS: Oh, Fawn. You should hear the newsroom. They're all saying aw.

Now, Scott, when you hear this letter again, the one that your wrote to Logan, his very first letter, tell me why you wrote letters and why you continue to write Logan letters.

S. SNOW: Well I -- Kyra, I wanted to make sure that he could experience and know while I was gone what I was trying to do for him and for the rest of America to make America a better place and to help us have peace on earth.

PHILLIPS: Now, you had kind of wish that your dad had done the same for you. You were telling me this was sort of an inspiration, kind of learning about your father and the war that he was in and how you wanted to make things a little different for Logan with regard to memories.

S. SNOW: Absolutely. I remember as a younger child that we ran across my dad's sailor uniforms in the closet. He was a signalman in the Korean War, but there was really not much. There was maybe two or three photos and then these -- all these old medals and sailor suits that we would wear around and jump around the house and play in dress up.

And the one thing I'd like to do for Logan is, you know, to able to give him these letters when he's you know 18, 19-years-old and he really understand them and kind of understand what I'm going through and the thoughts and feelings and how war really is and some of the things that happened to me as I'm going through the middle of getting shot at and having to jank (ph) around the jet and dropping bombs and doing all of that.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, when you read those letters from Scott to Logan and he did talk about being shot at and he did talk about dropping bombs over Baghdad, how did you absorb all of that?

F. SNOW: You know, it's something when you realize that the person that's your best friend and your husband and the father of your baby is actually a darn tough warrior. So I think that was one thing I had to absorb.

PHILLIPS: Do you think Logan is a lot like his father?

F. SNOW: I think Logan is perfect, so, yes, I think he is a lot like his father.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Scott, what do you think? Do you see a lot of yourself in your son?

S. SNOW: Well, he does a lot of eating and sleeping, so that's pretty much what I do a lot of as well, so...

PHILLIPS: Scott, what are you going to do the first time you see Logan? S. SNOW: Well, I'm going to kiss him on the head. And I hope he doesn't burp up on me and probably end up changing the diaper. But I think I'm going to hold on to him and on to Fawn and probably never let them go.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, how does that sound to you?

F. SNOW: Perfect. Very good.

PHILLIPS: Fawn, what do you think you've missed the most about your husband and the father of your son?

F. SNOW: Just having him here and -- this is our first child. So I know Scott's missed some things and I haven't been keeping track of all the diaper changes he's missed.

But I'll tell you what, Kyra, we'll be so glad to have him home. But we're very, very proud of all the things he and the other guys and girls have done out there.

PHILLIPS: Well before we let you go, Fawn, anything you want to say to Scott?

F. SNOW: Scott, we love you very much and we're getting bigger every day and Logan has a fabulous outfit to wear for your fly-in.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: And, Scott, how about you? A message to Fawn and Logan?

S. SNOW: Well, I just want to say I love them both very, very much and I cannot wait. These two weeks cannot go by fast enough until I can hold them again.

PHILLIPS: Well, we're going to be there for the homecoming. Lieutenant Commander Scott Snow on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Fawn and Logan Snow, thank you so much. You touched all of us today in a big way.

F. SNOW: Thank you.

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