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USS Kitty Hawk Returns to Home Away From Home
Aired May 06, 2003 - 15:04 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: As we showed you live on CNN just a short time ago, the crew of the air craft carrier Abraham Lincoln has arrived to a hero welcome at its home port of Everett, Washington.
Earlier today the scene was very similar as the USS Kitty Hawk arrived back at its home port with one major difference; home in this case is Japan, because the Kitty Hawk is the only carrier group based outside the United States.
CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon has more on the return of the Kitty Hawk to its home away from home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After more than 100 days at sea, Roger Getz (ph) and his wife, Naoko (ph), are reunited. He meets his newborn son, Theodore (ph), also called Uki (ph) for the very first time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is absolutely beautiful. She sent me pictures on my e-mail, and he looked beautiful on there, but two times better in person.
MACKINNON: Emotional reunions in Ukoska, Japan, home away from home.
(on camera): The Kitty Hawk is the only aircraft carrier battle group whose home port is not in the United States. And that means that homecoming for these sailors is a little bit different than homecoming for sailors on other carriers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE" I need everyone to be on their best behavior tomorrow and always as we represent the United States in the foreign country.
MACKINNON (voice-over): A captain's warning to sailors before going ashore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Japanese people have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome here. They are guests of the people of Japan and everything we can do to prevent any strains in that relationship, I'm anxious to do.
MACKINNON: Bombing missions launched from the Kitty Hawk helped win the car in Iraq, a war Japan's government supported. But not all people in Japan did, as three small protest boats made clear. This protester hopes the U.S. won't attack North Korea next.
Still, fear of a North Korean attack on Japan is a big reason why the Kitty Hawk's presence is welcomed here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Korean War is now on hold. Our ability to respond is really important to the commanders that are confronted by this particular challenge. And so that's why we feel our presence here is very important.
MACKINNON: But for now, future missions and potential wars are the last thing these happy young families want to think about.
Rebecca MacKinnon, CNN, Ukoska, Japan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Homecoming is homecoming no matter where it takes place.
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 6, 2003 - 15:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: As we showed you live on CNN just a short time ago, the crew of the air craft carrier Abraham Lincoln has arrived to a hero welcome at its home port of Everett, Washington.
Earlier today the scene was very similar as the USS Kitty Hawk arrived back at its home port with one major difference; home in this case is Japan, because the Kitty Hawk is the only carrier group based outside the United States.
CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon has more on the return of the Kitty Hawk to its home away from home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After more than 100 days at sea, Roger Getz (ph) and his wife, Naoko (ph), are reunited. He meets his newborn son, Theodore (ph), also called Uki (ph) for the very first time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is absolutely beautiful. She sent me pictures on my e-mail, and he looked beautiful on there, but two times better in person.
MACKINNON: Emotional reunions in Ukoska, Japan, home away from home.
(on camera): The Kitty Hawk is the only aircraft carrier battle group whose home port is not in the United States. And that means that homecoming for these sailors is a little bit different than homecoming for sailors on other carriers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE" I need everyone to be on their best behavior tomorrow and always as we represent the United States in the foreign country.
MACKINNON (voice-over): A captain's warning to sailors before going ashore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Japanese people have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome here. They are guests of the people of Japan and everything we can do to prevent any strains in that relationship, I'm anxious to do.
MACKINNON: Bombing missions launched from the Kitty Hawk helped win the car in Iraq, a war Japan's government supported. But not all people in Japan did, as three small protest boats made clear. This protester hopes the U.S. won't attack North Korea next.
Still, fear of a North Korean attack on Japan is a big reason why the Kitty Hawk's presence is welcomed here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Korean War is now on hold. Our ability to respond is really important to the commanders that are confronted by this particular challenge. And so that's why we feel our presence here is very important.
MACKINNON: But for now, future missions and potential wars are the last thing these happy young families want to think about.
Rebecca MacKinnon, CNN, Ukoska, Japan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Homecoming is homecoming no matter where it takes place.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
