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Marines Prepared to Head Ashore for Homecoming
Aired May 26, 2003 - 13:23 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: It's Memorial Day. That also means homecoming for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. It's the first major Marine contingent to return from the war in Iraq, and CNN's Frank Buckley is on the deck of the USS Nassau right off Camp Lejeune, North Carolina -- hi, Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra. In fact, this landing craft is about to head out. They have given us the two- minute warning, so what I'd like to do quickly is walk down here onto this LCU and talk to a couple of Marines real quick to ask them how they're feeling just before they head home. They're about to head out. Let's talk to this guy.
You're headed home right now, finally, on the landing craft, the one that's going to take you home after a nine-month deployment. Tell me how it feels.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got no words, man. Awesome. Awesome. I'm going home, along with the rest of my platoon. It's been a long float. Finally home.
BUCKLEY: Who is going to be there to greet you when you get home? Who do you want to see the most?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My family. Family is everything. Can't wait. Can't wait to get home.
BUCKLEY: You guys were in the jungles of Kenya, you went to Djibouti, you were in the desert of Iraq. You did a month in-country. It must have been difficult for your families not knowing how you guys were doing. Tell me the first words back to your family once you knew you were clear of Iraq?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She said she started crying, and her prayers were answered. So she was happy.
BUCKLEY: All right. Well, thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Let me talk to another one of your members here.
What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Corey Owensby (ph), Corporal Corey Owensby (ph).
BUCKLEY: Well, Corporal, you're on your LCU, the last ride of the float (AUDIO GAP). Tell me how you're feeling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel great, really looking forward to this.
BUCKLEY: Let me ask you -- this is taking place on Memorial Day. That's a special day for Marines. Tell me what it means to you that you're going...
PHILLIPS: All right. We apologize. We lost our signal there with Frank Buckley, rather, on the deck of the USS Nassau.
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 26, 2003 - 13:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's Memorial Day. That also means homecoming for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. It's the first major Marine contingent to return from the war in Iraq, and CNN's Frank Buckley is on the deck of the USS Nassau right off Camp Lejeune, North Carolina -- hi, Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra. In fact, this landing craft is about to head out. They have given us the two- minute warning, so what I'd like to do quickly is walk down here onto this LCU and talk to a couple of Marines real quick to ask them how they're feeling just before they head home. They're about to head out. Let's talk to this guy.
You're headed home right now, finally, on the landing craft, the one that's going to take you home after a nine-month deployment. Tell me how it feels.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got no words, man. Awesome. Awesome. I'm going home, along with the rest of my platoon. It's been a long float. Finally home.
BUCKLEY: Who is going to be there to greet you when you get home? Who do you want to see the most?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My family. Family is everything. Can't wait. Can't wait to get home.
BUCKLEY: You guys were in the jungles of Kenya, you went to Djibouti, you were in the desert of Iraq. You did a month in-country. It must have been difficult for your families not knowing how you guys were doing. Tell me the first words back to your family once you knew you were clear of Iraq?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She said she started crying, and her prayers were answered. So she was happy.
BUCKLEY: All right. Well, thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Let me talk to another one of your members here.
What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Corey Owensby (ph), Corporal Corey Owensby (ph).
BUCKLEY: Well, Corporal, you're on your LCU, the last ride of the float (AUDIO GAP). Tell me how you're feeling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel great, really looking forward to this.
BUCKLEY: Let me ask you -- this is taking place on Memorial Day. That's a special day for Marines. Tell me what it means to you that you're going...
PHILLIPS: All right. We apologize. We lost our signal there with Frank Buckley, rather, on the deck of the USS Nassau.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
