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Interview With Members of 3rd Infantry Division
Aired May 26, 2003 - 13:37 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: In Baghdad on this Memorial Day, our Matthew Chance is with some U.S. soldiers who are packing up and getting ready to come home. We'll go live to Baghdad as this 3rd Infantry Division gets ready to leave Iraq -- hi, Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. And they are certainly hoping that order will come through, the 3rd Infantry Division, that they can go home. It hasn't done so yet, it hasn't come through. They are still waiting to see when they can go back to their families and loved ones that they have been away for, at least some of those people in that division, been away for more than eight months.
I'm with a couple of privates there, the men, who would say that they do the real work of this army, Kenneth Towe and Christopher Freedle, both from North Carolina. Thank you for being with us on CNN.
Let me speak to you first, Christopher. What was your highlight of the war? What was the biggest moment for you?
CHRISTOPHER FREEDLE, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: The biggest moment for me, sir, was -- I would have to say the ambush in An-Najaf, sir. Of course, it was a very exciting time when we got ambushed, sir. It was a very awakening moment for me, sir, because, of course, I came -- I had a close call, but there's nothing like war, sir. I am very proud to be a soldier of the United States Army, sir. And I really enjoyed what I did for my country, sir.
CHANCE: And Private, are you looking forward to going home to see your family, your friends?
KENNETH TOWE, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: I'm really looking forward to going home and being with my family once again. It's been a long trip and I really loved it, but it's time I go back home and be with my family where I should be.
CHANCE: How does it make you feel when you see those other units, the Marines, arriving back to a big, big welcome they have been getting at home? Do you think you should be going back first? Are you frustrated about staying here?
TOWE: I really ain't frustrated because I know the job here still ain't done, and that's our mission, is not to leave until the mission is done, and it makes me feel proud that we're the one that led the attack, and we're still here doing the job while other people go home. CHANCE: Because your task force was the first one, of course, into Baghdad, Task Force 164. Do you think, Christopher, that you have made a difference to this country?
FREEDLE: Yes I do, sir. I really think that -- from my job and the activities that I did over here, that I have made it better for a lot of Iraqi citizens in the future to come, made it better for my country, doing what I love to do: doing my job as a United States soldier.
CHANCE: All right. Thank you very much. Privates Kenneth Towe and Christopher Freedle, both from North Carolina. For the moment, then, it's back to you in the studio. I just want to add one last point, though, is that although the major combat operations and situations have basically come to an end, here in Iraq, there is still a very uncertain security situation, and the role of U.S. forces have pretty much changed from that of a combat operation, more and more to a situation where they have to try and keep the peace -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our Matthew Chance there with the 3rd Infantry Division as they get ready to leave Iraq. Thanks, Matthew.
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 - 13:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad on this Memorial Day, our Matthew Chance is with some U.S. soldiers who are packing up and getting ready to come home. We'll go live to Baghdad as this 3rd Infantry Division gets ready to leave Iraq -- hi, Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. And they are certainly hoping that order will come through, the 3rd Infantry Division, that they can go home. It hasn't done so yet, it hasn't come through. They are still waiting to see when they can go back to their families and loved ones that they have been away for, at least some of those people in that division, been away for more than eight months.
I'm with a couple of privates there, the men, who would say that they do the real work of this army, Kenneth Towe and Christopher Freedle, both from North Carolina. Thank you for being with us on CNN.
Let me speak to you first, Christopher. What was your highlight of the war? What was the biggest moment for you?
CHRISTOPHER FREEDLE, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: The biggest moment for me, sir, was -- I would have to say the ambush in An-Najaf, sir. Of course, it was a very exciting time when we got ambushed, sir. It was a very awakening moment for me, sir, because, of course, I came -- I had a close call, but there's nothing like war, sir. I am very proud to be a soldier of the United States Army, sir. And I really enjoyed what I did for my country, sir.
CHANCE: And Private, are you looking forward to going home to see your family, your friends?
KENNETH TOWE, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: I'm really looking forward to going home and being with my family once again. It's been a long trip and I really loved it, but it's time I go back home and be with my family where I should be.
CHANCE: How does it make you feel when you see those other units, the Marines, arriving back to a big, big welcome they have been getting at home? Do you think you should be going back first? Are you frustrated about staying here?
TOWE: I really ain't frustrated because I know the job here still ain't done, and that's our mission, is not to leave until the mission is done, and it makes me feel proud that we're the one that led the attack, and we're still here doing the job while other people go home. CHANCE: Because your task force was the first one, of course, into Baghdad, Task Force 164. Do you think, Christopher, that you have made a difference to this country?
FREEDLE: Yes I do, sir. I really think that -- from my job and the activities that I did over here, that I have made it better for a lot of Iraqi citizens in the future to come, made it better for my country, doing what I love to do: doing my job as a United States soldier.
CHANCE: All right. Thank you very much. Privates Kenneth Towe and Christopher Freedle, both from North Carolina. For the moment, then, it's back to you in the studio. I just want to add one last point, though, is that although the major combat operations and situations have basically come to an end, here in Iraq, there is still a very uncertain security situation, and the role of U.S. forces have pretty much changed from that of a combat operation, more and more to a situation where they have to try and keep the peace -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our Matthew Chance there with the 3rd Infantry Division as they get ready to leave Iraq. Thanks, Matthew.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
