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Interview With Fred Wellman

Aired November 17, 2003 - 13:03   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: Walter's mentioned the danger that's taken place in Iraq, the continued danger and the 17 soldiers that were killed in Saturday's Blackhawk collision over Mosul were all a part of the 101st Airborne Division, as is Major Fred Wellman.
Major Wellman oversees the same sorts of missions in the same area as the helos that crashed. And of course he's a friend of LIVE FROM..., besides. He joins us now by phone from northern Iraq. Fred, first of all, I can tell you we all hay big sigh of relief when we heard you were OK and heard from you today. How are you feeling?

MAJ. FRED WELLMAN, 101ST AIRBORNE: Doing great, Kyra. Little bit cold out here these days. But we're doing just great out here in northern Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Well let me tell you, how are you dealing with the vulnerability right now in light of what happened this past weekend?

WELLMAN: Well I'm not sure that most of my fellow soldiers and I feel there's any more vulnerability than there ever was, Kyra. I mean we've been in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) combat operations since we arrived here in Iraq. And this is just an example of it.

does make you more aware. You do look at your tactics and ensure you're doing the right things. You're operating without complacency. Complacency's you're real enemy in a protracted operation like this.

But I believe my fellow soldiers and I feel quite confident we're doing the right thing, that we're taking to fight the enemy. And at the same time we're continue to do our civil affairs operations and our humanitarian relief and helping people who really do want our help out here.

PHILLIPS: Now, Fred, as a Blackhawk pilot, you know when you strap in and you're airborne, it's at night, you see those tracer rounds coming up. How do you stay focused, how do you continue to deal with this threat?

WELLMAN: Well, again, what we try and do -- I think we're (UNINTELLIGIBLE) lately is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tactics a little bit. You know, obviously, we fly from fixed bases (ph). We're ensuring that we don't use the same routes twice, adjusting altitude, making sure the door gunners are more aware of what's going on and keep an eye on the aircraft, fly multiple formations, make sure you can cover your wingman and feel he has a safe, secure environment behind them.

And you just focus on your mission, again, especially when you're flying at night. You're shooting at sounds. We're blacked out. The enemy has very poor luck hitting aircraft at night. And that's why we own the night.

PHILLIPS: Well, we're getting word that some changes are being made. Is it true that the Blackhawks are being grounded and defense systems are being upgraded? Is there anything you can tell us that's not classified at this point?

WELLMAN: No. I have not heard that. That's news to me.

No, we are certainly not grounded in any way. We are flying incredible amount of hours in support of the 101st Airborne's mission to bring stability here to northern Iraq. We've had no mission or no change in out directives as far as flying our missions.

We have the most state-of-the-art equipment available to the U.S. Army (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the 101st. So we have not adjusted our tactics in any way whatsoever.

PHILLIPS: Well if anything, what have you turned from this past weekend, Fred?

WELLMAN: Well, I think mentioned a little bit earlier, Kyra. I mean I'm want going to say complacency is going on, but it does make you more aware. We have not lost any aircraft, we haven't lost any Blackhawks until the last 2 weeks. To have three of them from the 101st Airborne, our sister battalion, each lost an aircraft (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and it's heartbreaking to all of us.

Every one of us has peers, has friends, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) soldiers in those units. It is very difficult to know you've lost fellow warriors. And their families at home -- our heart goes out to our families.

It's also difficult on our families. You just don't know who it was. You hear that a Blackhawk. I know my wife Crystal has had some sleepless nights waiting for the word that it wasn't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 101st.

So, again, I think we take a step back (UNINTELLIGIBLE) focus your mission and you keep driving on.

PHILLIPS: And I know that is what the continued question out here is if this mission, if OIF will be completed. Obviously, you guys are staying strong. You are seeing clarity in this chaos, I can see.

WELLMAN: I believe absolutely. I don't think -- you know, I spent a lot of time out in the economy (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's interesting to note that every morning after one of these attacks occurs, the very first morning there's a line at our gate of people we work with, contractors who have built schools for us, the sheiks that we work with come in to offer condolences, come in to ask -- make sure it wasn't one of the people they know.

Iraqis -- I think the majority of Iraqis are as shocked by this as we are. I think people know that we're doing things right in Mosul. And they're maybe those people are coming up here trying (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what we are really building which is a strong, secure environment. And it makes big news to do these attacks up here so that they're trying to cause that kind of trouble, at least.

PHILLIPS: Major Fred Wellman with 101st Airborne Division. As usual, we appreciate your time and we are constantly thinking about you, Fred, and the guys and the women there. Thank you.

WELLMAN: We sure appreciate your support, Kyra. And it's good to know that the United States keeps (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our soldiers. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that what we're doing here is the right thing. We're building a secure environment for the future of Iraq. And there will be people who want change that and our mission is to keep them away.

PHILLIPS: Major Fred Wellman.

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 November 17, 2003 - 13:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Walter's mentioned the danger that's taken place in Iraq, the continued danger and the 17 soldiers that were killed in Saturday's Blackhawk collision over Mosul were all a part of the 101st Airborne Division, as is Major Fred Wellman.
Major Wellman oversees the same sorts of missions in the same area as the helos that crashed. And of course he's a friend of LIVE FROM..., besides. He joins us now by phone from northern Iraq. Fred, first of all, I can tell you we all hay big sigh of relief when we heard you were OK and heard from you today. How are you feeling?

MAJ. FRED WELLMAN, 101ST AIRBORNE: Doing great, Kyra. Little bit cold out here these days. But we're doing just great out here in northern Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Well let me tell you, how are you dealing with the vulnerability right now in light of what happened this past weekend?

WELLMAN: Well I'm not sure that most of my fellow soldiers and I feel there's any more vulnerability than there ever was, Kyra. I mean we've been in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) combat operations since we arrived here in Iraq. And this is just an example of it.

does make you more aware. You do look at your tactics and ensure you're doing the right things. You're operating without complacency. Complacency's you're real enemy in a protracted operation like this.

But I believe my fellow soldiers and I feel quite confident we're doing the right thing, that we're taking to fight the enemy. And at the same time we're continue to do our civil affairs operations and our humanitarian relief and helping people who really do want our help out here.

PHILLIPS: Now, Fred, as a Blackhawk pilot, you know when you strap in and you're airborne, it's at night, you see those tracer rounds coming up. How do you stay focused, how do you continue to deal with this threat?

WELLMAN: Well, again, what we try and do -- I think we're (UNINTELLIGIBLE) lately is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tactics a little bit. You know, obviously, we fly from fixed bases (ph). We're ensuring that we don't use the same routes twice, adjusting altitude, making sure the door gunners are more aware of what's going on and keep an eye on the aircraft, fly multiple formations, make sure you can cover your wingman and feel he has a safe, secure environment behind them.

And you just focus on your mission, again, especially when you're flying at night. You're shooting at sounds. We're blacked out. The enemy has very poor luck hitting aircraft at night. And that's why we own the night.

PHILLIPS: Well, we're getting word that some changes are being made. Is it true that the Blackhawks are being grounded and defense systems are being upgraded? Is there anything you can tell us that's not classified at this point?

WELLMAN: No. I have not heard that. That's news to me.

No, we are certainly not grounded in any way. We are flying incredible amount of hours in support of the 101st Airborne's mission to bring stability here to northern Iraq. We've had no mission or no change in out directives as far as flying our missions.

We have the most state-of-the-art equipment available to the U.S. Army (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the 101st. So we have not adjusted our tactics in any way whatsoever.

PHILLIPS: Well if anything, what have you turned from this past weekend, Fred?

WELLMAN: Well, I think mentioned a little bit earlier, Kyra. I mean I'm want going to say complacency is going on, but it does make you more aware. We have not lost any aircraft, we haven't lost any Blackhawks until the last 2 weeks. To have three of them from the 101st Airborne, our sister battalion, each lost an aircraft (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and it's heartbreaking to all of us.

Every one of us has peers, has friends, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) soldiers in those units. It is very difficult to know you've lost fellow warriors. And their families at home -- our heart goes out to our families.

It's also difficult on our families. You just don't know who it was. You hear that a Blackhawk. I know my wife Crystal has had some sleepless nights waiting for the word that it wasn't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 101st.

So, again, I think we take a step back (UNINTELLIGIBLE) focus your mission and you keep driving on.

PHILLIPS: And I know that is what the continued question out here is if this mission, if OIF will be completed. Obviously, you guys are staying strong. You are seeing clarity in this chaos, I can see.

WELLMAN: I believe absolutely. I don't think -- you know, I spent a lot of time out in the economy (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's interesting to note that every morning after one of these attacks occurs, the very first morning there's a line at our gate of people we work with, contractors who have built schools for us, the sheiks that we work with come in to offer condolences, come in to ask -- make sure it wasn't one of the people they know.

Iraqis -- I think the majority of Iraqis are as shocked by this as we are. I think people know that we're doing things right in Mosul. And they're maybe those people are coming up here trying (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what we are really building which is a strong, secure environment. And it makes big news to do these attacks up here so that they're trying to cause that kind of trouble, at least.

PHILLIPS: Major Fred Wellman with 101st Airborne Division. As usual, we appreciate your time and we are constantly thinking about you, Fred, and the guys and the women there. Thank you.

WELLMAN: We sure appreciate your support, Kyra. And it's good to know that the United States keeps (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our soldiers. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that what we're doing here is the right thing. We're building a secure environment for the future of Iraq. And there will be people who want change that and our mission is to keep them away.

PHILLIPS: Major Fred Wellman.

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