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CNN Live Today
USS Abraham Lincoln On Final Leg of Long Journey Home
Aired May 05, 2003 - 11:43 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The USS Abraham Lincoln is on the final leg of its long journey home. That carrier due to arrive at its homeport of Everett, Washington tomorrow.
Our national correspondent Frank Buckley has been along for the ride. He joins us now live aboard the ship -- Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon. I have been along for part of the ride. These guys have been on the ride for 290 days. It's the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam era, and they're finally going to be home tomorrow. We are on the navigation bridge here. This is where they steer the ship. This is where they decide where they're going, and can tell you how fast they're going and that sort of thing.
And someone who can help us to do all of that right now is Carlos Lobos.
Carlos, why don't you step over here.
Carlos is the quartermaster of the watch. And he can actually -- he charts where we are along this trip. Now can you tell all the folks who are in Everett, Washington, waiting for their loved ones, where are we generally?
CARLOS LOBOS, QUARTERMASTER OF THE MARCH: Yes, sir. We are off the coast of Oregon about 75 miles, and we're going to be home on time.
BUCKLEY: I think that's the main question that they have is, will you guys be making it home on time? And I guess that's the answer.
Tell us -- we are enjoying these spectacular views of the sunrise this morning and the water going by. You get to enjoy this all the time. But you've been enjoying it for a long time. How does it feel for you to finally be going home?
LOBOS: It feels great, sir. I can't believe it.
BUCKLEY: This is a ship's company that had to do a nearly 10- month-long deployment because you had to turn around in Australia and go back to the Persian Gulf. That was a difficult time, I know, for you guys. How does it feel knowing that soon you'll be seeing your loved ones?
LOBOS: Well, I have about three weeks before I go back home to Miami. I just feel great. And just -- I don't know.
BUCKLEY: You have -- let me ask you this. As you say, your family is not in Everett. Let me have you look into the camera and if you want to, just tell whoever's at home there what you want to say. And they won't be able to talk back to you, but hopefully they'll be watching.
LOBOS: Hi, Jahaida (ph), Orea (ph) and mom. And I can't wait to meet Malia (ph) when I get home. I will be in home in about three weeks. I love you all. Bye.
BUCKLEY: Who is Malia?
LOBOS: Malia's my newborn niece.
BUCKLEY: How exciting.
You know, and -- thank you very much. I really appreciate it, Carlos.
We should say, Leon, the story we hear over and over from these sailors. Imagine all the events that happen in a family's life during 10 months. He's missed the birth of his -- of Malia, and people have missed all kinds of other family events. They're looking forward to reconnecting with their families, and that's going to happen tomorrow morning -- Leon.
HARRIS: Yes, it's just been amazing how common that story is. Frank, we've heard that story day in and day out now, and happy to see these people getting a chance to get their reunions and have their families back together in the same place. And "Malia" sounds like a beautiful name. I hope it's a beautiful baby he's going to see.
Thanks, Frank. See you in a bit.
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 5, 2003 - 11:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The USS Abraham Lincoln is on the final leg of its long journey home. That carrier due to arrive at its homeport of Everett, Washington tomorrow.
Our national correspondent Frank Buckley has been along for the ride. He joins us now live aboard the ship -- Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon. I have been along for part of the ride. These guys have been on the ride for 290 days. It's the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam era, and they're finally going to be home tomorrow. We are on the navigation bridge here. This is where they steer the ship. This is where they decide where they're going, and can tell you how fast they're going and that sort of thing.
And someone who can help us to do all of that right now is Carlos Lobos.
Carlos, why don't you step over here.
Carlos is the quartermaster of the watch. And he can actually -- he charts where we are along this trip. Now can you tell all the folks who are in Everett, Washington, waiting for their loved ones, where are we generally?
CARLOS LOBOS, QUARTERMASTER OF THE MARCH: Yes, sir. We are off the coast of Oregon about 75 miles, and we're going to be home on time.
BUCKLEY: I think that's the main question that they have is, will you guys be making it home on time? And I guess that's the answer.
Tell us -- we are enjoying these spectacular views of the sunrise this morning and the water going by. You get to enjoy this all the time. But you've been enjoying it for a long time. How does it feel for you to finally be going home?
LOBOS: It feels great, sir. I can't believe it.
BUCKLEY: This is a ship's company that had to do a nearly 10- month-long deployment because you had to turn around in Australia and go back to the Persian Gulf. That was a difficult time, I know, for you guys. How does it feel knowing that soon you'll be seeing your loved ones?
LOBOS: Well, I have about three weeks before I go back home to Miami. I just feel great. And just -- I don't know.
BUCKLEY: You have -- let me ask you this. As you say, your family is not in Everett. Let me have you look into the camera and if you want to, just tell whoever's at home there what you want to say. And they won't be able to talk back to you, but hopefully they'll be watching.
LOBOS: Hi, Jahaida (ph), Orea (ph) and mom. And I can't wait to meet Malia (ph) when I get home. I will be in home in about three weeks. I love you all. Bye.
BUCKLEY: Who is Malia?
LOBOS: Malia's my newborn niece.
BUCKLEY: How exciting.
You know, and -- thank you very much. I really appreciate it, Carlos.
We should say, Leon, the story we hear over and over from these sailors. Imagine all the events that happen in a family's life during 10 months. He's missed the birth of his -- of Malia, and people have missed all kinds of other family events. They're looking forward to reconnecting with their families, and that's going to happen tomorrow morning -- Leon.
HARRIS: Yes, it's just been amazing how common that story is. Frank, we've heard that story day in and day out now, and happy to see these people getting a chance to get their reunions and have their families back together in the same place. And "Malia" sounds like a beautiful name. I hope it's a beautiful baby he's going to see.
Thanks, Frank. See you in a bit.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
