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American Morning
EP-3 Surveillance Plane Crew Members Honored
Aired May 18, 2001 - 11:08 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: In the nation's capital today, a time of honor for crew members of the U.S. Navy surveillance plane held by China last month.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us with details from Andrews Air Force Base -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, ceremonies just wrapping up here. They had hoped to do a fly over with some F-16s from the D.C. Air National Guard, but the air ceiling is just too low. They have one of 800 feet. They need about 1,500 feet.
A few moments ago, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld made some remarks here. He said we were to celebrate the return of the crew to their county and their families. They thanked them for their bravery and their dedication and said we are proud of you all.
The highlight of this ceremony was, however, the awarding of the medals. Twenty-two members of the crew of the EP-3 received Air Medals. Senior Chief Nick Mellos and Lieutenant Shane Osborn received the Meritorious Service Medal and Lieutenant Osborn also received the Distinguished Flying Medal.
With me here today is Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn of the U.S. Navy.
You have one of these Distinguished Flying Medals on your chest. Just how great an honor is it to receive one of these?
VICE ADMIRAL DENNIS MCGINN, U.S. NAVY: Well, when I received mine it was a long time ago and far away, Jeanne. But it's a very, very great honor for Shane Osborn to receive this for the tremendous job that he did in - as the aircraft commander and the pilot of that crippled airplane in getting it safely on deck and literally, saving the lives of his - of his crew members.
MESERVE: Now, tomorrow is Armed Forces Day. Is it particularly meaningful to the military to see this crew honored so close to this day?
MCGINN: It really is, Jeanne. This is a perfect setting on the eve of Armed Forces Day here at Andrews Air Force Base with this Joint Forces celebration. These fine crew members would be the first to tell you that they are just simply members of a large, large team. And we're so proud of the thousands of men and women serving in our armed forces. And it is a particularly fitting time to honor this crew as representing the rest of those fine members.
MESERVE: Admiral Dennis McGinn, thanks so much.
Behind us you'll see an EP-3. This one also based out at Whidbey Island. It was flown in here to Andrews by Lieutenant Shane Osborn who, we're told, has been back in the cockpit for, what, five days or so?
MCGINN: A little bit - a little bit longer than that. Not more than a week, though, Jeanne.
MESERVE: OK, not more than a week. We'll be talking to him a little bit later in this program.
But I do want to tell you that the crew, in its entirety, was over at the White House this morning. The were received in the Oval Office by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. The president congratulating them for a job well done and telling them that he is still working on getting that EP-3 plane, the - that they crewed - getting that back from the Chinese government.
Once again, we'll be talking to Lieutenant Osborn later this hour -- now back to you in Atlanta.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you, Jeanne.
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