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American Morning
Kandahar Troops Get Scooby Snacks For Christmas
Aired December 24, 2001 - 09:39 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, of course, this Christmas we have a lot of Americans far from home, in harm's way, tending to the security of the nation there, giving all Americans the gift of freedom this Christmas. Our way of giving tribute, we at CNN are offering Operation Happy Holidays.
Bill Hemmer is our Ambassador of Happy Holidays. He's in Kandahar right now. He's been talking with the Marines. Hooking them up with their families. It's been fun watching this, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, well, good deal, Miles. I tell you, it's been -- it's been nice being here and talking with the folks. Wait til I tell you the story about how we got here. It took us four and a half days. It's outrageous to think about where we're located right now in southern Afghanistan.
But again, Merry Christmas, Miles, and everyone there watching us on this Christmas Eve. We are in Kandahar today. And, got a bit of a special treat for us right now. It's called The Santa Package. They were put out, Miles, just about six hours ago. We have our -- I don't want to call you Vanna White. What's your name, sir?
CM2 NATHAN NEWMAN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Nathan Newman, CM2.
HEMMER: And where are you from?
NEWMAN: San Antonio, Texas.
HEMMER: Have you gotten this package yet?
NEWMAN: Yes, sir. I have.
HEMMER: Okay, what do you think?
NEWMAN: It's great.
HEMMER: Yeah? Do have a favorite?
NEWMAN: Probably Snickers.
HEMMER: Yeah, Snickers. Okay. Here's the deal, Miles. These were sent in by way of Bahrain. And it's basically a big variety -- a Payday bar, you've got a Snickers bar here. Help me out there, pal. You got some tuna in here from StarKist. Tilt it down this way just a little bit, so folks can see. There's some red Twizzlers in here. Always a favorite at the cinema back home. Some Vienna sausage, got a little Coca-Cola, some great advertising going on right now.
There's -- this one has planters peanuts in it. So you get a really nice variety. Some Combos here, the pizzeria pretzel variety. So these were given out a short time ago. There's not a special meal, I was told, right? This is about the extent of it?
NEWMAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
HEMMER: Better than nothing, right.
NEWMAN: Yes, sir. Definitely.
HEMMER: When you talk to your other guys here, the other marines, how do they feel, being away at the holidays?
NEWMAN: You know, we've got a job to do, so we're over here doing it. It's rough but we're getting by.
HEMMER: Well, now, listen. There is a couple marines here, bivouacked behind us. We've got some lights on them right now so the folks at home can see them. Are you here or are you at another part of the airport?
NEWMAN: We're here.
HEMMER: You're here. No, where in the airport would you be?
NEWMAN: We're located over there.
HEMMER: Okay, so you're not in this section behind me.
NEWMAN: No, we're not.
HEMMER: Okay, but the tents are set up. These are where guys are sleeping at night. You've got some ABCs over on the side here. And your unit does what?
NEWMAN: We're a construction battalion. We're doing repairs to the runway and camp maintenance. Setting up camp facilities.
HEMMER: That runway is critical. We're going to talk about it coming up here. 10,000 Feet, almost 2 miles. You can land just about any aircraft in the world on that right now. Great job and thanks for being a prop.
NEWMAN: All right.
HEMMER: Say hello to your family at home.
NEWMAN: All right. I'd like to say hello to Caleb Joseph, that's my son that was born yesterday.
HEMMER: No kidding?
NEWMAN: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: Congratulations! That is wonderful! Sorry, I didn't mean it interrupt. Go ahead.
NEWMAN: No worry. Melinda, I love you. Thank you for being there.
HEMMER: That is awesome! December 23rd?
NEWMAN: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: Merry Christmas. Super! Good deal. Santa packages, Scooby Sacks, Miles -- Scooby Snacks. That's what they call them here. Remember from the old Scooby Doo cartoons. The treats inside.
O'BRIEN: Scooby Snacks. So that's where it -- it does come from the cartoon?
HEMMER: yes. That is exactly right. How about that? I can't believe it -- we just pulled him out, Miles. There's about 20 Marines waiting go on behind us here. We literally just pulled him out of the line. His son born yesterday. That's wonderful! Good stuff!
O'BRIEN: You know, Bill, in the news business we call that "burying the lead." I think you kind of buried the lead on that one. Oh, by the way, I'm a new father. Yeah.
HEMMER: I was -- I had -- I had no idea, right. I'll beat him up for you for that one. But, wow! Great news to hear in Kandahar. 7,000 miles away from home.
O'BRIEN: Bill, let me ask you, i there any way you can pan around to show that whole group there and have them wave to us? Is there any way?
HEMMER: We can. Tom, what do you think? Can we swing around here? Let's try it here. We're a little restricted...
O'BRIEN: Oh. Okay.
HEMMER: ...but, let's give it a shot here. Take your Dramamine on this shot. Hey, guys, wave to home, will you? Go ahead, guys, say hello!
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: How you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Merry Christmas.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Merry Christmas.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Go O.U!
HEMMER: Think that was a chant for Oklahoma University. Is that right?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: That's right. HEMMER: Got it. Go Sooners and more!
O'BRIEN: All right. Well, next time we come back, we want them all to sing "Silver Bells" in three-part harmony, all right?
HEMMER: We will do that. I've got to tell you, Miles, also. We've got a five-man crew out here. Four in addition to me, working with us on behalf of CNN. They're doing wonderful work. And tomorrow, we're going get them on in front of the camera, so they can say hello to their families so far way, too.
O'BRIEN: All right. They deserve Scooby Snacks too. All right. Thank you very much, Bill Hemmer. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day. We appreciate it.
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