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American Morning

Young Marine Get Presidential Christmas Call

Aired December 24, 2001 - 08:38   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: Thanks to the CNN orchestra there with a little holiday special there. Here at our CNN Today, we are in Operation Happy Holidays mode.

This morning, our Bill Hemmer has been talking with some of the Marines at Kandahar in Afghanistan. Let's head back there now and talk to yet another Leatherneck along with Bill. Hello Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Miles, trying to make it as happy as we can. With us now, Corporal Mario Arellano with the U.S. Marines. And why is he with us? Pretty special day for the Corporal there. Why don't you tell us what happened just about 15 minutes ago?

CORPORAL MARIO ARELLANO, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Well, about 15 minutes ago, I actually got a call from the president of the United States, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) wanted to wish me a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hear from everybody actually. Let us know we're doing a good job.

HEMMER: At least 1,600 men on here, why you.

ARELLANO: I don't know, one day they told me I was going to get a Christmas Eve call from the president. So, I was pretty excited about that.

HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

ARELLANO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) three or four minutes at the most. But, it was pretty good, I liked it.

HEMMER: Tell me what you guys talked about? What kind of things did you discuss?

ARELLANO: Well, we didn't really discuss too much. He just asked how it was, you know, if I was doing alright. Asked about how everything is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Merry Christmas -- and tell us he's real proud of us.

HEMMER: And what did you say to him?

ARELLANO: I just told him I was doing fine and everything, you know. Just, I don't know. I was pretty excited, I don't know. I didn't really -- I just answered the questions he asked me.

HEMMER: Must be one heck of an honor to hear from your commander-in-chief (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ARELLANO: Oh, you know it was like one of the most biggest honors I've ever had, you know. Getting talked to by the actual President of the United States, in charge of everything.

HEMMER: Tell me about the operation for you. What's your duty here? What have you been doing? When did you come in to Kandahar. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ARELLANO: Actually I came here -- I got off the ship on the 17th. We stayed in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for one night. And now on the 18th, actually (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and on the 19th we came and set up everything. And actually (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and just yesterday we got put up in a platoon. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) runway. So that's about it, really.

HEMMER: With you on security I'm sure they push the perimeter a little further day by day. But at this time during the holidays, it's especially tough. Tell us what's happening (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ARELLANO: Well actually, just today, the actually the Seabees went in and they cleared out more of the mine fields, and we pressed on a little bit harder in there and dug in today. So that's really all we were doing today.

HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) young American serving our country overseas during the holidays. Tell us how that affects you (ph)?

ARELLANO: Well it's kind of hard, you know, to be away from everybody that grew up with and your family and friends. But, you know, you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from here. They're really close, and they all support you, here, just like your brothers and sisters back home, so, really it's all right. Not too bad actually.

HEMMER: Mario, thank you. Merry Christmas to you. We just called your family back in Oklahoma we should, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Oklahoma, birthplace of Johnny Bench. Want to say anything to them (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ARELLANO: I just want to wish my family and friends a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas. Let them know that I love them and that I'm doing all right. And I'll see them soon.

HEMMER: Thank you, Merry Christmas to you (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Miles, we'll continue to watch Christmas in Kandahar. A whole lot to talk about throughout the morning and the afternoon here in southern Afghanistan. Back to you Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Bill Hemmer continuing Operation Happy Holidays, and we hope our viewers understand, he is in fact at a Marine airfield. And it is a bit noisy there. So we just invite you to listen up as he engages in discussion with the troops, with the Marines and reuniting them, in some cases, with their families. We'll be doing that all through out the day.

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