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American Morning
Operation Happy Holidays: Interview of Sizemore Family
Aired December 25, 2001 - 09:17 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: They're trying to spread Christmas cheer from Kandahar all the way back here to the U.S. Bill Hemmer taking care of that in Kandahar. Bill, hello once again.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Daryn, thanks. When I get another hookup here from Kandahar, it's 7,000 miles back to the U.S. Master Sergeant Fred Sizemore is with us. He's from the state of Michigan. South of Detroit, where?
MASTER SGT. FRED SIZEMORE, U.S. MARINES: Yes, sir, Petersburg (ph), Michigan.
HEMMER: Petersburg (ph), Michigan. OK. Merry Christmas to you.
F. SIZEMORE: Thank you.
HEMMER: How long have you been out?
F. SIZEMORE: Out of where? Out here?
HEMMER: Out of the U.S.?
F. SIZEMORE: Oh, a while. Since September.
HEMMER: Since September. A little more than three months, so, would that be?
F. SIZEMORE: Yeah, yeah.
HEMMER: OK. So you haven't seen your wife since then, is that right?
F. SIZEMORE: That's correct.
HEMMER: OK. Well, you're not going to get a chance to see her, unfortunately, but she's going to be able to see you. Your wife Michelle and you have a daughter Amber, 13, huh?
F. SIZEMORE: That's right.
HEMMER: What's special about Amber?
F. SIZEMORE: What's special is that I'm here and she's there and I miss her. I miss them both. HEMMER: Excellent. OK. Well, listen, they're standing by with us and we're going to go ahead and bring them in. And, Michelle, if you can hear us here in Kandahar, your husband has been a brave and courageous man. He's the first Marine we've talked to that we've done this with over two days who actually wants to initiate the conversation with you. So I'll turn it over to your husband here in Afghanistan. Sir.
F. SIZEMORE: Thank you. Hey, Michelle. Yeah, I'm starting (ph) this thing off. Hey, as usual, I'm getting the short end of the stick here. I can't see you, and they made me shave for this thing. It's not my shaving day. But, hey, it's their quarter, so Merry Christmas from Kandahar, Afghanistan. So talk to me.
MICHELLE SIZEMORE, WIFE OF FRED SIZEMORE: Hey, honey, I love you. Merry Christmas. Everybody's watching you this morning, so be sure to tell your mom and Judy (ph) "hi", and everybody.
F. SIZEMORE: I hear you. Hey, a couple -- a couple of things before we get cut off here. Vacation trip this year, I think instead of going to Kings Dominion (ph) or somewhere, we need to go to Vegas and go see Wayne Newton. He came out here three or four days ago; a real class act. He offered to take all our names down and call the families personally himself.
I didn't get a chance to do that because the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were behind him and he got mobbed. But I'd like to see Wayne Newton. What do you think about that?
M. SIZEMORE: You know anything you do is fine with us, honey.
MASTER SGT. FRED SIZEMORE, U.S. MARINES: I hear you. A couple of questions for you. Did you get Buddy Williams' (ph) half a gallon of Jim Beam, number one? Number two, did you -- did Rocky (ph) get his baton (ph) tee shirt? And, number three, did Nora Lee (ph) get me by bat house?
M. SIZEMORE: Yes, honey, you got your bat house for Christmas from mom, and Rocky (ph) got his sweatshirt. And, yes, I got the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Buddy (ph).
F. SIZEMORE: All right. OK, good. Hey, is Amber there?
M. SIZEMORE: She sure is.
AMBER SIZEMORE, DAUGHTER OF FRED SIZEMORE: Hey, daddy.
F. SIZEMORE: OK, put here on for me, will you? Hey, Amber.
A. SIZEMORE: Hey, daddy.
F. SIZEMORE: Hey, they had a show -- they had a contest here -- I hear you -- the ugliest Marine and the prettiest daughter and I think we won. So I -- so I told you you were special, so thanks for getting me on TV. It was not my doing; it was yours. So thanks on that one. And how are you doing? A. SIZEMORE: Fine, how are you? Fine, how are you?
F. SIZEMORE: I love you, too. How much time -- I hear you -- how much time do you get off for school?
A. SIZEMORE: Until January 7.
F. SIZEMORE: OK. Hey, take a break. Enjoy it. But don't forget to hit the books hard when you get back, OK?
A. SIZEMORE: OK.
F. SIZEMORE: I hear you.
M. SIZEMORE: Did you get your box?
F. SIZEMORE: Hey, Michelle -- OK. Michelle -- no, my box is on the ship. It's coming. That's the good news. The bad news is I ain't got it yet. A couple of things for you before I get cut off here. I could not do this without you and I appreciate it. And it makes it a lot easier knowing you're back there and Amber's there. It makes this thing easy.
I am -- this is my third conflict, and this is the best of the bunch. Great support from the states, the Navy, even the damn Air Force is kicking in. So great support, but most importantly, you're back there and I appreciate it. And you can see me say it. I appreciate it and I love you. Talk to me.
M. SIZEMORE: I love you too, honey. And I am here for you and will always be here.
F. SIZEMORE: I know that. You're not crying are you?
M. SIZEMORE: No.
F. SIZEMORE: OK. What else is going on?
M. SIZEMORE: Nothing, really. The boys came last night. I made Ashley a maternity top which she did not like very much. That's why -- she's going to be needing them very shortly. So...
F. SIZEMORE: Before I got to go, tell (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I said, "hey." I love him and I'll talk to you later, OK?
M. SIZEMORE: OK, babe, I love you. I'll be glad to see you when you get home.
F. SIZEMORE: Love you, too. OK.
A. SIZEMORE: I love you.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That's great. Super. Super. Master Sergeant, thanks so much.
F. SIZEMORE: Sure. HEMMER: I think I hear Amber trickling away there. Amber, one more message for your father.
A. SIZEMORE: I love you.
F. SIZEMORE: I know it, Amber. I love you, too. I'll see you in a couple of months.
A. SIZEMORE: OK.
F. SIZEMORE: I love you, too.
HEMMER: That's good. Thanks to the Sizemores back in Michigan. Merry Christmas back there.
Now you came with a list, pal.
F. SIZEMORE: I did.
HEMMER: You did all right. Congratulations on that contest, too.
F. SIZEMORE: Thank you, yeah.
HEMMER: And don't let Wayne Newton get away without getting you tickets.
F. SIZEMORE: I won't. Yeah, that's right. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Thanks. Merry Christmas.
F. SIZEMORE: Yeah, thank you.
HEMMER: Back to Atlanta. Here's Daryn, again -- Daryn.
KAGAN: I think that was the most organized family we've seen so far. Bill Hemmer, in Afghanistan, thank you very much.
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