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American Morning

11 Firefighters' Bodies Found At Ground Zero

Aired March 13, 2002 - 09:44   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier this week, we brought you the ceremonies marking six months since the terror attacks of September 11th. The remains of most of those killed in the World Trade Center have not been recovered, and probably never will be. But this morning, there is some bittersweet news from Ground Zero. The bodies of 11 firefighters and two civilians were recovered yesterday from the site. Two of the firefighters were from Ladder Company 4 near Times Square, which was devastated on September 11th by the loss of 17 of their men.

CNN's Jason Carroll joins us now from Ladder Company 4 -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Anderson. Out here at Ladder Company 4, you can see, for the past several months, people have been constantly bringing by fresh flowers and candles, letters, as well, for the people here at Ladder Company Number 4. Ladder Company 4, Anderson, has been saying all along that they believe that many of the men who died during the World Trade Center disaster were buried somewhere beneath the South Tower. The South Tower was the second tower to be hit, but is was the first one, at least the first one that they're telling us, to collapse.

Yesterday, work crews got into the lobby area of the South Tower, specifically beneath a bridge that was down there, and they say that they found the remains of 11 firefighters, as you said, and at least two civilians. It's believed that at least two of the firefighters whose remains were recovered came from Ladder Company Number 4. The crews down there, when that happened, they draped a flag over the remains. A number of the firefighters who were down there lined up and carried out the remains. They also gave a salute. That is the standard ceremony that is held down there in Ground Zero anytime that a firefighter or a police officer is recovered.

Back here at Ladder Company Number 4, we had an opportunity to speak with some of the men who were out here, and they tell us it's very painful. They absolutely want the remains to be recovered because in some way, it brings some sort of closure for their families and for Ladder Company Number 4, but it also forces them, Anderson, to relive what happened to the men and women down there. So, it is a painful moment for them, but also, at least, they get some sort of sense of closure knowing that some of the remains have been recovered -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Jason Carroll. Thanks very much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com