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American Morning

Family of Two Americans Killed in Church Attack in Pakistan Remembers Loved Ones

Aired March 19, 2002 - 07:18   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Pakistan's president calls it a ghastly act of terrorism, and President Bush vows those responsible will be brought to justice.

This morning, the family of two Americans killed in that church attack in Pakistan remembers their loved ones. Barbara Green, an embassy worker, and her 17-year-old daughter, Kristen Wormsley, were among five people killed in Sunday's grenade attack on a Protestant church in Islamabad. The church is located just 40 yards away from the U.S. Embassy there. Green's husband, Milton, a diplomat, and their youngest son, Zachary, survived the attack.

Joining us now are two members of the Green family here in the states. In Minneapolis, Milton Green, Jr., Barbara's stepson, and in Jacksonville, Florida this morning, Ulysses Green, brother of Milton Green, Sr. -- thanks for joining us and our condolences to both of you and your families.

ULYSSES GREEN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: Thank you.

MILTON GREEN, VICTIM'S STEPSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Ulysses, let's begin with you. How is the family doing?

U. GREEN: It's a rough time, you know. It's starting to sink in to all of my relatives, and they are pretty shook up about it. But we are being strong, because this is not the first tragedy in our family. It's an unusual tragedy. We (UNINTELLIGIBLE) wake up Sunday morning to hear as we were preparing to go to church in the states. But we are grasping with it right now.

WHITFIELD: Well, Milton, I understand that the family members, Barbara and Kirsten, had just recently returned to Pakistan after the U.S. had encouraged a number of Americans there to leave that area, because it was a hostile environment. They had just recently returned. In your conversation with them, perhaps while they were out of Pakistan, did they ever express any concern about feeling like they were in danger there?

M. GREEN: No, they never did. Actually they were excited to get back to Pakistan. Kristen was a senior in high school. She was excited to graduate with her classmates there in Pakistan. Zachary has a number of friends there. He was excited to get back, and of course, Barbara wanting to be with my father, so I can understand them wanting to get back and be a family again.

WHITFIELD: How much did you worry about them?

M. GREEN: You know, I can't lie. I did worry about their safety. But I had been over there prior to the 9/11 incident. I had been there back in 1999, and I had no threats to my safety, and I didn't feel any threats to my well being when I was there. So I couldn't blame them for wanting to get back and being with family members.

WHITFIELD: And, Ulysses, how much did you know about the kind of security that diplomat families were receiving over in Pakistan? I understand that a number of families were escorted or at least the diplomats were escorted by armed police.

U. GREEN: To be honest, I wasn't aware of no protection, because I know my brother lives off base, and he had his own agendas, and he was his own man and a stand-up guy. So the dangers there, we are both ex-military, so I never feared for him, because I know he understands how the game goes. But I had thoughts of my sister-in-law and niece and nephew. It was just probably a typical Sunday for them -- and by the way, good morning, nephew.

M. GREEN: Hey, good morning.

U. GREEN: And...

WHITFIELD: Ulysses...

U. GREEN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Ulysses, why don't you tell me a little bit about your sister-in-law and her daughter, your niece?

U. GREEN: They were -- my sister-in-law was the greatest mother and wife my brother could ever have. I'm not taking nothing away from my nephew's mother. She was great too. She is great. They both were. I love both of them. She and my brother were great together. They liked traveling. They had been everywhere from Ghana, the east coast of Africa, Beijing, Germany. They loved their life, and they were dedicated soldiers and patriots. And she was a wonderful mother.

And my niece was very bright, and she was looking forward to going to Florida State this year, even though I wanted her to go to Gainesville. I'm a Gator man.

WHITFIELD: Well, Ulysses, our deepest condolences go out to you and the family. Milton, at this juncture given what the family is going through, do you feel like the State Department -- the U.S. State Department needs to get the majority of the Americans and the diplomatic families out of that region? Do you think it's just too dangerous for them to be there right now?

M. GREEN: You know, I really can't speak on that. I am not there. I'm not experiencing what they are experiencing at this time. I believe that the State Department is handling the situation, and if they deem it necessary for families to abandon Pakistan and leave and come back to the States, then I think that's definitely justified.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much -- Milton Green, Jr. and Ulysses Green, thank you very much for talking with us and our prayers go out to you and your family.

M. GREEN: Thank you.

U. GREEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) something.

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