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American Morning

Big Homecoming For Some of Sailors and Flyers Involved in Operation Enduring Freedom

Aired March 26, 2002 - 07:30   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A big homecoming this morning for some of the sailors and flyers involved in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Bob Franken is standing by at the Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, and he's going to describe to us what will happen there later today - good morning, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

And, as you know, the Navy has more nicknames than President Bush has. The squadron that is flying in the plane like the one you're seeing in back of me, which is a Hawkeye -- it's the early warning plane comparable to the AWACs -- that squadron -- the one that's flying the men from the Roosevelt -- is called the Screw Tops. And the Screw Tops are expected to arrive here within the next couple of hours, weather permitting. It's pretty foggy here right now. Part of the advanced team of jets that is preceding the Theodore Roosevelt, the massive aircraft carrier that comes back to its home base tomorrow. We'll be reporting on the first arrivals in the next couple of hours -- Paula.

ZAHN: And how many people do you expect to show up for the homecoming?

FRANKEN: Well, there are going to be about probably 50 to 100 this morning. It's a relatively small group, but tomorrow there will be a welcome reception for about 7,000.

ZAHN: All right. Bob, thanks so much for giving us a preview. I appreciate it.

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