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American Morning

More Than 5,000 Men and Women Will Be Reunited With Friends and Families

Aired May 28, 2002 - 09:55   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: We have been keeping tabs this morning on the aircraft carrier John Stennis as it returns to its homeport of San Diego. And more than 5,000 men and women will be reunited with their friends and families after serving more than six months in Operation Enduring Freedom.

And CNN's Frank Buckley is aboard the carrier and he joins us now. Good morning, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

We've been mentioning that there going to be a great many reunions to be seen, once we do get to see them here in San Diego.

We are still at sea, and there's still some flight activity here, so it's a little bit loud. But we're going to have a chance to get one of these reunions on the air now, and to hook up some of these families before we even get to shore.

Standing with me is Jason Rettinger (ph). Your wife, Meredith (ph) is on the pier with our folks there, and we have a surprise for you we didn't tell you. She has Jaron (ph), your newborn six-month- old baby, who you haven't seen, and you can look right into the monitor there, and you will be able to see Meredith and Jaron (ph), and go ahead and say hello to your wife.

JASON RETTINGER (ph): Hey, baby. How are you doing?

MEREIDITH RETTINGER (ph): Fine. I'm doing good. You look good.

J. RETTINGER (ph): You too, baby. I miss you a lot.

M. RETTINGER (ph): I miss you too.

J. RETTINGER (ph): Jaron (ph) is just beautiful.

M. RETTINGER (ph): He's getting big. You are going to wonder where the baby is.

J. RETTINGER (ph): You look great, and I'm really proud of you.

M. RETTINGER (ph): Thank you. I'm Proud of you too. You did a good job.

BUCKLEY: This is Jason's mom here, who is actually onboard, because this is what's called a tiger cruise, and Vicky is kind of emotional here seeing.

Jaron (ph), what do you think?

J. RETTINGER (ph): He looks great. I'm really proud of my wife. We're considered heroes by many today. But I have to look no further than her. She's been my strength through this whole thing, and having a baby on her own, and we planned to have it together, it's just incredible, and I'm so proud of her. If I could give a metal. I'd give to her.

BUCKLEY: Good for you. We should mention, there are 60 new fathers on this ship during this cruise. You're one of those 60 folks. Look at that beautiful baby of yours.

J. RETTINGER (ph): Oh, I can't wait to hold him. He looks so healthy and strong, and I'm so proud of her. He's incredible. That's justification right there. This is exactly what we do all this for. I want to make sure my children have the same opportunities I had growing up. So that's everything to me right there.

BUCKLEY: Wow, you can't beat that. Look at her. She's just looking great. And you know, you were talking about the fact that you guys were planning to have this baby before you deployed. You had to deploy two months early.

J. RETTINGER (ph): Right. That was tough. It was especially tough on her, because I did sign up for this, and she didn't deserve this, and I plan on spending every day I can to make this up to her, because she did such a great job.

BUCKLEY: Tell us -- wow, I've been told to finish up here. I just want to -- thank you for, obviously, your service, but for spending time with us and letting us be a part of this special moment with your family.

J. RETTINGER (ph): Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

BUCKLEY: Thanks, Jason.

Jason Rettinger (ph), and we thank the whole family here for that special moment. Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: What a special occasion. I don't think I've ever seen that done on camera so effectively. I don't think I've ever heard a father salute the wife and the mother of his child in such a beautiful way.

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