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American Morning

USS Stennis Heads Home

Aired May 28, 2002 - 09:00   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: The USS Stennis is heading home.

Frank Buckley is on board ready for those reunions.

Good morning -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Some activity is picking up here on the deck. The sun is finally coming up on the deck of the John C. Stennis. Got a few aircraft left, mostly helicopters. Now, the sailors are in their summer whites and getting ready for the big reunion at home.

This is Lt. Jason Klingenberg (ph).

Lieutenant, you've been at sea now for more than six months in support of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a 2-year-old and a 16-month old at home. A lot of work for Trish (ph) during the past more than six months. Anything you want to say to Trish (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't wait to see you. I'm super excited, I haven't been able to sleep tonight. Just looking forward to seeing you on the pier.

BUCKLEY: Tell me what it's been like for you guys. I was able to spend some time with you out at the Arabian Sea for just a few days. You've been out for six months. So many (UNINTELLIGIBLE) deployed two months early. Give me a sense of what that was like. You were away for all of the holidays.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a challenge. I think we ran the emotional gamut, I'd say. At points, we were really excited, and at points, we were very depressed. And at points we, like I said, ran every emotion. I think when we initially started to go into battle (UNINTELLIGIBLE). As it wore on, it got more and more difficult. And not knowing when we were going to come home was tough.

BUCKLEY: All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. That's Lt. Jason Klingenberg (ph), just one of the many people on the Stennis -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Frank. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) part of the reason why that shot goes fuzzy from time to time is the interference from the radar on board the USS Stennis. But, nevertheless, we could capture the feeling of a man who is about to see his two children for the first time in six months.

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