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American Morning

Crew of USS Stennis Back from Six Months of War

Aired May 28, 2002 - 10:20   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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: After six months of seeing them at war, the crew and carrier of the USS Stennis, all of that behind them, they are heading home to San Diego this morning. Right there with them is CNN's Frank Buckley. He is on board the Stennis right now, and our Thelma Gutierrez is on shore with the families in San Diego.

Frank, a very historic situation for these troops and soldiers, sailors as well. Let's begin with you.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a very exciting day ahead for these sailors and marines on board the USS John C. Stennis. They have been at sea for more than six months. Good news for their families as you take a look at the shot from Point Loma. You can see the aircraft carrier coming into view or starting to slip through the fog there and probably in an hour and half or so pull up to the pier. I will introduce you to one of the people I met on board the Stennis when we were on in mid December.

His name is Alfred McGuire. If I could show you a tape during special happy birthday luncheon taking place. Once a month on board the ship, for everyone having a birthday during a particular month, they have a special sort of dinner. We met a guy on this ship back in December named Alfred McGuire, having a birthday and celebrating his wedding anniversary at the very same month, and it was a difficult period for him. Here is what that day was like for Alfred McGuire back in December

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (sings "Happy Birthday")

BUCKLEY: Is it still special to celebrate with your ship mates in this way?

ALFRED MCGUIRE: It is. Especially the chief, the way he sang "Happy Birthday." I got pretty emotional -- almost brought tears to my eyes. He sang it very well. Being here with the family I have here makes it special. But I miss my wife and kids at home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BUCKLEY: When we met Alfred, I was taken with him, he was this big guy, so emotional, we have found him today. Alfred, it is nice to see you again, first of all, and I want to let you know that our reporter, Thelma Gutierrez, has your wife on shore there. You will be able to see her and your three kids, Alexis and Alfred Junior and Thelma is there with her. Thelma, come on in.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, good morning Frank, good morning Alfred. I have with me Brenda. She mentioned to me she missed your birthday. She missed your anniversary. She is here with me right now. Brenda, what do you want to say to Alfred -- go ahead.

BRENDA MCGUIRE, WIFE: Honey, I love you. I miss you. I have been waiting for this day. And I want you to get off that ship, hold me and get back to normal.

GUTIERREZ: Thelma, the last time that Alfred saw your youngest, Anthony, he was a year and a half old.

B. MCGUIRE: Yes.

GUTIERREZ: Anthony can now walk, he can talk, and according to your wife, he has the run of the house. She says he is no longer a baby. And you have a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old -- very cute kids, indeed.

B. MCGUIRE: Yes.

GUTIERREZ: Brenda, what do you want it say?

B. MCGUIRE: Honey, this is your son, you can see his hair a longer than when you left. Alexis is very active, full grown, and Alexis, misses you. She counts down the days. Today she woke up and she said, mommy, no more days, daddy is finally home. Say hi to daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, daddy.

BUCKLEY: Let's let Alfred say something as well. Alfred, anything you want it say to Brenda and the kids?

A. MCGUIRE: Yes there is. Baby, I love you, I miss you. It has been a long cruise. You know, there is one thing I want it say, though, is that we deployed two months early and we missed Christmas, we missed thanksgiving, birthdays, and anniversaries. But you have to understand that there are thousands of people in New York who will never have the opportunity to say I love you, say merry Christmas or happy anniversary to their loved ones because of September 11th.

And although my family and I will have next year, there are thousands that will not. And I just want you to know that September 11th will never be forgotten, the towers will never be forgotten and New York will never be forgotten. We did this for you and we did this because our job is to defend our country and that is what we are called upon. And if I could do it again, I would leave tomorrow and even though I would miss my family, but we need to bring justice to those that caused September 11th and I hope and pray that some day your families can rest in peace.

BUCKLEY: Well said, Alfred. Your family missed you greatly. You were just telling us that your two daughters, of course, they have a birthday on the very same day, and Alfred Junior just turned two on Sunday.

You will have a nice celebration?

A. MCGUIRE: Yes, I am. I'm looking forward to it, baby. I miss you. I love you. We will be home soon. I'm looking forward to my son's birthday this weekend. I will get to see my parents for the first time in about eight or nine months. I just can't wait it get home. I love you and I miss all of you.

BUCKLEY: Brenda, anything you want to say?

B. MCGUIRE: Baby, I love you, and just get off this ship as fast as you can.

GUTIERREZ: You have big plans for tonight?

B. MCGUIRE: Tonight we are probably just going to dinner. Next week we are going on vacation it spend quality time together. But tonight is dinner and rent some movies and just get him reacquainted with the kids again. And get him his to-do list.

GUTIERREZ: Brenda, thank you so much. Many more reunions to come. USS Stennis of course comes in about 9:30, 9:00, so we have a lot more of this to come. Back to you.

OSBORN: Thank you so much, Thelma. Thank you so much, Frank. We really appreciate you bringing us this very emotional reunion, including those powerful comments from Alfred. We appreciate both Frank and Thelma. As you might imagine, Stennis is scheduled to arrive, dock at 12 noon, that's eastern time. 9:00 a. m, on the west coast. An emotional and happy situation.

We appreciate that homecoming reunion of sorts from both Frank and Thelma.

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