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American Morning

Troop Deployment

Aired January 06, 2003 - 09:16   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Well over 4,000 sailors and Marines setting out to sea from San Diego, a six-month deployment has been scheduled for some time, but the gathering war clouds over the Middle East have changed the feeling of their mission.
Frank Buckley is there. Always an emotional time. Frank, good morning.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's always a difficult day for families, but given the situation in the world today, particularly difficult. We want to introduce you quickly to a couple of families.

This is Chief Dan Kramer and his family from the USS Towera (ph).

Sir, tell us what it's been like for you today?

CHIEF DAN KRAMER: Well, it's never easy, but we just got to do what we got to do, and hopefully we'll come back in one piece.

BUCKLEY: You've got your whole family here, wife, Tracy. Tell me what it's been like for you today?

TRACY KRAMER, CHIEF'S WIFE: As he said, it's never easy, but being on home front, you kind of expect it. I'm hoping he'll come home safe.

BUCKLEY: And Cassidy is here. You're 7 years old. Are you proud of your dad?

CASSIDY KRAMER, CHIEF'S SON: Yes.

BUCKLEY: Are you looking forward to when he comes back? He's going to be gone for six months, huh?

C. KRAMER: Yes.

BUCKLEY: What are you going to be thinking while he's away?

C. KRAMER: I don't know.

BUCKLEY: It's going to be a tough time, but mom and your brothers will be here to look after you, and thanks you for talking to us, Cassidy.

Thank you very much Kramer family, and we want to come over and talk to one of the Marine families now. This is Sergeant Brian Haley from the 15th view (ph). You got your family here. Tell me what you're thinking. You're all dressed out and got your gear ready.

SGT. BRIAN HALEY: Just looking forward to it.

BUCKLEY: Given the situation in the world today, does it make it any more difficult for you? It's always a difficult six-month deployment for you guys, but knowing that what you could be going into, tell me what it's like?

HALEY: It's always difficult, just knowing that if we all do our job, we'll come back alive.

BUCKLEY: All right, well, thank you very much, and your girlfriend here, Shelly.

Wife, I'm sorry.

And you got your little dog here. Tell me, is this your first deployment?

SHELLY HALEY: Actually, I returned off of deployment seven and a half months ago, so I know what he's going to be doing out here.

BUCKLEY: Does it make it easier for you, knowing what he'll go through?

S. HALEY: Kind of. It does and it doesn't. It kind of makes it harder, because we -- I did just get back, and we spent so much time apart, but it does make it easier, because I do know what he's going to go through.

BUCKLEY: And make sure I don't make the same mistake here. This is mom, Sally, right, You've been pretty emotional today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm sorry.

BUCKLEY: Tell me what you're going through today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want him to come home safely, kind of nerve wracking, and we didn't sleep very much last night.

BUCKLEY: I can imagine. Well, our prayers are with you, and everyday will be thinking about you. Thanks for your service, and good luck to you. Thank you very much. Just a sense of what's gong here, 4,000 families, Bill, going through the same experience that you just saw right here on pier 13.

HEMMER: We've seen that routine and that exercise time and time again, it does not get any easier. Frank, thank you. Frank Buckley in Southern California.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 6, 2003 - 09:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Well over 4,000 sailors and Marines setting out to sea from San Diego, a six-month deployment has been scheduled for some time, but the gathering war clouds over the Middle East have changed the feeling of their mission.
Frank Buckley is there. Always an emotional time. Frank, good morning.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's always a difficult day for families, but given the situation in the world today, particularly difficult. We want to introduce you quickly to a couple of families.

This is Chief Dan Kramer and his family from the USS Towera (ph).

Sir, tell us what it's been like for you today?

CHIEF DAN KRAMER: Well, it's never easy, but we just got to do what we got to do, and hopefully we'll come back in one piece.

BUCKLEY: You've got your whole family here, wife, Tracy. Tell me what it's been like for you today?

TRACY KRAMER, CHIEF'S WIFE: As he said, it's never easy, but being on home front, you kind of expect it. I'm hoping he'll come home safe.

BUCKLEY: And Cassidy is here. You're 7 years old. Are you proud of your dad?

CASSIDY KRAMER, CHIEF'S SON: Yes.

BUCKLEY: Are you looking forward to when he comes back? He's going to be gone for six months, huh?

C. KRAMER: Yes.

BUCKLEY: What are you going to be thinking while he's away?

C. KRAMER: I don't know.

BUCKLEY: It's going to be a tough time, but mom and your brothers will be here to look after you, and thanks you for talking to us, Cassidy.

Thank you very much Kramer family, and we want to come over and talk to one of the Marine families now. This is Sergeant Brian Haley from the 15th view (ph). You got your family here. Tell me what you're thinking. You're all dressed out and got your gear ready.

SGT. BRIAN HALEY: Just looking forward to it.

BUCKLEY: Given the situation in the world today, does it make it any more difficult for you? It's always a difficult six-month deployment for you guys, but knowing that what you could be going into, tell me what it's like?

HALEY: It's always difficult, just knowing that if we all do our job, we'll come back alive.

BUCKLEY: All right, well, thank you very much, and your girlfriend here, Shelly.

Wife, I'm sorry.

And you got your little dog here. Tell me, is this your first deployment?

SHELLY HALEY: Actually, I returned off of deployment seven and a half months ago, so I know what he's going to be doing out here.

BUCKLEY: Does it make it easier for you, knowing what he'll go through?

S. HALEY: Kind of. It does and it doesn't. It kind of makes it harder, because we -- I did just get back, and we spent so much time apart, but it does make it easier, because I do know what he's going to go through.

BUCKLEY: And make sure I don't make the same mistake here. This is mom, Sally, right, You've been pretty emotional today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm sorry.

BUCKLEY: Tell me what you're going through today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want him to come home safely, kind of nerve wracking, and we didn't sleep very much last night.

BUCKLEY: I can imagine. Well, our prayers are with you, and everyday will be thinking about you. Thanks for your service, and good luck to you. Thank you very much. Just a sense of what's gong here, 4,000 families, Bill, going through the same experience that you just saw right here on pier 13.

HEMMER: We've seen that routine and that exercise time and time again, it does not get any easier. Frank, thank you. Frank Buckley in Southern California.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com