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American Morning

Interview With Army Reservist Being Called To Active Duty

Aired January 14, 2003 - 07:16   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: For a story very close to home right now. The U.S. military buildup continues for the Persian Gulf. Thousands of reservists right now being called to active duty, putting their lives at home on hold.
Vickie Slade is a single mother in Atlanta. She'll report next week to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It's about a six-hour drive from home, which is where her 8-year-old daughter, Jayln, will stay.

Mother and daughter are with us this morning in Atlanta, one of tens of thousands of stories right now rippling across the country.

Good morning to both of you. Good to have you with us today.

JAYLN SLADE-THREAT, VICKIE'S DAUGHTER: Good morning.

VICKIE SLADE, U.S. ARMY RESERVIST: Good morning.

HEMMER: Well, listen, you guys look great sitting down there. Vickie, tell us, how often have you considered the possibility that this day would arrive and you'd leave your daughter behind for a time?

SLADE: I've considered it since joining the military 23-and-a- half years ago.

HEMMER: Now that it's arriving, what have you told your daughter?

SLADE: I've tried to explain to her that mommy has to go away, but that I'm going to be as safe as possible, and that she's going to be in very capable hands.

HEMMER: What kind of hands? Who are you leaving her with?

SLADE: My mom and my sister are actually moving into our home to take care of her.

HEMMER: So, you're essentially uprooting your life to take care of this, right?

SLADE: Yes, I am.

HEMMER: How does that make you feel when you're responding to the call of duty in the U.S.?

SLADE: Absolutely wonderful. This something that I can do to help my country and my fellow soldiers. HEMMER: I wonder what your daughter thinks. Let's talk to her. Jayln, how are you doing today? What do you think about your mom's latest move here?

SLADE-THREAT: I'm fine with it, but it's just that it's going to take a little while for me to get used to, her being gone for that much of time.

HEMMER: Yes, have you thought about how you're going to keep in touch?

SLADE-THREAT: Yes. I've...

HEMMER: Is that telephone, is that computer? Go ahead, tell us, Jayln.

SLADE-THREAT: Telephone, her cell phone, I'll be calling her almost every day, and I guess she'll be calling me.

HEMMER: Wow! Are you going to have a chance to see each other, do you know?

SLADE-THREAT: On weekends and on special holidays, I guess.

HEMMER: Wow! Well, that's not too bad then. Vickie, how do you feel about this right now, knowing that your contact will be so limited? But then again, you have the Internet, you have telephones, and you're a six-hour drive away come weekend time.

SLADE: I am thrilled that that is going to be my situation away from my daughter, that even though I'm going to be away from home, I'm still going to be accessible to her.

HEMMER: And, Vickie, how long do you think you might be gone? Have you been told?

SLADE: It could be as long as two years, as short as however they decide that they're going to need us, however long that will be.

HEMMER: Are you ready and willing to leave you daughter for 24 months?

SLADE: Yes, I am. Absolutely.

HEMMER: Well, listen, good luck to you, and thanks for sharing part of your story again. Vickie Slade and her daughter, Jayln, a third-grader, right, Jayln? Is that right?

SLADE-THREAT: Yes, sir.

HEMMER: All right, well, tell all of your classmates hello for us, OK? You've done them proud today. And thanks for sharing your story -- one of tens of thousands, again, going through the country right now...

SLADE: Thank you. HEMMER: ... at a time when the buildup continues.

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 14, 2003 - 07:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: For a story very close to home right now. The U.S. military buildup continues for the Persian Gulf. Thousands of reservists right now being called to active duty, putting their lives at home on hold.
Vickie Slade is a single mother in Atlanta. She'll report next week to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It's about a six-hour drive from home, which is where her 8-year-old daughter, Jayln, will stay.

Mother and daughter are with us this morning in Atlanta, one of tens of thousands of stories right now rippling across the country.

Good morning to both of you. Good to have you with us today.

JAYLN SLADE-THREAT, VICKIE'S DAUGHTER: Good morning.

VICKIE SLADE, U.S. ARMY RESERVIST: Good morning.

HEMMER: Well, listen, you guys look great sitting down there. Vickie, tell us, how often have you considered the possibility that this day would arrive and you'd leave your daughter behind for a time?

SLADE: I've considered it since joining the military 23-and-a- half years ago.

HEMMER: Now that it's arriving, what have you told your daughter?

SLADE: I've tried to explain to her that mommy has to go away, but that I'm going to be as safe as possible, and that she's going to be in very capable hands.

HEMMER: What kind of hands? Who are you leaving her with?

SLADE: My mom and my sister are actually moving into our home to take care of her.

HEMMER: So, you're essentially uprooting your life to take care of this, right?

SLADE: Yes, I am.

HEMMER: How does that make you feel when you're responding to the call of duty in the U.S.?

SLADE: Absolutely wonderful. This something that I can do to help my country and my fellow soldiers. HEMMER: I wonder what your daughter thinks. Let's talk to her. Jayln, how are you doing today? What do you think about your mom's latest move here?

SLADE-THREAT: I'm fine with it, but it's just that it's going to take a little while for me to get used to, her being gone for that much of time.

HEMMER: Yes, have you thought about how you're going to keep in touch?

SLADE-THREAT: Yes. I've...

HEMMER: Is that telephone, is that computer? Go ahead, tell us, Jayln.

SLADE-THREAT: Telephone, her cell phone, I'll be calling her almost every day, and I guess she'll be calling me.

HEMMER: Wow! Are you going to have a chance to see each other, do you know?

SLADE-THREAT: On weekends and on special holidays, I guess.

HEMMER: Wow! Well, that's not too bad then. Vickie, how do you feel about this right now, knowing that your contact will be so limited? But then again, you have the Internet, you have telephones, and you're a six-hour drive away come weekend time.

SLADE: I am thrilled that that is going to be my situation away from my daughter, that even though I'm going to be away from home, I'm still going to be accessible to her.

HEMMER: And, Vickie, how long do you think you might be gone? Have you been told?

SLADE: It could be as long as two years, as short as however they decide that they're going to need us, however long that will be.

HEMMER: Are you ready and willing to leave you daughter for 24 months?

SLADE: Yes, I am. Absolutely.

HEMMER: Well, listen, good luck to you, and thanks for sharing part of your story again. Vickie Slade and her daughter, Jayln, a third-grader, right, Jayln? Is that right?

SLADE-THREAT: Yes, sir.

HEMMER: All right, well, tell all of your classmates hello for us, OK? You've done them proud today. And thanks for sharing your story -- one of tens of thousands, again, going through the country right now...

SLADE: Thank you. HEMMER: ... at a time when the buildup continues.

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