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American Morning
Interview With "Devil Docs" Chaplain Laura Bender
Aired April 04, 2003 - 08:45 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: Back to Iraq, Paula, quickly, Sanjay Gupta is embedded with the "Devils Docs." Not sure where he is. Yesterday he was south of the capital city of Baghdad.
Sanjay, good afternoon. What's happening there today?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. Yes, just still south of Baghdad. We are still here with the "Devil Docs." Lots of action here. Helicopters flying in and out, bringing patients in, taking patients away.
All kinds of operations here, Bill. One of the most difficult things, I think, for this camp for any camp, really, to handle is when Marines, coalition forces are brought in, KIA, killed in action, a term that's become all too common here at any particular medical camp.
One of the person who helps to deal with that is a chaplain. In this case, Chaplain Laura Bender. She joins this.
First of all, thank you very much for joining us. Tell us -- tell us little bit about what you do while you are here.
CHAPLAIN LAURA BENDER, "DEVIL DOCS": Well, my job is to provide religious services for the personnel, to the staff and then also to provide religious prayers and services for those who are brought in as wounded and also to care for the KIAs.
GUPTA: Yes, the KIAs.
And just earlier today, you and I witnessed together one Marine who was a KIA from a bullet wound to the head and one who was KIA from a bullet wound to the neck. Tell me your thoughts as you are at times performing last rites and talking to the Marines.
BENDER: Well, my thought about those who have died is that they are heroes. They are very brave. They're very young. They've served the country well. They are our people. They're young enough to be my children. And providing religious prayers for them in that moment for the last time, things that I can provide for them and then we send them to their families back with care and love and great thanks.
GUPTA: Well, I know they appreciate it very much. Thank you very much for joining us.
Bill, this is one of the tough things to take care. There is no question about it. KIA, the term has become too common, really, here. Two Marines, as I mentioned, just brought in not too long ago. They have to deal with that. But, in addition to that there's many successes here as well, many patients who are cared for, many lives, which are saved that otherwise wouldn't have, because of the good work, the hard work of the "Devil Docs."
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: So true, and you know that so well, Sanjay, embedded now for just about two-and-a-half weeks with the "Devil Docs." Dr. Sanjay Gupta in Iraq.
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 April 4, 2003 - 08:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to Iraq, Paula, quickly, Sanjay Gupta is embedded with the "Devils Docs." Not sure where he is. Yesterday he was south of the capital city of Baghdad.
Sanjay, good afternoon. What's happening there today?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. Yes, just still south of Baghdad. We are still here with the "Devil Docs." Lots of action here. Helicopters flying in and out, bringing patients in, taking patients away.
All kinds of operations here, Bill. One of the most difficult things, I think, for this camp for any camp, really, to handle is when Marines, coalition forces are brought in, KIA, killed in action, a term that's become all too common here at any particular medical camp.
One of the person who helps to deal with that is a chaplain. In this case, Chaplain Laura Bender. She joins this.
First of all, thank you very much for joining us. Tell us -- tell us little bit about what you do while you are here.
CHAPLAIN LAURA BENDER, "DEVIL DOCS": Well, my job is to provide religious services for the personnel, to the staff and then also to provide religious prayers and services for those who are brought in as wounded and also to care for the KIAs.
GUPTA: Yes, the KIAs.
And just earlier today, you and I witnessed together one Marine who was a KIA from a bullet wound to the head and one who was KIA from a bullet wound to the neck. Tell me your thoughts as you are at times performing last rites and talking to the Marines.
BENDER: Well, my thought about those who have died is that they are heroes. They are very brave. They're very young. They've served the country well. They are our people. They're young enough to be my children. And providing religious prayers for them in that moment for the last time, things that I can provide for them and then we send them to their families back with care and love and great thanks.
GUPTA: Well, I know they appreciate it very much. Thank you very much for joining us.
Bill, this is one of the tough things to take care. There is no question about it. KIA, the term has become too common, really, here. Two Marines, as I mentioned, just brought in not too long ago. They have to deal with that. But, in addition to that there's many successes here as well, many patients who are cared for, many lives, which are saved that otherwise wouldn't have, because of the good work, the hard work of the "Devil Docs."
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: So true, and you know that so well, Sanjay, embedded now for just about two-and-a-half weeks with the "Devil Docs." Dr. Sanjay Gupta in Iraq.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
