Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Interview With Michelle Williams, Wife of Rescued POW
Aired April 14, 2003 - 08:37 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: The two American pilots who fell in Iraqi hands last month were shown on state-run TV in Baghdad. In fact, that was the last time they were seen until yesterday when U.S. forces rescued chief foreign officers David Williams and Ronald Young north of Baghdad. They were based originally in Ft. Hood, Texas and this morning, Jamie Colby is there and joins us live now.
Jamie, good morning to you.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you.
Since her husband, Apache pilot David Williams, was captured, Michelle Williams has chosen not to speak publicly. The reason? Her own military service. She is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and she'd been advised that that news might endanger the welfare of her husband.
She'll make a public statement later today, but this morning, she joins us exclusively. Michelle Williams is here with us.
Michelle, thanks for being with us. I was on the phone with you yesterday when you saw those first pictures of David being released. What were your thoughts?
MICHELLE WILLIAMS, WIFE OF RESCUED POW: I was -- I was so happy.
He -- I knew -- I never lost hope that he was alive and just seeing him and being able to see his eyes and his reaction to his rescue just took a huge load off my shoulder.
COLBY: How did he look to you?
WILLIAMS: He looked good. He looked very relieved and happy.
COLBY: And you spoke to him for about 10 minutes yesterday. Your son even got on the phone.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COLBY: Tell me about the conversation.
WILLIAMS: It went really good. It was really difficult at first for both of us, mainly because of what -- I mean, what I've been going through the last three weeks is no comparison to what he had, and I think it all just came together when we -- you know, that first sentence that we spoke to each other. But after that, it went really well. He's very strong and I know he's going to make it through this and he got to talk to his son, which...
COLBY: What did Jason say -- 2-years-old.
WILLIAMS: He's 2.
COLBY: You have a 6-month-old, Madison.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COLBY: What did Jason tell his dad?
WILLIAMS: He said, Hi, daddy, love you. So he got to hear -- he got to hear his son, which is important to him.
COLBY: During this period of time, you haven't spoken publicly. Has it been hard to watch the other families have a chance to tell people about their loved ones and you haven't been able to? Was that the right decision?
WILLIAMS: I think it was the right decision. After hearing some of the things that have come out since they've been rescued, I absolutely feel it was the right decision. I know that it was hard at first because I was scared that my husband was going to be the only one not hearing from, you know, one of his immediate family members and just to tell him how much I loved him and supported him and to know that all of the other families were able to get on there, it was a little disheartening. But now, looking back, it was -- it was the right decision, absolutely.
COLBY: Michelle, what do you know about his capture or his treatment?
WILLIAMS: I -- we really didn't talk about it yesterday on the phone. I'm -- whenever he's ready to talk to me about it.
He's -- he -- I think he is ready, but he is -- told me that he can't really say a whole lot. And -- and as far as the capture, what everybody -- all of the other Americans know is what I saw on the television, which isn't a whole lot.
COLBY: You both met in the Army. You're both pilots. Is it David's training, his faith or his sheer determination, do you think, that got him through this?
WILLIAMS: I think -- I think all three of those things. But his belief in God, too. I know that he -- just along with every -- most Americans and myself every night, every day, every minute, we're praying that he was going to be released and that I would see him again and I know that that's what he is doing as well.
COLBY: What has been the outpouring of support? Killeen is a military town. There's incredible resources on base and -- but this community really reached out to you as well. WILLIAMS: Yes, they did. It was -- it was overwhelming, the support that I received. And I know that -- I really can't name all of the people that specifically came to me and helped me and just were so generous in their thoughts and prayers.
COLBY: And one last question: any news on when he'll be home or when you'll go see him?
WILLIAMS: No, no. I hope it's soon. I would -- I hope that he's able to come to D.C. first and I can go and meet him and -- but it's today or tomorrow.
COLBY: Well, Michelle, congratulations and our prayers were with you and we are just overjoyed, along with you as well.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
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 14, 2003 - 08:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The two American pilots who fell in Iraqi hands last month were shown on state-run TV in Baghdad. In fact, that was the last time they were seen until yesterday when U.S. forces rescued chief foreign officers David Williams and Ronald Young north of Baghdad. They were based originally in Ft. Hood, Texas and this morning, Jamie Colby is there and joins us live now.
Jamie, good morning to you.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you.
Since her husband, Apache pilot David Williams, was captured, Michelle Williams has chosen not to speak publicly. The reason? Her own military service. She is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and she'd been advised that that news might endanger the welfare of her husband.
She'll make a public statement later today, but this morning, she joins us exclusively. Michelle Williams is here with us.
Michelle, thanks for being with us. I was on the phone with you yesterday when you saw those first pictures of David being released. What were your thoughts?
MICHELLE WILLIAMS, WIFE OF RESCUED POW: I was -- I was so happy.
He -- I knew -- I never lost hope that he was alive and just seeing him and being able to see his eyes and his reaction to his rescue just took a huge load off my shoulder.
COLBY: How did he look to you?
WILLIAMS: He looked good. He looked very relieved and happy.
COLBY: And you spoke to him for about 10 minutes yesterday. Your son even got on the phone.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COLBY: Tell me about the conversation.
WILLIAMS: It went really good. It was really difficult at first for both of us, mainly because of what -- I mean, what I've been going through the last three weeks is no comparison to what he had, and I think it all just came together when we -- you know, that first sentence that we spoke to each other. But after that, it went really well. He's very strong and I know he's going to make it through this and he got to talk to his son, which...
COLBY: What did Jason say -- 2-years-old.
WILLIAMS: He's 2.
COLBY: You have a 6-month-old, Madison.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COLBY: What did Jason tell his dad?
WILLIAMS: He said, Hi, daddy, love you. So he got to hear -- he got to hear his son, which is important to him.
COLBY: During this period of time, you haven't spoken publicly. Has it been hard to watch the other families have a chance to tell people about their loved ones and you haven't been able to? Was that the right decision?
WILLIAMS: I think it was the right decision. After hearing some of the things that have come out since they've been rescued, I absolutely feel it was the right decision. I know that it was hard at first because I was scared that my husband was going to be the only one not hearing from, you know, one of his immediate family members and just to tell him how much I loved him and supported him and to know that all of the other families were able to get on there, it was a little disheartening. But now, looking back, it was -- it was the right decision, absolutely.
COLBY: Michelle, what do you know about his capture or his treatment?
WILLIAMS: I -- we really didn't talk about it yesterday on the phone. I'm -- whenever he's ready to talk to me about it.
He's -- he -- I think he is ready, but he is -- told me that he can't really say a whole lot. And -- and as far as the capture, what everybody -- all of the other Americans know is what I saw on the television, which isn't a whole lot.
COLBY: You both met in the Army. You're both pilots. Is it David's training, his faith or his sheer determination, do you think, that got him through this?
WILLIAMS: I think -- I think all three of those things. But his belief in God, too. I know that he -- just along with every -- most Americans and myself every night, every day, every minute, we're praying that he was going to be released and that I would see him again and I know that that's what he is doing as well.
COLBY: What has been the outpouring of support? Killeen is a military town. There's incredible resources on base and -- but this community really reached out to you as well. WILLIAMS: Yes, they did. It was -- it was overwhelming, the support that I received. And I know that -- I really can't name all of the people that specifically came to me and helped me and just were so generous in their thoughts and prayers.
COLBY: And one last question: any news on when he'll be home or when you'll go see him?
WILLIAMS: No, no. I hope it's soon. I would -- I hope that he's able to come to D.C. first and I can go and meet him and -- but it's today or tomorrow.
COLBY: Well, Michelle, congratulations and our prayers were with you and we are just overjoyed, along with you as well.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
