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American Morning

Interview With Harper Family

Aired May 26, 2003 - 08:23   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Today as we honor Americans who fought for their country, you could forgive the Harpers of Bellevue, Florida if they're feeling a bit more proud than most. That's because Mary and Ronald Harper's five children are all on active duty in the Army. Four of them and a son-in-law are all in Iraq right now.
Now, we last spoke to the Harpers on the eve of the Iraqi invasion. They're back with us once again this morning.

We are glad to see both of you folks this morning.

And can you tell us, have you talked to all the kids and do you know where they are?

MARY HARPER, MOTHER OF SOLDIERS: No, we haven't. We've heard from our daughter yesterday, but unfortunately we were on our way up to the base and we missed her phone call. But she's the only one that we've heard from so far.

HARRIS: Where is she right now?

MARY HARPER: Somewhere in Iraq. We're not sure.

HARRIS: Oh, so they still won't tell you exactly where they're at?

MARY HARPER: I don't know that they're allowed to do that. We know they're over there -- we do know that two of them are at the Baghdad Airport and that our son-in-law is in Baghdad somewhere. But other than that, that's all we really know right now.

HARRIS: Do you know whether or not they've been able to see each other while they're over there?

MARY HARPER: Once or twice they've been able to see each other, but none of them have seen their youngest brother. He's been -- they haven't seen him since before all this started. So I think that our daughter has been able to see the two boys at least once or twice.

HARRIS: So folks, are you expecting them to be over there for some time now, for a lot longer? And are you preparing yourselves for that possibility?

RONALD HARPER, FATHER OF SOLDIERS: Well, we hope not. We hope they come home real soon. But there's a possibility that they'll have to stay there probably till the end of the year. We hope not, but we're just praying for their safe return. HARRIS: Well, what does that make you -- what does that put in your mind and in your heart on this Memorial Day, then?

RONALD HARPER: We definitely want them here. I'm sure, like the rest of the families going through this right now, they'd rather have their children here than over there. But it's an empty feeling knowing that they were all here last year at this time and now they're not here. And it's, it's pretty sobering for, I'm sure, for all the families going through this, especially this day.

HARRIS: Well, and I can't imagine...

MARY HARPER: We're very...

HARRIS: I'm sorry, go ahead.

MARY HARPER: I was just going to say we're very proud of them and we do pay tribute to the fallen heroes that we've lost in the past and in this recent war and our hearts and prayers go out to the families that have to, you know, their loved ones won't be coming home. And there's still a lot going on there and we pray for the safe return of the rest of the soldiers that are over there, including our own, for sure.

HARRIS: Are you concerned about their safety at this point, after reading the headlines about the chaos that still reigns in some parts of Iraq?

RONALD HARPER: Definitely.

MARY HARPER: Definitely. I think that, you know, our military is doing the best job possible and I think they're doing everything they can to make sure that the chaos subsidies. But, you know, as we all know, there's people over there that really don't like us and don't want us there. And I would say, you know, so they're still meeting some resistance and stuff. So there's still a danger over there for our soldiers.

HARRIS: Well, we've only got a couple of minutes. We wanted to make sure we had some time for you folks this morning.

If they are watching, if the kids over there right now are watching, what would you say to them?

MARY HARPER: We love you and come home.

RONALD HARPER: We love you.

HARRIS: All right, well, here's hoping they heard you.

Take care.

Good to see both of you.

Mary Harper and Ronald Harper.

MARY HARPER: Thank you.

HARRIS: And all the best to you and your family, particularly on this holiday.

RONALD HARPER: Thank you.

HARRIS: We wish you the very best.

RONALD HARPER: Thank you very much.

MARY HARPER: 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 May 26, 2003 - 08:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Today as we honor Americans who fought for their country, you could forgive the Harpers of Bellevue, Florida if they're feeling a bit more proud than most. That's because Mary and Ronald Harper's five children are all on active duty in the Army. Four of them and a son-in-law are all in Iraq right now.
Now, we last spoke to the Harpers on the eve of the Iraqi invasion. They're back with us once again this morning.

We are glad to see both of you folks this morning.

And can you tell us, have you talked to all the kids and do you know where they are?

MARY HARPER, MOTHER OF SOLDIERS: No, we haven't. We've heard from our daughter yesterday, but unfortunately we were on our way up to the base and we missed her phone call. But she's the only one that we've heard from so far.

HARRIS: Where is she right now?

MARY HARPER: Somewhere in Iraq. We're not sure.

HARRIS: Oh, so they still won't tell you exactly where they're at?

MARY HARPER: I don't know that they're allowed to do that. We know they're over there -- we do know that two of them are at the Baghdad Airport and that our son-in-law is in Baghdad somewhere. But other than that, that's all we really know right now.

HARRIS: Do you know whether or not they've been able to see each other while they're over there?

MARY HARPER: Once or twice they've been able to see each other, but none of them have seen their youngest brother. He's been -- they haven't seen him since before all this started. So I think that our daughter has been able to see the two boys at least once or twice.

HARRIS: So folks, are you expecting them to be over there for some time now, for a lot longer? And are you preparing yourselves for that possibility?

RONALD HARPER, FATHER OF SOLDIERS: Well, we hope not. We hope they come home real soon. But there's a possibility that they'll have to stay there probably till the end of the year. We hope not, but we're just praying for their safe return. HARRIS: Well, what does that make you -- what does that put in your mind and in your heart on this Memorial Day, then?

RONALD HARPER: We definitely want them here. I'm sure, like the rest of the families going through this right now, they'd rather have their children here than over there. But it's an empty feeling knowing that they were all here last year at this time and now they're not here. And it's, it's pretty sobering for, I'm sure, for all the families going through this, especially this day.

HARRIS: Well, and I can't imagine...

MARY HARPER: We're very...

HARRIS: I'm sorry, go ahead.

MARY HARPER: I was just going to say we're very proud of them and we do pay tribute to the fallen heroes that we've lost in the past and in this recent war and our hearts and prayers go out to the families that have to, you know, their loved ones won't be coming home. And there's still a lot going on there and we pray for the safe return of the rest of the soldiers that are over there, including our own, for sure.

HARRIS: Are you concerned about their safety at this point, after reading the headlines about the chaos that still reigns in some parts of Iraq?

RONALD HARPER: Definitely.

MARY HARPER: Definitely. I think that, you know, our military is doing the best job possible and I think they're doing everything they can to make sure that the chaos subsidies. But, you know, as we all know, there's people over there that really don't like us and don't want us there. And I would say, you know, so they're still meeting some resistance and stuff. So there's still a danger over there for our soldiers.

HARRIS: Well, we've only got a couple of minutes. We wanted to make sure we had some time for you folks this morning.

If they are watching, if the kids over there right now are watching, what would you say to them?

MARY HARPER: We love you and come home.

RONALD HARPER: We love you.

HARRIS: All right, well, here's hoping they heard you.

Take care.

Good to see both of you.

Mary Harper and Ronald Harper.

MARY HARPER: Thank you.

HARRIS: And all the best to you and your family, particularly on this holiday.

RONALD HARPER: Thank you.

HARRIS: We wish you the very best.

RONALD HARPER: Thank you very much.

MARY HARPER: 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