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American Morning

Some of First Soldiers Deployed in Iraq Coming Home for Short Time

Aired September 26, 2003 - 08:03   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: Some of the first U.S. Army soldiers deployed in Iraq coming home for a short time. A two week leave, part of Operation R&R. Their plane arrived earlier today at the Baltimore- Washington Airport. We are certain that many emotional reunions will take place today and going into the weekend.
U.S. Army Specialist John Perkins is there.

He is continuing his travel down to Macon, Georgia.

He joins us now during his layover.

Good to see you and good morning to you.

Thanks for sharing part of your story today.

JOHN PERKINS, U.S. ARMY, 107TH ARMY BRIGADE: Thanks.

Good morning.

HEMMER: When did you find out that you were coming home, at least for 15 days, anyway?

PERKINS: Just a few days ago, actually.

HEMMER: Did that surprise you?

PERKINS: Oh, yes. Yes, we were getting ready to go out on a night patrol when they called me back in and told me I had to -- I was going on leave.

HEMMER: Yes, I hate to ask the questions about feelings, but you're back in the U.S. You have a short time here. How do you feel right now coming back to this country?

PERKINS: Extremely excited. When you leave America, you kind of think, you take a lot of things for granted until you actually go and spend time in the Third World country and you see just how bad things really are. You realize you just can't wait to get back home as soon as you can.

HEMMER: What are you holding there? Show us for us. The flag?

PERKINS: This is an American flag. A buddy of ours was injured back in Kirkuk in June and lost his leg. So a lot of our friends from the same platoon, we all signed this American flag and I'm here to give it to him when I go see him later today.

HEMMER: Wow. When will you see him?

PERKINS: Hopefully within the next hour.

HEMMER: Yes. When you go back to Macon, Georgia, what do you want to do?

PERKINS: Spend as much time as I can with my two daughters, Hannah and Gabby (ph), and with my mother and father, spend as much time as I can. And just see as much as I can while I'm here, because like I said, a lot of things we take for granted when we're not here, you know, when we are here, but when we get the chance to come back, we want to live it as much as we can.

HEMMER: At the end of this two week period, you go back to Iraq. What are your thoughts on that?

PERKINS: Just go back and get my job done as quick as I can, get back home and spend more time with my family.

HEMMER: Yes, what is, if you could, among the members of your unit, I know you're based in Italy.

PERKINS: Yes.

HEMMER: But what are they saying right now in terms of morale, in terms of attitudes toward the Iraqi situation? What do they say?

PERKINS: Well, I would say that morale is extremely -- well, morale now is extremely high considering that we just got the R&R, now that a lot of people are getting to go it. Beforehand, before we were able to go, I'd say morale was, morale was kind of low. But it's picking up now and getting better. And the feelings towards the Iraqi people, it's not as bad as you think, actually. We, the Iraqi people are happy that we're there, at least in Kirkuk, where we're at. A lot of people are extremely happy. Daily we're told by the Iraqi people and the Arabs that live there that we love you, we are glad you're here, thank you for helping us.

So, that's a lot of uplifting times there, when people tell us that.

HEMMER: Listen, enjoy the next two weeks as best you can, OK?

PERKINS: OK.

HEMMER: And tell your daughters hello for us.

PERKINS: All right, thanks.

HEMMER: Special John Perkins there, of the U.S. Army, landing in Baltimore just about an hour ago.

Our own military analyst, retired military general Don Shepperd, just returned from Iraq. He was there on a military tour that gave him and other military analysts a firsthand look at the battleground from Baghdad to Mosul to Tikrit. General Shepperd even shot his own videotape. A sample of that now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: This is Saddam's palace. It's very near the airport where he spent a lot of time. It's called Saddam's weekend palace. It, one room of this palace was hit during the war with a JDAM missile. There are several buildings in the palace complex here, including the one being used by the JTF right here. And it was not hit. Most of the buildings around here were used for administrative purposes. They were not hit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: His impressions now.

In D.C., General Shepperd is with us.

Good to see you, Don, and welcome back after your quick trip overseas.

Just so our viewers know, give us the parameters. How was this trip set up through the Pentagon?

SHEPPERD: Yes, Bill, this is an outreach program to the Pentagon. They invited many of the military analysts from the networks and also people from the think tanks. The idea is to start getting people in there to form their own opinions so they can talk about it firsthand and write about it, as opposed to just talking from a distance.

HEMMER: General, you know the military as well as anybody. What does it say about the Pentagon making efforts like these?

SHEPPERD: Well, I think it's real smart to do that. And I can tell you over there that the soldiers are frustrated that a great deal of really good news goes unreported and the things that make the headlines all the time are the obvious, the things that people are interested in, people being killed, bombs, things blowing up. But the information about doing the, painting schools, repairing government buildings, fixing the infrastructure, that's very dull. You and I aren't going to watch that and it doesn't get reported and they think they're doing a lot of good work that goes unnoticed.

HEMMER: Don, what do say to those who says it's a sign of desperation from the Pentagon, trying to get these stories out?

SHEPPERD: Well, I think that's foolish. For goodness sake, it's just a part of the information. The people of America, when you put information out, they're going to make their own decisions based upon what they see and what they believe. But I think this was very smart to do this and I think there's going to be more and more trips as the security situation allows. You'll see more people from various avenues going over there. Right now the only thing that's over there is the embedded press. So we get one view. I think it's smart to spread the word across a bigger audience.

HEMMER: We saw one of your clips of the palace. We're watching some of your videotape as you're speaking. Here's another clip -- we're going to pause and listen to it -- where you talk about armored Humvees and how critical and valuable this type of equipment is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEPPERD: And this is the thick skinned Humvee. The front is the same. The crew cabin, the doors and the windows are reinforced and in the back there's a plate that runs across the back. It's much heavier and it will take not only a .762 round, but it also is much better if they run over a mine or something of that sort. It gives tremendous protection for the crew that's inside.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And when we hear about all these ambushes, can an armored Humvee prevent an RPG from killing a U.S. soldier or are they indefensible?

SHEPPERD: No. It depends on how it hits it, what distance it's from, what type of RPG it is and the angle that it hits, Bill. But it gives a lot more protection. This is the up armored Humvee, as opposed to the think skinned that are so prolific over there. So it's an upgrade and more of them are coming into the theater. But there's still a shortage. They need about another 1,500 before they have the number they need.

HEMMER: Yes, Don, I know you did not sleep -- correct me if I'm wrong -- you did not sleep a single night in country in Iraq. You flew out to Kuwait. Is that accurate? And, if so, what does it say about security there?

SHEPPERD: Well, security is getting better all the time, but it's a concern. Obviously, we are a big load. When you take a group of high profile people into a country, you want to make sure security is good. You don't want to get them injured. There aren't a lot of places to sleep. So you become a big burden.

It's much smarter to sleep out of country and go in and out until the security situation improves. It's still dicey over there, Bill, no question about it.

HEMMER: One final thought here, and about 15 seconds we have left. You said you were left with the overwhelming impression that the U.S. military wants to get the job done and get out. Accurate?

SHEPPERD: A very, very positive, a very optimistic atmosphere over there from the commanders to the troops I talked to. They know it's a tough situation. Everybody wants to go home today. They want to rotate on R&R. They want to get the job done and get out. But overwhelmingly positive that we can get this done in 18 months to two years, hand it over to the Iraqis and get out of there and they want to do it, Bill.

HEMMER: Good to see you, Don.

We'll talk again.

Major General Don Shepperd, back from Iraq in D.C. with us today.

SHEPPERD: 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





Short Time>


Aired September 26, 2003 - 08:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the first U.S. Army soldiers deployed in Iraq coming home for a short time. A two week leave, part of Operation R&R. Their plane arrived earlier today at the Baltimore- Washington Airport. We are certain that many emotional reunions will take place today and going into the weekend.
U.S. Army Specialist John Perkins is there.

He is continuing his travel down to Macon, Georgia.

He joins us now during his layover.

Good to see you and good morning to you.

Thanks for sharing part of your story today.

JOHN PERKINS, U.S. ARMY, 107TH ARMY BRIGADE: Thanks.

Good morning.

HEMMER: When did you find out that you were coming home, at least for 15 days, anyway?

PERKINS: Just a few days ago, actually.

HEMMER: Did that surprise you?

PERKINS: Oh, yes. Yes, we were getting ready to go out on a night patrol when they called me back in and told me I had to -- I was going on leave.

HEMMER: Yes, I hate to ask the questions about feelings, but you're back in the U.S. You have a short time here. How do you feel right now coming back to this country?

PERKINS: Extremely excited. When you leave America, you kind of think, you take a lot of things for granted until you actually go and spend time in the Third World country and you see just how bad things really are. You realize you just can't wait to get back home as soon as you can.

HEMMER: What are you holding there? Show us for us. The flag?

PERKINS: This is an American flag. A buddy of ours was injured back in Kirkuk in June and lost his leg. So a lot of our friends from the same platoon, we all signed this American flag and I'm here to give it to him when I go see him later today.

HEMMER: Wow. When will you see him?

PERKINS: Hopefully within the next hour.

HEMMER: Yes. When you go back to Macon, Georgia, what do you want to do?

PERKINS: Spend as much time as I can with my two daughters, Hannah and Gabby (ph), and with my mother and father, spend as much time as I can. And just see as much as I can while I'm here, because like I said, a lot of things we take for granted when we're not here, you know, when we are here, but when we get the chance to come back, we want to live it as much as we can.

HEMMER: At the end of this two week period, you go back to Iraq. What are your thoughts on that?

PERKINS: Just go back and get my job done as quick as I can, get back home and spend more time with my family.

HEMMER: Yes, what is, if you could, among the members of your unit, I know you're based in Italy.

PERKINS: Yes.

HEMMER: But what are they saying right now in terms of morale, in terms of attitudes toward the Iraqi situation? What do they say?

PERKINS: Well, I would say that morale is extremely -- well, morale now is extremely high considering that we just got the R&R, now that a lot of people are getting to go it. Beforehand, before we were able to go, I'd say morale was, morale was kind of low. But it's picking up now and getting better. And the feelings towards the Iraqi people, it's not as bad as you think, actually. We, the Iraqi people are happy that we're there, at least in Kirkuk, where we're at. A lot of people are extremely happy. Daily we're told by the Iraqi people and the Arabs that live there that we love you, we are glad you're here, thank you for helping us.

So, that's a lot of uplifting times there, when people tell us that.

HEMMER: Listen, enjoy the next two weeks as best you can, OK?

PERKINS: OK.

HEMMER: And tell your daughters hello for us.

PERKINS: All right, thanks.

HEMMER: Special John Perkins there, of the U.S. Army, landing in Baltimore just about an hour ago.

Our own military analyst, retired military general Don Shepperd, just returned from Iraq. He was there on a military tour that gave him and other military analysts a firsthand look at the battleground from Baghdad to Mosul to Tikrit. General Shepperd even shot his own videotape. A sample of that now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: This is Saddam's palace. It's very near the airport where he spent a lot of time. It's called Saddam's weekend palace. It, one room of this palace was hit during the war with a JDAM missile. There are several buildings in the palace complex here, including the one being used by the JTF right here. And it was not hit. Most of the buildings around here were used for administrative purposes. They were not hit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: His impressions now.

In D.C., General Shepperd is with us.

Good to see you, Don, and welcome back after your quick trip overseas.

Just so our viewers know, give us the parameters. How was this trip set up through the Pentagon?

SHEPPERD: Yes, Bill, this is an outreach program to the Pentagon. They invited many of the military analysts from the networks and also people from the think tanks. The idea is to start getting people in there to form their own opinions so they can talk about it firsthand and write about it, as opposed to just talking from a distance.

HEMMER: General, you know the military as well as anybody. What does it say about the Pentagon making efforts like these?

SHEPPERD: Well, I think it's real smart to do that. And I can tell you over there that the soldiers are frustrated that a great deal of really good news goes unreported and the things that make the headlines all the time are the obvious, the things that people are interested in, people being killed, bombs, things blowing up. But the information about doing the, painting schools, repairing government buildings, fixing the infrastructure, that's very dull. You and I aren't going to watch that and it doesn't get reported and they think they're doing a lot of good work that goes unnoticed.

HEMMER: Don, what do say to those who says it's a sign of desperation from the Pentagon, trying to get these stories out?

SHEPPERD: Well, I think that's foolish. For goodness sake, it's just a part of the information. The people of America, when you put information out, they're going to make their own decisions based upon what they see and what they believe. But I think this was very smart to do this and I think there's going to be more and more trips as the security situation allows. You'll see more people from various avenues going over there. Right now the only thing that's over there is the embedded press. So we get one view. I think it's smart to spread the word across a bigger audience.

HEMMER: We saw one of your clips of the palace. We're watching some of your videotape as you're speaking. Here's another clip -- we're going to pause and listen to it -- where you talk about armored Humvees and how critical and valuable this type of equipment is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEPPERD: And this is the thick skinned Humvee. The front is the same. The crew cabin, the doors and the windows are reinforced and in the back there's a plate that runs across the back. It's much heavier and it will take not only a .762 round, but it also is much better if they run over a mine or something of that sort. It gives tremendous protection for the crew that's inside.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And when we hear about all these ambushes, can an armored Humvee prevent an RPG from killing a U.S. soldier or are they indefensible?

SHEPPERD: No. It depends on how it hits it, what distance it's from, what type of RPG it is and the angle that it hits, Bill. But it gives a lot more protection. This is the up armored Humvee, as opposed to the think skinned that are so prolific over there. So it's an upgrade and more of them are coming into the theater. But there's still a shortage. They need about another 1,500 before they have the number they need.

HEMMER: Yes, Don, I know you did not sleep -- correct me if I'm wrong -- you did not sleep a single night in country in Iraq. You flew out to Kuwait. Is that accurate? And, if so, what does it say about security there?

SHEPPERD: Well, security is getting better all the time, but it's a concern. Obviously, we are a big load. When you take a group of high profile people into a country, you want to make sure security is good. You don't want to get them injured. There aren't a lot of places to sleep. So you become a big burden.

It's much smarter to sleep out of country and go in and out until the security situation improves. It's still dicey over there, Bill, no question about it.

HEMMER: One final thought here, and about 15 seconds we have left. You said you were left with the overwhelming impression that the U.S. military wants to get the job done and get out. Accurate?

SHEPPERD: A very, very positive, a very optimistic atmosphere over there from the commanders to the troops I talked to. They know it's a tough situation. Everybody wants to go home today. They want to rotate on R&R. They want to get the job done and get out. But overwhelmingly positive that we can get this done in 18 months to two years, hand it over to the Iraqis and get out of there and they want to do it, Bill.

HEMMER: Good to see you, Don.

We'll talk again.

Major General Don Shepperd, back from Iraq in D.C. with us today.

SHEPPERD: 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





Short Time>