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CNN Sunday Morning
USS Harry S. Truman Sails to Persian Gulf
Aired December 08, 2002 - 07:33 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In the midst of all the uncertainty four and a half acres of U.S. sovereign territory is making its way to the Persian Gulf area. Of course, we're talking about the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S Truman and other ships in its battle group. They've set sail on a mission into unknown territory. Here is CNN's Bob Franken aboard the carrier. He says the crew is prepared for anything.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As all manner of combat planes come screaming on to their floating runway they're catching up on a mission into the unknown.
The Harry S Truman Battle Group steams toward the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.
(on camera): There are about 80 different aircraft lead by a 12 ship flotilla, all lead by this aircraft carrier.
(voice over): There are millions of moving parts, including all together, about 8,000 human moving parts, facing the possibility of moving against Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm nervous. I guess you could say I'm scared, but I'm mostly excited at the same time.
FRANKEN: Feelings shared on the flight decks above to the hangars below to the tables at mess. The sailors slip into the routines onboard that they will follow for the next six months. They're already missing the loved ones they've left behind.
For some, it is old hat; for others, the first deployment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never been away from my family this long in my life.
FRANKEN: But with all the angst one might expect there is also the sense of excitement that many feel when the anticipate being right in the middle of the action.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even thought it is uncertain, I feel that I can rely on the training that I've received over the years to go in a do what we need to do.
FRANKEN: The bridge looks like it does in every movie. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 020 degrees to the left, sir.
FRANKEN: It is all very correct on the bridge. The ship was commanded by a Naval Academy graduate, strictly business. He's left home and loved ones on eight deployments. He as he sees it, that's what he does.
CAPT. MICHAEL GROOTHOUSEN, COMMANDING OFFICER: We're protecting our very way of life. This is four and a half acres of U.S. sovereign territory. We're taking it forward, we're deployed as the Navy has always been. The fact that we're protecting our country, we're also protecting out loved ones.
FRANKEN: But still...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is kind of like you're putting your life on hold for six months and hopefully when you come back everything is going to be the same, but it's usually not.
FRANKEN: It could be a lot different. But that depends on the people elsewhere who make public policy. Here, as it has always been in the military, the job is to follow the orders, for better or worse.
Bob Franken, CNN, aboard the aircraft carrier Harry S Truman.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 December 8, 2002 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In the midst of all the uncertainty four and a half acres of U.S. sovereign territory is making its way to the Persian Gulf area. Of course, we're talking about the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S Truman and other ships in its battle group. They've set sail on a mission into unknown territory. Here is CNN's Bob Franken aboard the carrier. He says the crew is prepared for anything.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As all manner of combat planes come screaming on to their floating runway they're catching up on a mission into the unknown.
The Harry S Truman Battle Group steams toward the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.
(on camera): There are about 80 different aircraft lead by a 12 ship flotilla, all lead by this aircraft carrier.
(voice over): There are millions of moving parts, including all together, about 8,000 human moving parts, facing the possibility of moving against Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm nervous. I guess you could say I'm scared, but I'm mostly excited at the same time.
FRANKEN: Feelings shared on the flight decks above to the hangars below to the tables at mess. The sailors slip into the routines onboard that they will follow for the next six months. They're already missing the loved ones they've left behind.
For some, it is old hat; for others, the first deployment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never been away from my family this long in my life.
FRANKEN: But with all the angst one might expect there is also the sense of excitement that many feel when the anticipate being right in the middle of the action.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even thought it is uncertain, I feel that I can rely on the training that I've received over the years to go in a do what we need to do.
FRANKEN: The bridge looks like it does in every movie. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 020 degrees to the left, sir.
FRANKEN: It is all very correct on the bridge. The ship was commanded by a Naval Academy graduate, strictly business. He's left home and loved ones on eight deployments. He as he sees it, that's what he does.
CAPT. MICHAEL GROOTHOUSEN, COMMANDING OFFICER: We're protecting our very way of life. This is four and a half acres of U.S. sovereign territory. We're taking it forward, we're deployed as the Navy has always been. The fact that we're protecting our country, we're also protecting out loved ones.
FRANKEN: But still...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is kind of like you're putting your life on hold for six months and hopefully when you come back everything is going to be the same, but it's usually not.
FRANKEN: It could be a lot different. But that depends on the people elsewhere who make public policy. Here, as it has always been in the military, the job is to follow the orders, for better or worse.
Bob Franken, CNN, aboard the aircraft carrier Harry S Truman.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
