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CNN Sunday Morning
POWs Come Home
Aired April 20, 2003 - 08:00 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get more on the welcome home ceremonies for those U.S. Army former prisoners of war. It happened last night late.
Thelma Gutierrez is in Ft. Bliss, Texas, where the ex-POWs arrived first. And Jamie Colby is standing by at Ft. Hood, where the two Apache pilots ended up.
Thelma, let's start off with you. Quite a night last night.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure was, Anderson. Good morning. It was a hero's welcome out on the tarmac here at Ft. Bliss where the former POWs landed after a very long flight from Germany.
Now that C-17 transport plane touched down at Biggs Army airfield to the cheers of hundreds of friends, family and well wishers who lined the tarmac. You could see tears in their eyes as they watched Joseph Hudson and Patrick Miller wave the American flag from a top that C-17.
After what seemed an eternity the immediate family members were finally able to hold their loved ones as they walked out the back of the plane.
Twenty-year-old Shoshana Johnson of El Paso, who suffered gunshot wounds to both ankles, was helped by fellow soldiers from the stretcher to a cart. Her 2-year-old daughter Janelle was placed on her lap. It was the moment the Johnson family had long awaited.
Her best friend Teresa Rollins came to welcome her home, bearing a special gift.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the yellow ribbon I wore along with the pin. This is the POW pin that I wore which I am going to give to her as soon as I see her, but this is...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you read that to us?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shoshana Johnson, my hero, my best friend. 13 of April 2003. I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness, should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, felt steaming cold of enjoy and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love. I have cried, pained and hoped, but most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least I am able to say that I am proud of what I am, a soldier. Love Teresa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: The former POWs then boarded a cart. They were paraded around the tarmac to a cheering crowd, many in the crowd shouting their names. After some quiet time with their families, they will undergo several days of medical testing at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center and then, perhaps, a much-needed leave of absence -- Anderson.
COOPER: Thelma, thanks very much. It was such a great evening last night. I appreciate your report.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's nice for people who might have missed it because it happened so late last night to share it with them this morning.
Also we want to show you, 600 miles east of Ft. Bliss is Ft. Hood. That is home to the two Apache helicopter pilots. They were held almost three weeks by the Iraqis.
Let's get more on their homecoming from Jamie Colby, who is there. Jamie, good morning.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Daryn, I'm laughing because the wind gusts that have just blown in today at Ft. Hood fortunately did not interfere with the arrival of the plane last night.
The two Apache pilots, Ronald Young and David Williams, arrived here at Ft. Hood just before 11 local time, their plane pulling up in front of the unit where they are based, their families waiting.
And the picture of the evening, truly the embraces they received. David Williams by his wife, Black Hawk helicopter pilot Michelle Williams and Ronald Young in the arms of his mother.
It looked like they were not going to let go in time for the ceremony to begin but they very generously shared their time with the troops. First being thanked by the general of the base, saying how proud he was of them and how blessed they felt to have both of these pilots returned and then both of the Apache pilots, taking a few moments to speak to the troops.
Here's what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW: I'd like to start off to say how overwhelmed I am by the tremendous support I got from you all. I'm speechless.
I think the biggest thing I'd like to say is I'd like to thank you all for staying on the American fence and serving our country, OK? And it feels really good to be home -- and just let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting.
CWO RONALD YOUNG JR., FORMER POW: I thank God that I was allowed to live my life and share the rest of my life with my family. I say a special prayer each night for our fallen comrades, for the soldiers that didn't make it home and the ones that are still over there. I want everyone to remember them in their prayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: And Daryn, the word from the base is that the returnees, as were being asked to call them now, will spend quiet time with their families for the Easter holiday. They remained on base last night and we don't expect to see them out today, though President Bush will be in the Ft. Hood area to attend a church service on base. We're not sure, though, if the POWs, the former POWs, will be coming out to join him.
But we do know that the families will be spending every minute they can with them and that these returnees also do not have plans to go back to work for a while. They'll continue to be observed by medical and psychological experts and just enjoying the time with their family.
Michelle Williams, who's been so generous the last couple of weeks to share her time with us and her thoughts, has also told us that her husband will see his two children today, 2-year-old Jason and 6-month-old Madison. One of the things he wanted to know while he was in the hospital in Landstuhl was how much Madison's hair has grown since he has left. He has been gone for awhile. We're told it's grown a lot and that she and her brother, 2-year-old Jason, cannot wait to see their dad -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, then he'll go from returnee to daddy and that's probably the best title he could have. Jamie Colby, 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 20, 2003 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get more on the welcome home ceremonies for those U.S. Army former prisoners of war. It happened last night late.
Thelma Gutierrez is in Ft. Bliss, Texas, where the ex-POWs arrived first. And Jamie Colby is standing by at Ft. Hood, where the two Apache pilots ended up.
Thelma, let's start off with you. Quite a night last night.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure was, Anderson. Good morning. It was a hero's welcome out on the tarmac here at Ft. Bliss where the former POWs landed after a very long flight from Germany.
Now that C-17 transport plane touched down at Biggs Army airfield to the cheers of hundreds of friends, family and well wishers who lined the tarmac. You could see tears in their eyes as they watched Joseph Hudson and Patrick Miller wave the American flag from a top that C-17.
After what seemed an eternity the immediate family members were finally able to hold their loved ones as they walked out the back of the plane.
Twenty-year-old Shoshana Johnson of El Paso, who suffered gunshot wounds to both ankles, was helped by fellow soldiers from the stretcher to a cart. Her 2-year-old daughter Janelle was placed on her lap. It was the moment the Johnson family had long awaited.
Her best friend Teresa Rollins came to welcome her home, bearing a special gift.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the yellow ribbon I wore along with the pin. This is the POW pin that I wore which I am going to give to her as soon as I see her, but this is...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you read that to us?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shoshana Johnson, my hero, my best friend. 13 of April 2003. I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness, should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, felt steaming cold of enjoy and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love. I have cried, pained and hoped, but most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least I am able to say that I am proud of what I am, a soldier. Love Teresa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: The former POWs then boarded a cart. They were paraded around the tarmac to a cheering crowd, many in the crowd shouting their names. After some quiet time with their families, they will undergo several days of medical testing at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center and then, perhaps, a much-needed leave of absence -- Anderson.
COOPER: Thelma, thanks very much. It was such a great evening last night. I appreciate your report.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's nice for people who might have missed it because it happened so late last night to share it with them this morning.
Also we want to show you, 600 miles east of Ft. Bliss is Ft. Hood. That is home to the two Apache helicopter pilots. They were held almost three weeks by the Iraqis.
Let's get more on their homecoming from Jamie Colby, who is there. Jamie, good morning.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Daryn, I'm laughing because the wind gusts that have just blown in today at Ft. Hood fortunately did not interfere with the arrival of the plane last night.
The two Apache pilots, Ronald Young and David Williams, arrived here at Ft. Hood just before 11 local time, their plane pulling up in front of the unit where they are based, their families waiting.
And the picture of the evening, truly the embraces they received. David Williams by his wife, Black Hawk helicopter pilot Michelle Williams and Ronald Young in the arms of his mother.
It looked like they were not going to let go in time for the ceremony to begin but they very generously shared their time with the troops. First being thanked by the general of the base, saying how proud he was of them and how blessed they felt to have both of these pilots returned and then both of the Apache pilots, taking a few moments to speak to the troops.
Here's what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW: I'd like to start off to say how overwhelmed I am by the tremendous support I got from you all. I'm speechless.
I think the biggest thing I'd like to say is I'd like to thank you all for staying on the American fence and serving our country, OK? And it feels really good to be home -- and just let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting.
CWO RONALD YOUNG JR., FORMER POW: I thank God that I was allowed to live my life and share the rest of my life with my family. I say a special prayer each night for our fallen comrades, for the soldiers that didn't make it home and the ones that are still over there. I want everyone to remember them in their prayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: And Daryn, the word from the base is that the returnees, as were being asked to call them now, will spend quiet time with their families for the Easter holiday. They remained on base last night and we don't expect to see them out today, though President Bush will be in the Ft. Hood area to attend a church service on base. We're not sure, though, if the POWs, the former POWs, will be coming out to join him.
But we do know that the families will be spending every minute they can with them and that these returnees also do not have plans to go back to work for a while. They'll continue to be observed by medical and psychological experts and just enjoying the time with their family.
Michelle Williams, who's been so generous the last couple of weeks to share her time with us and her thoughts, has also told us that her husband will see his two children today, 2-year-old Jason and 6-month-old Madison. One of the things he wanted to know while he was in the hospital in Landstuhl was how much Madison's hair has grown since he has left. He has been gone for awhile. We're told it's grown a lot and that she and her brother, 2-year-old Jason, cannot wait to see their dad -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, then he'll go from returnee to daddy and that's probably the best title he could have. Jamie Colby, 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
