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CNN Sunday Morning

Home at Last

Aired April 20, 2003 - 10:00   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go now to the homecoming for the seven former prisoners of war now back in United States.
CNN's Jamie Colby is at Ft. Hood, home base for two of the former POWs.

And our Thelma Gutierrez is also in Texas at Ft. Bliss, where all seven arrived late last night.

Let's begin with you, Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.

It is a quiet Easter morning here. This after a very public celebration last night for the former POWs and their families.

Now that image of the C-17 landing at the Biggs Army airfield was seen around the world. Specialist Joseph Hudson waving to the cheering crowd while Pfc. Patrick Miller held the American flag as the plane taxied down the runway to the sounds of an Army band and about a thousand well-wishers who were shouting their names.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the outstanding support. This means the world to all of us.

Remember our fellow soldiers.

God bless America. This is why we live in a great country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: The anxious families were taken by bus to the plane where they were reunited with loved ones. There were lots of hugs and tears on the tarmac last night.

All seven former POWs then boarded a cart and were paraded around to the cheering crowds at different places along the tarmac.

Family, friends, and well-wishers were shouting their names, names that are now well known in many households across the country.

As we had mentioned, it would be a very quiet Easter today.

After that we are told that the former POWs would have to undergo two to four days of medical examinations and then possibly they will go on a long awaited leave of absence and all of that before they return to their duties.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Thelma thanks very much. Now, let's head over to Ft. Hood and that's where our Jamie Colby is -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we've all heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." That was exactly the scene last night when David Williams and Ronald Young exited the plane from Ft. Bliss here at Ft. Hood.

Waiting, the open arms of Michelle Williams, David Williams' wife, and Ronald Young's parents.

And I have to tell you; the Williams story is an American love story.

Michelle and David Williams met at Ft. Rucker while they were both in flight training. Michelle flies Black Hawk helicopters and, of course, David flies the Apache.

They have two beautiful children and last night, at the ceremony, the commanding general thanked both David and Ron for their service, but also recognized Michelle.

She's shown an incredible sense of pride for her husband and his commitment to his country. Both of them, of course, very proud to be in the military.

And she had talked so little to the media until the release last Sunday, because the military actually feared that if the Iraqis that were holding her husband learned that she was in the military -- even if they had two children -- that might be used against him.

But now beaming smiles by her, and all of the family members last night here at Ft. Hood, and at the same time while the focus was on them, David Williams who approached the podium had these words to say for the other soldiers and their families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CWD. DAVID WILLIAMS, FMR. POW: Let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting and God bless America. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLBY: His speech a real sense of inspiration for the soldiers of his unit that were there last night. Today, of course, President Bush is on base at an Easter church service.

And we're hearing now that he will meet with the POWs at a private meeting of former POWs later after the service and, of course, the families will enjoy the rest of the Easter holiday and we hear that a big barbecue is in the works. That, a request of David Williams -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, Jamie, what more do we know about this potential private meeting between the president and the -- at least the two Apache former POWs?

COLBY: Well, unfortunately not much. And I think that's the way the White House wants it.

It wasn't until a short time ago that they actually said there would even be a meeting.

They've been very hush-hush about it, and really everyone assumes that these freed POWs would want to just spend time with their families, but I guess time with the President, particularly when you're in the military and so committed to service to America is a tough one to resist -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie Colby, thank you very much.

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 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go now to the homecoming for the seven former prisoners of war now back in United States.
CNN's Jamie Colby is at Ft. Hood, home base for two of the former POWs.

And our Thelma Gutierrez is also in Texas at Ft. Bliss, where all seven arrived late last night.

Let's begin with you, Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.

It is a quiet Easter morning here. This after a very public celebration last night for the former POWs and their families.

Now that image of the C-17 landing at the Biggs Army airfield was seen around the world. Specialist Joseph Hudson waving to the cheering crowd while Pfc. Patrick Miller held the American flag as the plane taxied down the runway to the sounds of an Army band and about a thousand well-wishers who were shouting their names.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the outstanding support. This means the world to all of us.

Remember our fellow soldiers.

God bless America. This is why we live in a great country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: The anxious families were taken by bus to the plane where they were reunited with loved ones. There were lots of hugs and tears on the tarmac last night.

All seven former POWs then boarded a cart and were paraded around to the cheering crowds at different places along the tarmac.

Family, friends, and well-wishers were shouting their names, names that are now well known in many households across the country.

As we had mentioned, it would be a very quiet Easter today.

After that we are told that the former POWs would have to undergo two to four days of medical examinations and then possibly they will go on a long awaited leave of absence and all of that before they return to their duties.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Thelma thanks very much. Now, let's head over to Ft. Hood and that's where our Jamie Colby is -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we've all heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." That was exactly the scene last night when David Williams and Ronald Young exited the plane from Ft. Bliss here at Ft. Hood.

Waiting, the open arms of Michelle Williams, David Williams' wife, and Ronald Young's parents.

And I have to tell you; the Williams story is an American love story.

Michelle and David Williams met at Ft. Rucker while they were both in flight training. Michelle flies Black Hawk helicopters and, of course, David flies the Apache.

They have two beautiful children and last night, at the ceremony, the commanding general thanked both David and Ron for their service, but also recognized Michelle.

She's shown an incredible sense of pride for her husband and his commitment to his country. Both of them, of course, very proud to be in the military.

And she had talked so little to the media until the release last Sunday, because the military actually feared that if the Iraqis that were holding her husband learned that she was in the military -- even if they had two children -- that might be used against him.

But now beaming smiles by her, and all of the family members last night here at Ft. Hood, and at the same time while the focus was on them, David Williams who approached the podium had these words to say for the other soldiers and their families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CWD. DAVID WILLIAMS, FMR. POW: Let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting and God bless America. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLBY: His speech a real sense of inspiration for the soldiers of his unit that were there last night. Today, of course, President Bush is on base at an Easter church service.

And we're hearing now that he will meet with the POWs at a private meeting of former POWs later after the service and, of course, the families will enjoy the rest of the Easter holiday and we hear that a big barbecue is in the works. That, a request of David Williams -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, Jamie, what more do we know about this potential private meeting between the president and the -- at least the two Apache former POWs?

COLBY: Well, unfortunately not much. And I think that's the way the White House wants it.

It wasn't until a short time ago that they actually said there would even be a meeting.

They've been very hush-hush about it, and really everyone assumes that these freed POWs would want to just spend time with their families, but I guess time with the President, particularly when you're in the military and so committed to service to America is a tough one to resist -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie Colby, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com