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CNN Sunday Morning
Bush May Meet With Rescued POWs
Aired April 20, 2003 - 11:05 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: On now to President Bush, who is in his home state of Texas this weekend, but he may be getting second bill on the lone star stage. The spotlight is now on the seven former prisoners of war who completed their weeklong journey from Iraq to Germany, and then their home bases in Texas. At Fort Hood, the home base for two of the former POWs, we have CNN's Jamie Colby, and our Thelma Gutierrez is at Fort Bliss, where all seven arrived last night, and then five of them decided to stay.
Let's start with you, Thelma. Let's begin with you.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. Well, it is a very quiet Easter morning, this morning here at Fort Bliss, quite a different scene, though, last night. It was definitely a hero's welcome out on the tarmac here at the Biggs Army Airfield, as the C-17 transport plane touched down to the cheers of hundreds of friends and family and well wishers who lined the tarmac.
You could actually see the tears in the eyes of some people as they watched specialist Joseph Hudson wave to the crowd and Patrick Miller who waved the American flag from that C-17.
Now, it seemed an eternity, but the immediate family members were finally able to hold their loved ones as they walked out the back of the plane. 20-year-old Shoshana Johnson of El Paso, who suffered those gunshot wounds to both of her ankles, was helped by fellow soldiers from the stretcher to a cart. Her 2-year-old daughter Janelle was placed on her lap, and it was definitely a moment that the Johnson family said they had long awaited.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOANNE AMANTINE, SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S AUNT: This day is just so overwhelming. It's great. It's one of a kind. I don't think there is another day that's going to match this day. Seeing her coming home, it's great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, it's a very different scene in front of the Johnson house today. Now, when they had first learned that she was taken prisoner there was a sign that they were hanging out in front of their home, and it read "Bring Shoshana home." Now that sign has been replaced with "Welcome Home." So many, many happy people in El Paso.
We had mentioned that Shoshana Johnson is one of those five POWs who returned to Fort Bliss. Two others went on to Fort Hood, and that's where we find our colleague Jamie Colby for their side of the story -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thelma, how are you? Thanks very much.
We're here at Fort Hood where, last night, the celebration was happy and long awaited. On the tarmac, a heartwarming moment, though, not a public one. The family members of David Williams and Ron Young, the two Apache pilots, now freed POWs, they were given just a few minutes to hold and hug and share messages with their loved ones. And then as the family went back down the tarmac in a procession, they went to the unit where both of these soldiers were stationed, to be greeted by their Army family.
There Major General Joe Peterson commended them on their service, congratulated their families on their safe return. And though the focus was on these two freed POWs now being termed returnees, both of them approached the podium to say they must not forget those that are still at war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C.W.O. DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW, U.S. ARMY: Let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting, and god bless America. I love you.
(APPLAUSE)
C.W.O. RONALD YOUNG, FORMER POW, U.S. ARMY: 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. They're truly great Americans and there's no doubt in my mind that, first cab division, any of you soldiers would have done the exact same thing I did when I was there. I love you all very much, I love the American people. God bless America. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: Those speeches truly inspirational for the troops who were there to see the safe return of the returnees. And as well, today, President Bush, just moments ago, landed here at Fort Hood. He'll attend an Easter church service on base, and then, we are told, he will meet privately for a brief time with the returnees and their families. Now back to you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie Colby at Fort Hood. As we just saw, the President is now in Fort Hood. He's making his way to a church service, and then, shortly thereafter, he'll be meeting with two out of the altogether seven former POWs.
Suzanne Malveaux is our White House correspondent. She's following the developments and the goings-on of the president -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred. Well, President Bush and his family are forgoing their normal tradition, Easter tradition of actually attending a sunrise service not far from the Crawford Ranch.
As you saw, just moments ago in those pictures, that the president and his family have landed there in Fort Hood, Texas, at the Memorial Chapel of the 4th Infantry. It is not only the president, but also his parents, as well as the first lady, his daughters, Jenna and Barbara, and one of the brothers, Neil Bush; they're all attending that service.
We are told, of course, also attending the service, the POWs, Officers Williams and Young, and their families are there. The president is going to be meeting with them privately, after the service, briefly. This is something that the president likes to do. He usually doesn't make a big fanfare about it, but does it rather quietly.
The president really sending the message here, on this Easter Passover holiday, that he is grateful, he is thankful, that he recognizes the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families during this very difficult time. And also, the president has been saying all along that, yes, his faith, very important to him; that he prayed in his decision to send those soldiers in harm's way in Iraq, that he prayed for their safe return, and that of course he is praying for those soldiers and their families today. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Suzanne, correct me if I'm wrong, but it was a last minute decision for the president to finally decide to meet with those former POWs, even though he had plans to attend the church service in Fort Hood. What changed his mind? Why would he have gone to Fort Hood and not meet with those former POWs?
MALVEAUX: There's so many things that go into the president actually visiting with them and traveling. A lot of it is logistics, it's security, and as well, as you can imagine, the conditions of the POWs themselves, whether or not they were actually up for the visit themselves. But the White House being very sensitive to all of those situations. But they confirmed it this morning, that, in fact, it's going to happen. A very special moment for all of them.
WHITFIELD: All right. It will be a special moment indeed. Thanks very much, Suzanne.
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 - 11:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On now to President Bush, who is in his home state of Texas this weekend, but he may be getting second bill on the lone star stage. The spotlight is now on the seven former prisoners of war who completed their weeklong journey from Iraq to Germany, and then their home bases in Texas. At Fort Hood, the home base for two of the former POWs, we have CNN's Jamie Colby, and our Thelma Gutierrez is at Fort Bliss, where all seven arrived last night, and then five of them decided to stay.
Let's start with you, Thelma. Let's begin with you.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. Well, it is a very quiet Easter morning, this morning here at Fort Bliss, quite a different scene, though, last night. It was definitely a hero's welcome out on the tarmac here at the Biggs Army Airfield, as the C-17 transport plane touched down to the cheers of hundreds of friends and family and well wishers who lined the tarmac.
You could actually see the tears in the eyes of some people as they watched specialist Joseph Hudson wave to the crowd and Patrick Miller who waved the American flag from that C-17.
Now, it seemed an eternity, but the immediate family members were finally able to hold their loved ones as they walked out the back of the plane. 20-year-old Shoshana Johnson of El Paso, who suffered those gunshot wounds to both of her ankles, was helped by fellow soldiers from the stretcher to a cart. Her 2-year-old daughter Janelle was placed on her lap, and it was definitely a moment that the Johnson family said they had long awaited.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOANNE AMANTINE, SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S AUNT: This day is just so overwhelming. It's great. It's one of a kind. I don't think there is another day that's going to match this day. Seeing her coming home, it's great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, it's a very different scene in front of the Johnson house today. Now, when they had first learned that she was taken prisoner there was a sign that they were hanging out in front of their home, and it read "Bring Shoshana home." Now that sign has been replaced with "Welcome Home." So many, many happy people in El Paso.
We had mentioned that Shoshana Johnson is one of those five POWs who returned to Fort Bliss. Two others went on to Fort Hood, and that's where we find our colleague Jamie Colby for their side of the story -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thelma, how are you? Thanks very much.
We're here at Fort Hood where, last night, the celebration was happy and long awaited. On the tarmac, a heartwarming moment, though, not a public one. The family members of David Williams and Ron Young, the two Apache pilots, now freed POWs, they were given just a few minutes to hold and hug and share messages with their loved ones. And then as the family went back down the tarmac in a procession, they went to the unit where both of these soldiers were stationed, to be greeted by their Army family.
There Major General Joe Peterson commended them on their service, congratulated their families on their safe return. And though the focus was on these two freed POWs now being termed returnees, both of them approached the podium to say they must not forget those that are still at war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C.W.O. DAVID WILLIAMS, FORMER POW, U.S. ARMY: Let's keep praying for those soldiers who are still fighting, and god bless America. I love you.
(APPLAUSE)
C.W.O. RONALD YOUNG, FORMER POW, U.S. ARMY: 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. They're truly great Americans and there's no doubt in my mind that, first cab division, any of you soldiers would have done the exact same thing I did when I was there. I love you all very much, I love the American people. God bless America. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: Those speeches truly inspirational for the troops who were there to see the safe return of the returnees. And as well, today, President Bush, just moments ago, landed here at Fort Hood. He'll attend an Easter church service on base, and then, we are told, he will meet privately for a brief time with the returnees and their families. Now back to you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie Colby at Fort Hood. As we just saw, the President is now in Fort Hood. He's making his way to a church service, and then, shortly thereafter, he'll be meeting with two out of the altogether seven former POWs.
Suzanne Malveaux is our White House correspondent. She's following the developments and the goings-on of the president -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred. Well, President Bush and his family are forgoing their normal tradition, Easter tradition of actually attending a sunrise service not far from the Crawford Ranch.
As you saw, just moments ago in those pictures, that the president and his family have landed there in Fort Hood, Texas, at the Memorial Chapel of the 4th Infantry. It is not only the president, but also his parents, as well as the first lady, his daughters, Jenna and Barbara, and one of the brothers, Neil Bush; they're all attending that service.
We are told, of course, also attending the service, the POWs, Officers Williams and Young, and their families are there. The president is going to be meeting with them privately, after the service, briefly. This is something that the president likes to do. He usually doesn't make a big fanfare about it, but does it rather quietly.
The president really sending the message here, on this Easter Passover holiday, that he is grateful, he is thankful, that he recognizes the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families during this very difficult time. And also, the president has been saying all along that, yes, his faith, very important to him; that he prayed in his decision to send those soldiers in harm's way in Iraq, that he prayed for their safe return, and that of course he is praying for those soldiers and their families today. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Suzanne, correct me if I'm wrong, but it was a last minute decision for the president to finally decide to meet with those former POWs, even though he had plans to attend the church service in Fort Hood. What changed his mind? Why would he have gone to Fort Hood and not meet with those former POWs?
MALVEAUX: There's so many things that go into the president actually visiting with them and traveling. A lot of it is logistics, it's security, and as well, as you can imagine, the conditions of the POWs themselves, whether or not they were actually up for the visit themselves. But the White House being very sensitive to all of those situations. But they confirmed it this morning, that, in fact, it's going to happen. A very special moment for all of them.
WHITFIELD: All right. It will be a special moment indeed. Thanks very much, Suzanne.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
