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CNN Sunday Morning
Interview With Leann Nussberger
Aired May 25, 2003 - 09:20 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: More than 2,000 Marines are returning home tomorrow to North Carolina, ending nine months of deployment in countries all over the world, including Iraq. CNN's Gary Tuchman has more on those Marines from Camp Lejeune.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Bye, dad.
TUCHMAN: It was August, 2002 when the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed from its base at Camp Lejune in North Carolina, 2,300 Marines expecting to be back in February. It did not work out that way. They ended up in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but only arriving there after first participating in operations and exercises in Kosovo, Djibouti, and Kenya. So, it was a tired, but determined contingent that arrived in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your eyes on the roofs, now. Keep your eyes on the roofs. Where -- that's where the bad guys are going to show up, when they decide to show up.
TUCHMAN: Three weeks after the war began, they prepared for a battle with the Iraqi 10th Division. The Iraqis showed up, but with white flags and their uniforms off. With their fears diminishing and their spirits rising, Marine demolition teams took care of some business and encountered grateful Iraqis on their missions. And then, an image nobody there will ever forget. U.S. Marine, Cooter al-Amiri (ph), born in Iraq and now serving as a translator for his new country, is unit is reunited with a son he was forced to leave behind. The last time he saw his family was during the first Gulf War when he was fighting against Saddam Hussein. Al-Amiri now lives in Seattle area, but here in his hometown, Qalat Sikar (ph) he was received as a hero.
Less than a week later, these Marines encountered some more heroes, the American POWs; the former prisoners were flown to the Iraqi base where the Marines were located. It was certainly a celebratory time. And now, more celebrations. As the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrives back home in North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: And this will be the first major contingent of Marine ground troops to return home, 2,300 of them. As far as Cooter al- Amiri (ph), he is not coming back. He has decided to stay in his old homeland of Iraq. He will continue his translator work for the U.S. Marines, but he has returned home and he will work and live in the new Iraq.
One of the Marines coming back tomorrow, Major Clint Nussberger, with us right now, is his family. Nine months away -- this is his wife, Leann, his son, Mark. Mark is 7 yeas old. His daughter, Brittany, she's 10 yeas old. Now, Leann has an amazing story, because Leann, yesterday was her birthday.
LEANN NUSSBERGER, WIFE OF MAJ. CLINT NUSSBERGER: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Today is her 12th anniversary...
NUSSBERGER: Yes.
TUCHMAN: ...and tomorrow, her husband comes home.
TUCHMAN: How are you feeling right now.
NUSSBERGER: I'm feeling great. This is so incredible. Talk about the most incredible weekend one could ever imagine, it's your birthday, your anniversary and seeing your husband come home after nine months. We are all very excited.
TUCHMAN: Originally, they went away for a six-month tour. It turned into nine months. Not only has it been a long time, but they were at war. You were unable to talk to your husband for most of the four-week hardest part of the war.
NUSSBERGER: That's correct.
TUCHMAN: how difficult has this been for you?
NUSSBERGER: Overall, I think it's been difficult being apart from my husband and being -- and the children being away from their father. The actual deployment hasn't been too bad, except for that one month when they were -- during the war, I think that was the most tense moments, I think, I've ever felt as a wife and going to bed every night and not knowing what's going to be happening and not sleeping and all those things that happen when you're stressed and you don't know what's going to happen.
TUCHMAN: Brittany, you're 10 years old, you're in fourth grade. What is the first thing you're going to say to your dad when you see him tomorrow?
BRITTANY NUSSBERGER, DAUGHTER: I love you.
TUCHMAN: And what's the second thing you'll say? Anything else? What do you want him to do when he gets home?
MARK NUSSBERGER: He can give me a hug.
TUCHMAN: Oh, mark's going to get in on this now. What do you want him to do? MARK NUSSBERGER, SON: A hug.
TUCHMAN: A hug, because that's really important, isn't it? What would you like to do with your dad when he gets home? What's the first thing you want him...
MARK NUSSBERGER: Go to the pool.
TUCHMAN: Go to the pool. And when does the pool open?
MARK NUSSBERGER: Memorial Day weekend.
TUCHMAN: Memorial Day weekend? Everything is happening this weekend. Before we go, Leann, the first thing you're going to say to your husband.
NUSSBERGER: Happy anniversary, I love you, and welcome home.
TUCHMAN: Thank you very much, Nussberger family. Nice meeting you. I wish you a wonderful day tomorrow.
And it will be quite a day here at Camp Lejeune. 2,300 Marines returning home from the Persian Gulf. Marty, back to you.
SAVIDGE: It will be a great day to see. Gary Tuchman, thank you very much.
Many members of the armed forces return from Iraq to see newborn children for the first time, but for one Marine father, the sight of his son was especially sweet.
Major Hal Seller of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, deployed to Iraq while his infant son awaited a heart transplant. I remember this story, I was there, I talked to him. Sellers was second in command of his unit and chose to go even though he was offered a position behind a desk while his son's medical problems persisted. But, as Major Sellers came home, he was greeted by the smiling face of his son, Dylan and the sound of his new heart. Dylan was born with an inoperable heart defect, but a heart transplant, March 12, not only saved his life but the hopes of his Marine father, as well.
KOPPEL: That is a truly heartwarming story.
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 May 25, 2003 - 09:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: More than 2,000 Marines are returning home tomorrow to North Carolina, ending nine months of deployment in countries all over the world, including Iraq. CNN's Gary Tuchman has more on those Marines from Camp Lejeune.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Bye, dad.
TUCHMAN: It was August, 2002 when the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed from its base at Camp Lejune in North Carolina, 2,300 Marines expecting to be back in February. It did not work out that way. They ended up in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but only arriving there after first participating in operations and exercises in Kosovo, Djibouti, and Kenya. So, it was a tired, but determined contingent that arrived in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your eyes on the roofs, now. Keep your eyes on the roofs. Where -- that's where the bad guys are going to show up, when they decide to show up.
TUCHMAN: Three weeks after the war began, they prepared for a battle with the Iraqi 10th Division. The Iraqis showed up, but with white flags and their uniforms off. With their fears diminishing and their spirits rising, Marine demolition teams took care of some business and encountered grateful Iraqis on their missions. And then, an image nobody there will ever forget. U.S. Marine, Cooter al-Amiri (ph), born in Iraq and now serving as a translator for his new country, is unit is reunited with a son he was forced to leave behind. The last time he saw his family was during the first Gulf War when he was fighting against Saddam Hussein. Al-Amiri now lives in Seattle area, but here in his hometown, Qalat Sikar (ph) he was received as a hero.
Less than a week later, these Marines encountered some more heroes, the American POWs; the former prisoners were flown to the Iraqi base where the Marines were located. It was certainly a celebratory time. And now, more celebrations. As the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrives back home in North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: And this will be the first major contingent of Marine ground troops to return home, 2,300 of them. As far as Cooter al- Amiri (ph), he is not coming back. He has decided to stay in his old homeland of Iraq. He will continue his translator work for the U.S. Marines, but he has returned home and he will work and live in the new Iraq.
One of the Marines coming back tomorrow, Major Clint Nussberger, with us right now, is his family. Nine months away -- this is his wife, Leann, his son, Mark. Mark is 7 yeas old. His daughter, Brittany, she's 10 yeas old. Now, Leann has an amazing story, because Leann, yesterday was her birthday.
LEANN NUSSBERGER, WIFE OF MAJ. CLINT NUSSBERGER: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Today is her 12th anniversary...
NUSSBERGER: Yes.
TUCHMAN: ...and tomorrow, her husband comes home.
TUCHMAN: How are you feeling right now.
NUSSBERGER: I'm feeling great. This is so incredible. Talk about the most incredible weekend one could ever imagine, it's your birthday, your anniversary and seeing your husband come home after nine months. We are all very excited.
TUCHMAN: Originally, they went away for a six-month tour. It turned into nine months. Not only has it been a long time, but they were at war. You were unable to talk to your husband for most of the four-week hardest part of the war.
NUSSBERGER: That's correct.
TUCHMAN: how difficult has this been for you?
NUSSBERGER: Overall, I think it's been difficult being apart from my husband and being -- and the children being away from their father. The actual deployment hasn't been too bad, except for that one month when they were -- during the war, I think that was the most tense moments, I think, I've ever felt as a wife and going to bed every night and not knowing what's going to be happening and not sleeping and all those things that happen when you're stressed and you don't know what's going to happen.
TUCHMAN: Brittany, you're 10 years old, you're in fourth grade. What is the first thing you're going to say to your dad when you see him tomorrow?
BRITTANY NUSSBERGER, DAUGHTER: I love you.
TUCHMAN: And what's the second thing you'll say? Anything else? What do you want him to do when he gets home?
MARK NUSSBERGER: He can give me a hug.
TUCHMAN: Oh, mark's going to get in on this now. What do you want him to do? MARK NUSSBERGER, SON: A hug.
TUCHMAN: A hug, because that's really important, isn't it? What would you like to do with your dad when he gets home? What's the first thing you want him...
MARK NUSSBERGER: Go to the pool.
TUCHMAN: Go to the pool. And when does the pool open?
MARK NUSSBERGER: Memorial Day weekend.
TUCHMAN: Memorial Day weekend? Everything is happening this weekend. Before we go, Leann, the first thing you're going to say to your husband.
NUSSBERGER: Happy anniversary, I love you, and welcome home.
TUCHMAN: Thank you very much, Nussberger family. Nice meeting you. I wish you a wonderful day tomorrow.
And it will be quite a day here at Camp Lejeune. 2,300 Marines returning home from the Persian Gulf. Marty, back to you.
SAVIDGE: It will be a great day to see. Gary Tuchman, thank you very much.
Many members of the armed forces return from Iraq to see newborn children for the first time, but for one Marine father, the sight of his son was especially sweet.
Major Hal Seller of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, deployed to Iraq while his infant son awaited a heart transplant. I remember this story, I was there, I talked to him. Sellers was second in command of his unit and chose to go even though he was offered a position behind a desk while his son's medical problems persisted. But, as Major Sellers came home, he was greeted by the smiling face of his son, Dylan and the sound of his new heart. Dylan was born with an inoperable heart defect, but a heart transplant, March 12, not only saved his life but the hopes of his Marine father, as well.
KOPPEL: That is a truly heartwarming story.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
