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CNN Sunday Morning
Fallen U.S. Soldier Remembered in South Carolina
Aired November 09, 2003 - 08:11 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Another soldier who died on that Chinook helicopter is being remembered in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Our Martin Savidge reports the war in Iraq is taking a heavy toll on Orangeburg and it's changing some career choices.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the 2,000 students and faculty at Orangeburg Wilkinson High School, it started in August. It happened again in September, and just last week, it happened once more.
MARILYN WILSON, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR: I think we're still in shock. It's tragic. It's a tragic occurrence.
SAVIDGE: In the span of three months, the small town of Orangeburg, South Carolina, population less than 15,000, has lost three young men to the war in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody kind of knows everybody, and they're affected in one way or the other, either through work or the church or the school.
SAVIDGE: At the high school, 85 percent of the students qualify for either free or reduced lunches. And for many, the military is not just a way to see the world, but their only hope of seeing a college classroom. One hundred eighty students are in the school's junior ROTC program, but the soldiers' deaths have some rethinking those plans.
MAJ. FRANK DOUGLASS, ROTC DIRECTOR: I think those who came in with the intent of going into the military, I think they're pretty much steadfast, where others who weren't sure probably have changed their minds.
SAVIDGE (on camera): How many of you are actively thinking about going into the military after school? Over half of you.
(voice-over): But in this class, we found no changes of heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been something I wanted to do for awhile. So it's a career that I want and it's a risk I'm going to take.
SAVIDGE (on camera): And have your attitudes changed as someone who is guiding a young person. WILSON: No, I'm still going to give them all of the options that are available to them.
SAVIDGE (voice-over): The attitude of English teacher Angela Lee, who taught two of the former students, hasn't changed either. If a young person wants to go into the military, that's fine. She just wants something more.
ANGELA LEE, ENGLISH DRAMA TEACHER: I just want all of my students back. I want them back home.
SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Orangeburg, South Carolina.
(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 November 9, 2003 - 08:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Another soldier who died on that Chinook helicopter is being remembered in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Our Martin Savidge reports the war in Iraq is taking a heavy toll on Orangeburg and it's changing some career choices.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the 2,000 students and faculty at Orangeburg Wilkinson High School, it started in August. It happened again in September, and just last week, it happened once more.
MARILYN WILSON, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR: I think we're still in shock. It's tragic. It's a tragic occurrence.
SAVIDGE: In the span of three months, the small town of Orangeburg, South Carolina, population less than 15,000, has lost three young men to the war in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody kind of knows everybody, and they're affected in one way or the other, either through work or the church or the school.
SAVIDGE: At the high school, 85 percent of the students qualify for either free or reduced lunches. And for many, the military is not just a way to see the world, but their only hope of seeing a college classroom. One hundred eighty students are in the school's junior ROTC program, but the soldiers' deaths have some rethinking those plans.
MAJ. FRANK DOUGLASS, ROTC DIRECTOR: I think those who came in with the intent of going into the military, I think they're pretty much steadfast, where others who weren't sure probably have changed their minds.
SAVIDGE (on camera): How many of you are actively thinking about going into the military after school? Over half of you.
(voice-over): But in this class, we found no changes of heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been something I wanted to do for awhile. So it's a career that I want and it's a risk I'm going to take.
SAVIDGE (on camera): And have your attitudes changed as someone who is guiding a young person. WILSON: No, I'm still going to give them all of the options that are available to them.
SAVIDGE (voice-over): The attitude of English teacher Angela Lee, who taught two of the former students, hasn't changed either. If a young person wants to go into the military, that's fine. She just wants something more.
ANGELA LEE, ENGLISH DRAMA TEACHER: I just want all of my students back. I want them back home.
SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Orangeburg, South Carolina.
(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
