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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Bill Grimes

Aired December 21, 2003 - 09:02   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: "Time" magazine has picked the American soldier as its 2003 person of the year. "Time" said that it's using the term "soldier" in its broadest sense, to encompass all branches of the military.
Three soldiers from a unit that was nicknamed Tomb Raiders are featured on the cover. And "Time's" editor say that "uncommon skills and service by U.S. troops in defending freedoms at home and abroad were the reasons behind the choice."

And on the phone with us now is Bill Grimes, in Lebanon, Indiana. His daughter is Specialist Billie Grimes, she is one of the three soldiers on "Time's" cover. Thanks for being with us this morning.

BILL GRIMES, SPEC. BILLIE GRIMES' FATHER: You're welcome.

CALLAWAY: Tell me how you felt when you saw her photograph on the cover of that magazine.

GRIMES: It was just, wow, pretty overwhelmed.

CALLAWAY: Tell us about your daughter.

GRIMES: Well, she's a pretty quiet girl. Loyal, compassionate girl. She's a real good girl.

CALLAWAY: And she has been with this unit for some time. Is she the only female in this unit?

GRIMES: Yes, she's the only female.

CALLAWAY: And when is she expected -- when are you going to be able to see her again?

GRIMES: Well, we're hoping within the next couple of days.

CALLAWAY: Have you been able to talk to her at all?

GRIMES: I haven't talked to her since -- on the phone since the incident with the reporter.

CALLAWAY: Right, let's talk about that incident, when she had her photograph taken and the "Time" photographer was embedded with that platoon. And that was quite a famous photographer. What did she tell you about the picture and the circumstances under which it was taken? Can you tell us? GRIMES: Well, she just -- it's all-- she had to react. I mean, you just do your job. She said, dad, I'm just doing my job. And while the other photographer was taking the picture of her working on Michael, he had passed out. So it was quite a moment.

CALLAWAY: And does she have any idea that she's on the cover? That she is representing U.S. troops?

GRIMES: I don't believe she does, unless she sees it in the airport on the way home.

CALLAWAY: Well, congratulations to you. I know this is a moving moment for you, and she's representing you and American troops very well.

GRIMES: That's exactly right. I just think that every soldier is very, very important.

CALLAWAY: What else is the rest of the family feeling this morning?

GRIMES: Well, it's just my wife and our son and daughter-in-law. So we're just right now, just wild, you know. It's pretty interesting. So we'll see what happens.

CALLAWAY: Thank you for being with us this morning, and congratulations to you, and we do hope you are reunited with your daughter soon. At least you're able to speak with her soon.

That is Bill Grimes. He is the father of Specialist Billie Grimes, who is one of the three American soldiers that were featured on "Time's" person of the year cover.

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 December 21, 2003 - 09:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: "Time" magazine has picked the American soldier as its 2003 person of the year. "Time" said that it's using the term "soldier" in its broadest sense, to encompass all branches of the military.
Three soldiers from a unit that was nicknamed Tomb Raiders are featured on the cover. And "Time's" editor say that "uncommon skills and service by U.S. troops in defending freedoms at home and abroad were the reasons behind the choice."

And on the phone with us now is Bill Grimes, in Lebanon, Indiana. His daughter is Specialist Billie Grimes, she is one of the three soldiers on "Time's" cover. Thanks for being with us this morning.

BILL GRIMES, SPEC. BILLIE GRIMES' FATHER: You're welcome.

CALLAWAY: Tell me how you felt when you saw her photograph on the cover of that magazine.

GRIMES: It was just, wow, pretty overwhelmed.

CALLAWAY: Tell us about your daughter.

GRIMES: Well, she's a pretty quiet girl. Loyal, compassionate girl. She's a real good girl.

CALLAWAY: And she has been with this unit for some time. Is she the only female in this unit?

GRIMES: Yes, she's the only female.

CALLAWAY: And when is she expected -- when are you going to be able to see her again?

GRIMES: Well, we're hoping within the next couple of days.

CALLAWAY: Have you been able to talk to her at all?

GRIMES: I haven't talked to her since -- on the phone since the incident with the reporter.

CALLAWAY: Right, let's talk about that incident, when she had her photograph taken and the "Time" photographer was embedded with that platoon. And that was quite a famous photographer. What did she tell you about the picture and the circumstances under which it was taken? Can you tell us? GRIMES: Well, she just -- it's all-- she had to react. I mean, you just do your job. She said, dad, I'm just doing my job. And while the other photographer was taking the picture of her working on Michael, he had passed out. So it was quite a moment.

CALLAWAY: And does she have any idea that she's on the cover? That she is representing U.S. troops?

GRIMES: I don't believe she does, unless she sees it in the airport on the way home.

CALLAWAY: Well, congratulations to you. I know this is a moving moment for you, and she's representing you and American troops very well.

GRIMES: That's exactly right. I just think that every soldier is very, very important.

CALLAWAY: What else is the rest of the family feeling this morning?

GRIMES: Well, it's just my wife and our son and daughter-in-law. So we're just right now, just wild, you know. It's pretty interesting. So we'll see what happens.

CALLAWAY: Thank you for being with us this morning, and congratulations to you, and we do hope you are reunited with your daughter soon. At least you're able to speak with her soon.

That is Bill Grimes. He is the father of Specialist Billie Grimes, who is one of the three American soldiers that were featured on "Time's" person of the year cover.

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