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CNN Sunday Morning

Condoleezza Rice Visits Middle East; Search for 11-Year-Old Boy Scout Continues in Utah

Aired June 19, 2005 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is June 19th. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, and good morning everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Thanks for being with us today.

Let's start you off with some headlines right now.

Five people are confirmed dead, another 27 wounded after a suicide bomber strikes a Baghdad cafe, where Iraqi security forces were eating. The bomber was said to be wearing a vest with explosives when he blew himself up. The restaurant is located near a security check point for the so-called green zone.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Israeli leaders this morning to discuss plans for Mid East peace. We'll have a live report from CNN's Guy Raz in Jerusalem in just a moment.

In the meantime, a new study done on the Bush White House says there are fewer minorities in the second administration. The report from the "National Journal" says just 17 percent of managers are minorities. That's down from 20 percent during the first term.

Another earthquake has shaken Californians this morning. This one off the northern coast. The moderate 5.0 quake is the fifth to rumble along the west coast in the past week.

And here's what's coming up this hour. Police in Aruba question the father of a suspect linked to the disappearance of Alabama teenager, Natalee Holloway. Is dad a witness or a suspect himself? We'll have a live report in just a few minutes.

Also ahead a desperate search for a missing Boy Scout. His dad is living a nightmare on this Father's Day.

And brothers in battle reunited, stories of sacrifice and service from four brothers on the front lines in Iraq.

But first here's what's happening this hour.

HARRIS: Today in Jerusalem Condoleezza Rice says Israeli and Palestinian leaders share a commitment on a peaceful Israeli withdraw from Gaza. Israel's planned pull out is less than two months away.

The secretary of state is in the region to help both sides work out a smooth transition. CNN's Guy Raz is following the story from Jerusalem.

Good morning, Guy.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's two day mission here had one main objective, that was to offer U.S. economic and political support for Israel's upcoming Gaza withdrawal plan, what Israel refers to as its disengagement plan.

Now starting in mid August Israel plans to begin pulling out about 9,000 Israeli settlers from Gaza in a smaller part of the northern West Bank. That's set to take about six weeks time.

Now the secretary called it the best opportunity to reenergize the U.S. backed road map for peace here in the region.

Now just a short time ago the secretary held a news conference in Jerusalem. She called on both parties to fully cooperate and she outlined three main principles on which both sides have agreed to adhere to.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAZ (voice-over): The timing of Secretary Rice's visit here was not coincidental. In less than eight weeks Israel will begin evacuating its settlers and soldiers from the occupied Gaza strip what Israel calls its disengagement plan. And the secretary wants it to go off without a hitch.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: Much more work will still be needed to be done in coming months for the disengagement to succeed. The Untied States will remain actively involved in every step of he way.

RAZ: Rice swept aside the usual diplomatic platitudes and announce three main points of principle on which both Palestinians and Israelis agreed.

The first that both parties will fully coordinate security and logistics related tot he Gaza pullout. Secondly, the 1200 homes Israel leaves behind in Gaza will be jointly demolished by the Israelis and Palestinians. And finally, the parties will come to a mutual agreement over how to coordinate the free passage of people and goods between Gaza and the West Bank.

RICE: This is not easy and the next several months ahead of us are complicated and consequential to the future.

RAZ: Consequential, she says, if the Gaza plan could help reenergize the U.S. backed road map for peace, a position echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (via translator): I believe that a successful implementation of the plan quietly and coordinated with the Palestinians will energize the efforts to renew peace move sin the road map.

RAZ: But while political talk was peace bloodshed continued in Gaza. Clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants left causalities on both sides.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RAZ: Tony, the violence here often underscores the challenges that diplomats face. It's no different for Condoleezza Rice, but it's probably why she urged both sides to stop focusing on the past and to begin focusing on the future -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Guy Raz in Jerusalem. Guy we appreciate it. Thank you.

Secretary of State Rice will appear on "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer today at noon eastern.

Back here in the U.S. the desperate search for a missing boy is back on in Utah. Dogs, searchers and helicopters are out again all looking for 11 year old Brennan Hawkins. The Boy Scout was last seen near scout camp on Friday, yesterday. Crews combed the mountains in an area just south of the Utah Wyoming border.

Marcus Ortiz, a CNN affiliate KTVX has more on the search.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARCUS ORTIZ, KTVX CORRESPONDENT: They come from Bountiful, Salt Lake, Utah and Summit County even Wyoming, all searching for an 11 year old boy. His father desperately asking for even more help.

TOBY HAWKINS, FATHER OF BRENNAN HAWKINS: My greatest plea at this time, and the way that we can find my boy, is for anybody and everybody to come out and help.

ORTIZ: Brennan Hawkins was last seen camping with other Boy Scouts. Hawkins, and a friend, were on this rock wall when the friend went back to camp Brennan stayed behind.

HAWKINS: Knowing his behavior he probably got disoriented, frustrated, scared. He's a bashful boy and Brennan isn't the kind of boy that would go up and confess that he's lost and grab somebody by the shirt sleeve and say, hey I'm lost.

ORTIZ: The 11 year old is known to stay away from water, but searches probed the river in case he became thirsty and fell in. He doesn't like the cold and that's a concern for authorities. He was last seen wearing a blue sweater and shorts.

DAVE BOOTH, SUMMIT COUNTY: The shorts is a concern for us, that he was wearing shorts. However, he did have a sweatshirt on. That is a good thing. The temperatures didn't get real cold last night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that kind of stuff helps them...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

ORTIZ: Kevin Bardsley knows the pain that Toby Hawkins is feeling right now. Last August Bardsley's son, Garrett was with Boy Scouts just a few miles from this area. He became lost and has never been found. The search opened an old wound, but he say Garrett has never been forgotten.

KEVIN BARDSLEY, GARRETT'S FATHER: And I've just come today.

ORTIZ: Two men, whose sons have disappeared, coming together. Their sons faces now are posted side by side, but it is their fathers faith that gives them hope that this time there will be a different ending.

HAWKINS: We are a family of great faith. We have felt the peace of the savior, his love guiding us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Reporter Marcus Ortiz of CNN affiliate KTVX this morning.

NGUYEN: In Aruba, after three weeks and four suspects, Natalee Holloway's family wonders how many people will be questioned or sequestered before the truth of her disappearance comes out.

Three boys being held have not been charged and they continue to deny any involvement in the case. A judge, who is the father of the 17 year old suspect seen here, was questioned by police last night.

Now for the latest we turn to CNN's Chris Lawrence, who is live on the island. Chris, have you learned any more today?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, we know that a Dutch teenager and three other men have all men arrested all suspected of having something to do with Natalee's disappearance.

Now the father of that Dutch teenager was brought in for questioning last night although he was only questioned as a witness. Take a look. This is Paul Van Der Sloot running out of the police station late last night. He was trying to avoid the cameras and get home after talking to investigators. Van Der Sloot is a judge here in Aruba, and his 17-year-old son Joran was one of the last people to see Natalee three weeks ago.

Now police have searched the Van Der Sloot's home and brought in a judge from another island to make sure that decisions are seen as impartial. That judge ruled that those original three young men arrested, Van Der Sloot and two brothers could be detained another week, even though no charges have been filed against them. And a fourth suspect was picked up on Friday.

Now Natalee's mother says she's gone from being sad and depressed to more angry, frustrated at the pace of the investigation. Here she is going into church late last night surrounded by supporters. There's been a lot of support here on the island for the entire family.

And Beth Holloway Twitty, the mother of Natalee, has been here almost from the very beginning. She is staying at the very hotel where we're standing right now, and basically in the same room where Natalee's passport and bags were left behind after she disappeared.

Betty.

NGUYEN: Chris, you mentioned this judge picked up as a witness or at least questioned as witness, what exactly is he a witness to? What did he see?

LAWRENCE: Well, we don't know that. We want to make it clear. He wasn't picked up. He came in for questioning, for a form of questioning. But we do know that his son is one of the suspects, and his son has been suspected of homicide. It's a very -- it's slightly confusing because of Aruban law. They have different terminology. But basically they suspect the son and these three other men of homicide and yet, they make a point to say they're not saying that Natalee Holloway is even dead and they also say that these men have not been charged.

So some of it is kind of technical jargon that has to do with Aruban law.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Chris Lawrence trying to help us all straighten it out. Thank you for that update.

With all eyes on Aruba tourism officials hope this murky mystery doesn't soil Aruba's image as an island of paradise. Aruba is about 18 miles off the cost of Venezuela. Its sandy beaches and turquoise waters attract legions of tourist every year, but the tourism industry worries that visitors could be scared off by the international spotlight that's been cast on this case, the one dealing with Natalee Holloway's disappearance about three weeks now.

Sons and daughters of the Vietnam era are in Washington today to spend Father's Day at the Vietnam Memorial. Visitors to the wall will place as many as 1,000 red and yellow roses there today. It's estimated that more than 19,000 fathers were lost on the battlefields of Vietnam.

There are also many, many fathers still serving overseas. It is especially tough for children whose fathers are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. For them the Pentagon is trying to help out a little bit. They've set up a special Web site where those children can say happy Father's Day to their dads. That address is www.americasupportsyou.mill.

But the Defense Department also points out that it doesn't have to be Father's Day for you to send a message to the troops.

And that leads us to our e-mail question for you. We want to know what's the best piece of advice dad ever gave you. HARRIS: Duck.

NGUYEN: And cover -- send those to us at weekends@cnn.com and we'll read them a little bit later in the show. We've been getting some great ones, so please send them in, weekends@cnncom.

HARRIS: And still to come this morning from the home front to the front lines four brothers, all U.S. soldiers, all fighting in Iraq are reunited with each other and in a way, with their father. An emotional story you'll only see on CNN.

NGUYEN: But straight ahead, Operation Spear simmers for now, but there's no let up in the violence in Iraq. It is another deadly day. We go global next.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we'll go around the country and talk about the weather forecast. Pretty quiet day. It's not a bad day for outdoor activities for dad. Maybe he just wants to take a nap. That would be nice too.

Here's a shot from Daytona Beach where currently temps in the mid 70s, waves rolling in. Could see a thunderstorm, but some sunshine right now. Forecast is upcoming. CNN SUNDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And checking our top stories now. New figures in a developing story out of Iraq. Look at these pictures. Police say a bomber blew himself up inside a crowded Baghdad restaurant killing at least 16 people today, 29 others were hurt. Many of the victims were Iraqi police officers. It happened near the interest to the highly fortified green zone.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Israeli and Palestinian leaders are committed to a smooth Israeli pull out from Gaza this summer. She made the comments while in the region meeting separately with both side.

And the search is underway in Utah for missing Boy Scout. Eleven year old Brennan Hawkins was last seen Friday at the scout's camp in the rugged mountains of eastern Utah. A 12 year old boy was lost in the same area last August, and he was never found.

NGUYEN: Sure you've heard of the pope mobile, but a motorcade, a Ferrari, yes. Hot wheels and the holy father that's coming up.

HARRIS: And looking beyond our shores now at some of the other stories making news around the world.

NGUYEN: Voters are going tot he polls in the final phase of the Lebanese election and for the details on that plus the other big world news let's hand it over to Anand Naidoo at the CNN international desk.

Hi, Anand. ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. Thanks and good morning for that. More on those Lebanese elections in just a moment, but first to Iraq. And as we just mentioned, another devastating suicide bombing in central Baghdad. At least 16 people are killed, 29 injured in the attack. Those are the latest figures we have.

The restaurant, crowded with lunch time diners is near a check point leading to the heavily fortified green zone. That's where Iraq's government and top U.S. officials are based. Police say the bomber was wearing an explosive vest.

Meanwhile U.S. and British war planes attacked suspected insurgent hide out in western Iraq. This exclusive video that you're looking at is from CNN's Jane Arraf, who is embedded with the U.S. Marines there.

And U.S. troops backed by Iraqi forces are also pushing into the northern sector of Karabila in Operation Spear. Lieutenant Colonel Tim Mundy is a commander of the operation there. He talked with us earlier on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. TIM MUNDY, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We have run into some resistance. We expected to. They have fought back against us. We've verified some vehicle bombs, ID that we found and destroyed. More importantly, we liberated yesterday four hostages that were in a torture chamber. A lot of evidence of the torture that they had been enduring at the hands of foreign fighter insurgence. So we've seen that and found a lot of documents that went along with that as well as the occasionally some of the fighters that were killed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NAIDOO: Lt. Col. Tim Mundy there commander of Operation Spear in Western Iraq.

Now on to South Korea and a soldier goes berserk in the demilitarized zone killing eight fellow troops and wounding two others. It happened in that zone which divides the two Koreas. Officials say the soldier fired several rounds and threw a grenade into a barracks where the soldiers were sleeping. The man was apparently the victim of bullying.

Now on to that election in Lebanon, and voters there are going to the polls in the final phase of the four part election in Lebanon. That's an election for members of Parliament. Voting is taking place in northern Lebanon today. Anti sentiment opposition are trying to get a clear majority in parliament. Twenty eight sets are being contested by more than 100 candidates in this part of the election. Analysts say there could be a great deal of horse trading before we know the absolute make up of the Lebanese parliament.

HARRIS: Horse trading?

NAIDOO: Final results are expected tomorrow. NGUYEN: All right.

NAIDOO: That's all for me. Back to Tony and Betty.

HARRIS: Anand, we appreciate it. Thank you.

And from Italy this morning the holy father gets a close up look at some really, really, really, really, really hot wheels. Take a look for yourself here. This was scene at St. Peter's Square earlier. Look at this.

NGUYEN: You have a couple of those, don't you?

HARRIS: Yes, right. It looks more like a high priced used car sell, but in reality these Ferraris, you'll see them again in a second, were assembled for a special blessing from the new pontiff.

The unofficial Ferraris club president said his group is very Catholic and has close ties to the Vatican. He wouldn't explain the ties but, OK, we hope they left Vatican City with God speed.

NGUYEN: I didn't know you were such a car buff. Very interesting. All right. Can Retief Goosen strike gold again? Today the defending champ goes for his third U.S. Open title. We'll tell you what's ahead on the green. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: This is going to be a little Billy Holiday for you this morning, Betty. Happy Father's Day, Daytona Beach. I see a few folks there on the beach. A lot of fathers going to be hitting the beach in waves today. Fathers in their new swim trunks...

NGUYEN: Not Speedos day...

HARRIS: ...and their Speedos.

NGUYEN: No, not the Speedo. Let's keep ...

HARRIS: The Speedos, right

NGUYEN: Oh, that's a visual for you.

Rob Marciano bail us out.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, there have been plenty of high scores at this year's U.S. Open golf tournament, but the problem is in golf high scores are not a good thing. We get more now from CNN Sports Mark McKay in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jason Gore has captured the imagination of the huge galleries here at the U.S. Open in Pinehurst. They're doing the Gore roar for an unlikely contender in the year's second golfing major. Nowhere was it louder than on the 18th green where Gore's birdie on Saturday meant he'd be playing in the final group come Sunday.

JASON GORE, TIED FOR 2nd PLACE: I was trying to keep my emotions in check because, you know, sometimes they can get a little, you know, I can feel myself crying and my face kind of, not crying but you can feel like it's on the verge and I guess when I made that putt I kind of pointed it kind of Tiger-esque and I looked at my caddy afterwards as he was, A.J. (ph) was putting and I said, did I just point that ball into the hole. And he goes, yes you did. I said, what a cheese ball.

OLIN BROWNE, TIED FOR 2ND PLACE: He's the story of the open, you know, because here's a guy who is not even playing the tour, he's playing nationwide this year, and he's had success out there, but here's a guy that nobody has ever heard of and yet they're digging his play, you know, and that's guy kind of cool. I think that's great.

TIGER WOODS, TWICE U.S. OPEN CHAMP: Jason is a great guy. I mean we go back to junior gold back in our pee wee leagues in southern Cal. So I've known Jason a long time and...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got all the talent in the world, you know. k He's always been a very long hitter and it's just a matter of him fine tuning his swing and he did that, and he's done that and it's holding up.

RETIEF GOOSEN, LEADS AFTER 3RD ROUND: We said at the beginning of the week that we probably expect nobody to be under Par. Yes, I want to go out there and play very solid tomorrow. I suppose I've got a good chance. It's not easy to make up ground on this course. It's easy to lose ground, and I don't know what the weather is going to be like tomorrow, but you know, if I just keep going solid probably shoot one or two over I can probably win.

MCKAY: If Goosen can remain unshakable he'd become the first back to back U.S. Open champion since Curtis Strange turned the trick in 1988 and '89.

Mark McKay, CNN, Pinehurst, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Plunging from the air into the water one survivor of a bizarre helicopter crash shares his experience in his own words. That's next.

NGUYEN: Also brothers in battle, a family far apart. We will show you their special reunion in Iraq next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Live pictures now. Sons and daughters of the Vietnam era are in Washington today to spend Father's Day at the Vietnam memorial. Visitors to the wall, as many as 1,000 red and yellow roses there today. Separated by war, bound together in blood, four brothers and U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq tell CNN about life on the front lines.

Welcome back, everyone, happy Father's Day. I'm Tony Harris. That story coming up, first headlines now in the news.

The death toll has risen to 16 in a suicide bombing at a Baghdad restaurant this morning. Police say the bomber blew himself up at a restaurant frequented by Iraqi security forces. In addition to the dead, 29 people were injured; police say many of the victims were officers. The attack happened outside the highly-fortified green zone.

Vietnam's prime minister is heading to Washington for a landmark visit. He's due to meet with President Bush at the White House Tuesday to push for closer ties with the U.S. The prime minister is the first leader of the communist nation to visit the States since the end of Vietnam war 30 years ago.

A parent's nightmare this Father's Day, a search is under way in Utah for a missing 11-year-old boy. Brennan Hawkins was last seen Friday in the Boy Scout camp in the rugged northeast part of the state.

NGUYEN: This morning's "Soldier Story" focuses on a family of soldiers. CNN's Alex Quade introduces us to a band of brothers all serving in Iraq and thanks to her, they got to spend some very special time together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the first time Eric, Jeff, Evan and Greg Pruett have seen each other in four months.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) You can't interfere.

QUADE: I arranged with the U.S. Army to reunite the brothers in April.

(on camera) What is it like, actually, getting a chance to spend a little time together?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To have a familiar face around is just -- it's priceless, you know. It does so much for our morale.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The comfort of actually seeing each other and saying, "OK, I've seen him. I know he's OK."

QUADE: Does he look different?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Eric is getting a little pudge belly, but...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No way, I'll still whip him.

QUADE (voice-over): Between the kidding they share what they've seen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know the kids and what poverty they live in, makes you think about what you have back home, makes you grow up, makes you more mature, more of a man.

QUADE (on camera): Evan, do you think that your little brother here has grown up and is more of a man?

EVAN PRUETT, U.S. ARMY: Yes, my little brother is more of a man, but I'm still more of a man than he is. I've got a baby now. So that's why I feel like more of a man. But you know, my little brother has grown up a lot since we've been deployed.

QUADE (voice-over): But none of them have outgrown surprises. We delivered care packages from their mom and dad.

(on camera) One for Evan. One for Eric. One for Greg, and I suppose we also have one for Jeff, so a little something from home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Better than Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. And I got a cute little Easter bunny.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sometimes the holidays get lost until you get a care package that reminds you just what's going on in the world around us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Purple bunny.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got the orange bunny.

QUADE: Now, is this something you're going to be bringing out on patrols? Do you need to bring an orange bunny with you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if it will go out on patrol, but it will -- it will stay near the -- near the bed somewhere.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is just the perfect stuff to take you back just a little bit on your down time.

QUADE (voice-over): Not only have they missed Easter, but also the wedding of Aaron, their other brother back home.

AARON PRUETT, BROTHER: I miss them a lot. I remember I just had a quick five minutes walking down the aisle, and I was looking and, you know, just -- none of my brothers were there.

QUADE: This is actually another family reunion, an electronic one in May.

LEON PRUETT, FATHER: I can't imagine what it was like in World War I. You know, soldiers would wait for months just to get a letter.

QUADE: Via web cam, Greg confides in his dad, Leon, another Iraq vet. GREG PRUETT, U.S. ARMY: They were retaking the P.T. test. And a mortar came in while they were doing it.

L. PRUETT: Geez. During the day they're firing on you?

G. PRUETT: Yes. It usually happens in the mid afternoon.

L. PRUETT: Man, they're getting pretty gutsy.

QUADE: Back home only a year, Leon is keenly aware of the realities his sons face.

L. PRUETT: I've seen a lot of Army units and National Guard reserve units while I was there. Some took it real serious, some didn't.

QUADE (on camera): Is this something that you told them about before...

L. PRUETT: We had that talk a lot before they left, and I told them, I said, "Guys, look, it's going to be dangerous out there. And there could be a point where it's go to be you or them and you've got to decide what you're going to do. If you've got to take a shot, then you take the shot. Do what you need to do." And I think they're doing that.

QUADE (voice-over): I showed the family some of what the boys are doing with our video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just last night we got rocketed. It flew over our head when we were outside.

EVAN PRUETT: I'm hoping I get to see my baby take her first step. It would be an exciting thing. You know, I missed the birth so seeing her take her first step might be a little replacement. But if not, then you know, I'll see her say her first "Daddy" or something.

QUADE: Eric, what do you think is important for your parents to know?

ERIC PRUETT, U.S. ARMY: I think that they need to know that we're all doing really well. Being together, we've all got jobs to do here and we're all doing them. And we're all happy that we can be here to serve our country, and we're proud of our parents for bringing up such fine young men.

L. PRUETT: It's hard seeing them and not being able to...

TAMMY PRUETT, MOTHER: That's what they said -- what they said at the end, that they're proud to be there, that's what they tell us every time we talk to them. They're proud to be there. They know that they're there for a purpose, and the sacrifice that they're making is worth it.

QUADE (voice-over): Their sister Emily. EMILY PRUETT, SISTER: I think Jeff looks older. I think he seems more grown up. Our kids were the same age and I feel like all's I do is play and take it for granted. And he's there seeing things that are scary and being in situations that are scary, and that's -- that's kind of hard.

QUADE: Evan's wife, Amber.

AMBER PRUETT, EVAN'S WIFE: I worry that something could happen to him and she could never know her dad, and it scares me.

QUADE: Then, a phone call from Iraq.

L. PRUETT: What's wrong?

QUADE: Jeff is in a field hospital.

L. PRUETT: He's sick.

T. PRUETT: He's sick?

L. PRUETT: So are you still doing IV's? Are they still shooting IV's into you then? Or are you done with that part?

QUADE: But luckily, nothing more serious than food poisoning.

T. PRUETT: Well, I love you. You take care when you go back out on patrol, OK? All right. I love you hon. Bye.

Jeff is sick in bed for the last four days, and Eric showed up, walked right up to his bed and got to take care of him. We're actually blessed to have four of them over there, because they do take care of each other.

QUADE: The phone call was a reminder: Jeff, Eric, Evan and Greg have been away from home an entire year already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's important for people to know the sacrifices that we're all making here, and not only me and my brothers, but each and every person that's here, hopefully to make this place a more free society that they might be able to share in a little bit of what we have back home.

QUADE: The Pruetts of Pocatello, just one of nearly 140,000 American families with loved ones in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Just another reminder of the sacrifice. Well, for the first time since World War II, the U.S. Army has awarded a Silver Star to a female soldier. Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester was among several soldiers decorated this week. The recognition comes for defeating an insurgent ambush on a convoy. The troops were protecting in Iraq back in March. Hester is among 34 soldiers who have received the Silver Star while in Iraq -- Tony. HARRIS: When two helicopters crashed into the East River in New York, last week, there were several accidental heroes: Emergency teams, fishermen, and even a grocery delivery man assisted in the rescue, but it was also the people in the crash and their desire to survive that was truly heroic, here's one of them in his own words:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE WEAVER, CRASH SURVIVOR: We had just lifted off from the east side heliport. It was a normal, unremarkable liftoff. We were headed up the river, the aircraft started to dip, as it dipped we continued to head upriver, but it was clear we were losing altitude and losing altitude quickly. It was, for me, a bit of a surreal experience where you think, momentarily, this can't be happening. They were able to get the helicopter to land in the river in one piece, bring it down in a way that it was able to stay together. As it hit the water it turned on its side and the cabin filled with water, and it started to sink. I knew in my mind that we needed to get that door open, that if we -- that time was of the essence and if the craft continued to sink it would be increasingly difficult to get the doors open with the pressure of the water.

Rick Struthers and I were closest to the door on the upper side of the aircraft. We were desperately working on that door, trying to get it open. Rick was slightly behind me and was able to reach through, past my body and grabbed a hold of the door handle and released the latch. At that point I heard the pop of the door, the helicopter rocked slightly in a way that it allowed me to throw the whole weight of my body against that door and as I threw the weight of my body against the door, the door sprung open. The helicopter was continuing sink in the water. We came up through the door. I came out first into the water. The currents were very, very strong in the river, pulled me away from the helicopter. As I looked -- was looking back, I saw Rick come out. Rick grabbed a hold of the tail section of the helicopter. I was getting pulled further away at that point, looked back and saw the other passengers and at that point as I was continuing to be pulled away in the river, I felt pretty good that everybody had gotten out. I was not clear about the pilots at that point, but it felt clear that the passengers were out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Man! You either panic or you just stay calm and work through it.

NGUYEN: That's what you got to do.

HARRIS: Yeah, an amazing story. One pilot is recovering in the hospital, but Lance Weaver and his friends all escaped with nothing more than a compelling story.

So what's the story grabbing all you news junkies out there the most this morning? If we don't have it for you, the web does. We'll check in with CNN.com to see what's most popular.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: So you think you've heard it all? Well, you have not heard anything yet. From soap to assault to a slippery their, there are just tons of the stories getting attention online this Sunday, so let's find out much more from Christina Park?

This soap story is what gets me.

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: Oh yeah. You've had breakfast, right?

HARRIS: Yeah, yeah.

NGUYEN: I have, thank goodness. And you're at home eating breakfast, put down the spoon.

PARK: Yeah, turn down the sound for a second. We're checking our most popular stories on CNN.com. And for the top 10 stories our users are clicking on the most log on to our Web site at CNN.com and click on "Most Popular" at the top right hand side of the screen.

Now, here's an odd story to get you started this morning. Sounds like a scene from "Fight Club" or "Fat Club." A bar of soap in Switzerland sells for about $18,000. The soap is purportedly made from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's fat...

NGUYEN: What?

PARK: Which was apparently removed during liposuction.

NGUYEN: Oh my!

PARK: And the soap sold for in under an hour.

NGUYEN: I don't even want to think about that. Yuk!

PARK: Now another hot story on CNN.com, right now. And he's not feeling like king of the world, actor Leonardo DiCaprio is recovering after being assaulted at a Hollywood party. "People" magazine reports DiCaprio needed about a dozen stitches near his ear, this after an uninvited female guest reportedly hit him...

NGUYEN: Female guest?

PARK: ...with what appeared to be a beer bottle. Yeah, I wonder what's the story behind that. DiCaprio is expected to continue working on a Martin Scorsese movie called "The Departed" which is shooting in Boston and New York.

As you may remember, Leo starred in a movie "Catch Me if You Can" -- well there's a high-flying thief on the loose who, prosecutors say, molded himself after DiCaprio's character from that movie. Gonzalo Zapater Vives traveled the world stealing cash and jewelry from luxury hotel rooms. He used his charm, good looks, and designer suits to talk his way into other people's hotel rooms and helped himself to their volts. Police say he disappeared from London while on temporary release from prison on June 6. Now, British airports and luxury hotels are on alert. And for the rest of CNN.com's most popular stories just click on over to our Web site and click on "Most Popular."

NGUYEN: Well, he better be careful and try not to steal some soap because you never know what you're going to get.

(LAUGHTER)

PARK: Oh yeah, exactly.

NGUYEN: That still amazes me.

PARK: I'll bring my own soap to the hotel from now on. You know?

NGUYEN: You don't want any of that fat soap.

PARK: No, no, no. I hear it lathers up pretty well, though.

HARRIS: Oh! That's what I'm talking about!

PARK: I'm sorry.

NGUYEN: Way too much info.

HARRIS: Good shot! Good shot! Rob has your weather forecast ahead and we'll have your responses to this morning's e-mail question. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We want to check in now with Elaine Quijano in Washington for a look at what's coming up "On the Story."

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, "ON THE STORY": And good morning to you, Betty. Well, we are "On the Story" from Washington, New York and Los Angeles to Afghanistan and Iraq and Aruba.

Jane Arraf is "On the Story" of the latest on hunt for insurgents along the Syrian border in western Iraq, and Barbara Starr is spending her week in Afghanistan. I'm On the Story about new anti-war sentiment in Congress this week.

Kathleen Hayes talks about the largest-ever security breach of credit card accounts and Kelly Wallace previews her series about kids and sports and we'll talk about Michael Jackson, all coming up, all on "On the Story." Betty back to you.

NGUYEN: You got a lot to talk about this morning, Elaine. Thank you.

HARRIS: And a final check of weather now with Mr. Rob Marciano.

Good morning, Rob. MARCIANO: Hi Tony. Hi Betty.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: That's good on Dad's Day. Happy Father's Day to dad, I'll call you soon. And Tony, enjoy your day.

NGUYEN: Yeah, enjoy your day, Tony.

HARRIS: You better believe it.

NGUYEN: Speaking of Dad's Day; we're getting lots of great e- mails from you. Here's our question: What's the best advice your dad has ever gave you? And you know people are talking in dadspeak when they send these in, because they're all very short, simple and to the point.

HARRIS: Yeah.

NGUYEN: First up, Vince says. "If you're working an honest job, making an honest living, it's a good job."

HARRIS: Yeah. Yeah, and this from Yokomyo from Raleigh, North Carolina, "The best advice I got from my dad would have to be that mom is always right."

NGUYEN: Good advice!

HARRIS: And this from Martha, "Make small corrections early. Now, he was teaching me to drive, but this advice applies to many things in life as well."

Makes good sense. Thank you all for the e-mails this morning. Happy Father's Day to all of the dads out there. Enjoy your day?

NGUYEN: Including you.

HARRIS: And I'm going to do just that after I get a little nappy. A little nappy.

NGUYEN: You don't need it. We do want to thank you for watching today and as we leave we want to give you one more last look at the Vietnam Memorial there in Washington where many people have come out to remember fallen fathers on this Father's Day. Thanks for watching.

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