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CNN Sunday Morning
Largest Fire in New Mexico History; Diamond Jubilee on the Water; CNN Heroes Helping AIDS Orphans; Wisconsin Recall Vote Splits State; World War II Veteran Remembers D-Day
Aired June 03, 2012 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, this is early start weekend.
A wildfire now bigger than the entire city of Chicago has become the largest one on record in New Mexico. More than a quarter of a million acres burned, 1,250 people fighting it and still only 17 percent contained. And it's just one of the nine states on fire.
Plus, Tuesday's Wisconsin recall race has pitted party heavyweights against each other, as last minute money continues to pour in on both sides. We'll explain why it could be a bellwether for November.
And, we are just hours away from the deadline for George Zimmerman to return to jail. A man who admitted killing Florida teen Trayvon Martin has -- his bail was revoked by a judge and was given until this afternoon to turn himself in.
And the Diamond Jubilee flotilla launch at 9:30 this morning. One thousand boats, 20,000 people, and a Prince Harry surprise. We have live team coverage.
It's Sunday, June 3rd. Good morning, everyone. I'm Rob Marciano, in today for Randi Kaye.
While you were sleeping, a massive wildfire in New Mexico reached historic size, and it's expected to get bigger. The fire burning in the Gila National Forest so far has devoured 354 square miles. That's bigger than Chicago and a third of the size of Rhode Island. It's the state's largest wildfire in history. So we're breaking records there. And Reynolds Wolf is here more to talk more about what's going on.
I assume we're not going to see much in the way of rain the next couple of days. What are wildfire guys up against?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's going to be really tough.
First and foremost, the forecast, as you mentioned, not favorable at all. They expect very, very low humidity. The wind may actually be increasing at times. And, of course, they've got plenty of foliage up there.
Rob, how many of these things have you cover? You know that in these high mountains it is very tough because of the type of grasses you have up there, the type of foliage, you've got the chaparral pines, you've got the ponderosa pines. And with all that tinder, it burns very quickly.
The latest we have for you, the Whitewater-Baldy Complex, we have over 200,000 acres that are burned. Only 17 percent contained. And the gusts, we expect, up to 25 miles an hour are going to play a significant roles and a bad one in today's battling the blaze.
One of the issues that you happen to have, again, I'm going to do a little bit of artistry over here and it's going to be poor, but just bare with me. Let's come over here a bit. I want to draw something. Imagine you've got a hillside just like this. The steep terrain. Then you have some trees that are popping up on the hillsides. Now, with those trees, and you have the heat, that warm air wants to rise up. So you'll have fires that will top one treetop to another to another. They call that affect crowning. And that is what we're going to see in many places of not only parts of New Mexico and Arizona, but, remember, we've got several states where they're battle line those blazes. You're going to have this occurring again and again. And in those conditions, the crowning effect will actually intensify as the winds really intensify by the late afternoon.
You've got firefighters that are not just from Arizona, not just from New Mexico, but all over the country that are converging there. They're doing so on foot. They're doing everything they possibly can to actually carve some spots with the big earth-moving equipment right through that foliage to try to hamper that fire from spreading. At the same time, they're battling it off with fixed wing aircraft and rotary aircraft. It's going to be a tough time. They're certainly up for the task. Very motivated. It's going to be compelling to watch this battle, no doubt.
Let's send it back to you, Rob.
MARCIANO: Well, Reynolds, as you know, New Mexico isn't the only state that has wildfires raging. Just look at this map. Massive fires are burning in at least eight other states. We're talking about more than 300,000 acres of land that's on fire right now. And it's dry. Not just the dry mountain states, but fires are burning as far east as Michigan. So we're going to be keeping an eye on that story, obviously, as we go on throughout the morning.
Internationally, a world leader whom many say is killing his own people is accusing foreign traders of trying to destroy his nation. In a rare public appearance, Syrian President Bashar al Assad addresses his country's parliament. He denied responsibility for last week's gruesome massacre of more than 100 people and said Syria is the victim of international plots.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASHAR AL ASSAD, PRESIDENT OF SYRIA (through translator): We, at the moment, we are facing a war from abroad. And dealing with it is quite different -- different from confronting people from inside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Even as Mr. Assad was speaking, his tanks were rolling through the streets. Opposition activists say they've seen a military convoy heading to the eastern part of the country. CNN's Leone Lakhani is monitoring developments for us in Abu Dhabi.
What do you see in there and what's been the reaction to al Assad's speech today?
LEONE LAKHANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we heard from President al Assad wasn't something we haven't heard before, Rob. I mean he continues to say that what Syria is facing is a war from outside, facing terrorist gangs from outside and that Syria -- what Syria is doing right now is protecting itself and defending itself from what's happening from these outside forces.
Now, in addition to all of that, we also heard him, as you said, deny what happens in Houla, saying that his armed forces had nothing to do with the massacre in Houla last week, saying the monsters don't commit what we've seen in Houla and that we need to prepare ourselves and defend ourselves from all of that.
Now, we're seeing all of this, Rob, in the midst of a lot of political pressure from the outside world, from the international community, to still ask the Syrian government to stop the violence. The Kofi Annan peace plan that's been trying to stop the violence and ask the Syrian government repeatedly to stop the use of heavy gunfire and heavy weapons in population centers, but it doesn't seem to be happening yet, Rob.
MARCIANO: I mean, Leone, you know, we've heard that the military is on the move, tanks are heading into eastern Syria. Homs may be getting shelled again this morning. What do you know?
LAKHANI: Rob, once again, it just seems like that six-point plan that Kofi Annan had set out is not being followed at all. We are hearing reports from opposition groups that the tanks are heading east towards Homs. We have heard from opposition groups that at least 33 people were killed on Saturday.
And the death toll continues to rise. Since the uprising began 15 months ago, opposition groups say there's been more than 12,000 people killed. And there really doesn't seem like there's any end to the violence that we're seeing in Syria at the moment, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right, Leone, thank you very much for that live report. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day.
And now to Egypt where demonstrators are filling Cairo's Tahrir Square for a second straight day of protests. They're furious that ousted President Hosni Mubarak escaped execution, and that his top security chiefs were cleared in the deaths of unarmed protesters during the last year's Arab Spring uprising. Mr. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison. His attorney says he will appeal.
Back here in the U.S., you're looking at live pictures -- take a look -- outside the Seminole County Jail. George Zimmerman was given until this afternoon to turn himself into authorities after his bond was revoked. The judge made the ruling Friday stating Zimmerman misrepresented, misled, and deceived the court about his financial situation during April's bond hearing. Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
In New York, space shuttle Enterprise continues its mission to New York's Intrepid Museum today. Loaded on a barge at JFK Airport, Enterprise will travel along the shores of Queens and Brooklyn before docking in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, this evening. It will finish its journey Tuesday and will be on exhibit to the public beginning July 19th. Enterprise was NASA's prototype shuttle and that was used for testing but never actually flew in space.
And in sports -- well, kind of sports -- the Los Angeles Angels aren't just any baseball team anymore. Now they're a Guinness World Record holder. A sell-out crowd of 40,000 people Saturday set a new record for the largest gathering of people wearing cowboy hats. Fans attending the Angels-Texas Rangers game were all given a free Angels cowboy hat. This was the third and only successful attempt by the Angels to set a world record.
And here are some of the other stories. Congratulations, by the way, to the Angels. Here are some of the other stories we're working on this morning.
One million spectators are expected to line the parade route for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee today. We'll take you live to London.
And here in the U.S., Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is not cleaning out his office just yet. Tuesday's recall election is bringing out some high profile politicians.
Plus, as we prepare to remember D-Day, a World War II veteran shares with us his experience of storming the beach of Normandy.
And later, Reynolds Wolf shows us why Tuesday will be a once in a century sun-sighting event.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Time for the party across the pond. A thousand boats, about a million spectators, and one queen who will be the center of it all. The day two celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. And in just a couple of hours, London's Thames River will be transformed into a tribute to Britain's second longest reigning monarch. Our Richard Quest is at London's Tower Bridge overlooking the river.
Richard, yesterday -- oh, goodness, the weather does not look like it's cooperating, but at least you have a well decorated umbrella. Raining there now, I assume?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I feel, Rob, that I'm doing your normal job this morning. I certainly have got the accoutrements for the day. But we -- enough of the umbrellas because along here by the side of the Thames, the British are determined that we are not going to let the weather get the better of us.
CROWD: No.
QUEST: How many flags have you got there, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten.
QUEST: Are you selling them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. But if you want to buy one, you can have one.
QUEST: Great (ph).
Now, look, there's always all -- you see, we are determined that we're going to make the most of this every single day. Well protected from the weather.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well protected, indeed.
QUEST: Well protected indeed. Ah, hang on. Come back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Woof, woof.
QUEST: I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Woof, woof.
QUEST: Are you a corgi?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We made the mask especially for her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. God save the greatest queen.
QUEST: I think this gentleman might have had a drop.
Oh, Lord, it's the duke --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) drank.
QUEST: It's the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rob, are you getting the idea that any idea that British stiff upper lip and reservedness (ph) has gone right out of the window today as people are quite happily spending hours -- look at these over here.
Where have you come from?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plymouth (ph).
QUEST: From Plymouth. Ah, good sea-faring folk. Dressed suitably in --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without a coat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Without a coat. QUEST: Without a coat. What happened? Did you leave the coat at home or did you just forget it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Didn't bring it because it looked quite warm on the weather reports.
MARCIANO: Easy.
QUEST: Rob, he says he listened to the weather forecast.
MARCIANO: Well, you know, I think it may be state-run over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I may lie.
QUEST: All right. Let me tell you what's going to happen in the hours ahead.
In about three and a half hours, four hours from now, that side of London, a large number of boats, 1,000 of them, will start moving east. They get to Tower Bridge just over here. The bridge raises and we get to see again and again the boats carrying her majesty, the queen, called the Spirit of -- well, I promise you, I can bawl (ph) for Britain on the subject of the boats, the music that we're going to hear and the whole event. It is going to be an extraordinary day.
And it's an indication of how important a day for the British people that this number of people are prepared to turn out in what frankly is amongst one of the worst days we've had for weeks, Rob.
MARCIANO: Well, you know, you're hardy folks. You're used to the rain, although not be it -- not all the time this time of year. And I resent that young man's comments about weather forecast. I know that your colleagues down at CNN International, their weather department was spot on with this forecast, albeit a chilly and rainy one.
Hey, Richard, I got -- oh, yes. I mean, they're there, all shapes and sizes, aren't they? All class levels. And they're just -- they're having a good (ph) time.
QUEST: All shapes, sizes, nationalities. Anyone from the United States?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. No.
MARCIANO: They don't seem too excited about --
QUEST: Where you from?
MARCIANO: Nobody that wants to admit it.
QUEST: Well, we'll find some Americans before --
MARCIANO: OK. Hey, find the Middleton. What about the --
QUEST: Just because I'm from -- even though you kick --
MARCIANO: What about the Middletons? I mean you have --
QUEST: You want a Middleton?
MARCIANO: Yes, everybody wants to know what's going to -- how are they participating?
QUEST: The Middletons are going to be on a boat on a paddle steamer called the Elizabethan. They will be invited -- they've been invited by the queen. They're part of the royal squadron which is the third section. I'm warning you, you're going to be sorry you asked these questions. And they are about seven and a half miles in that direction. And we'll see them in about four hours from now.
MARCIANO: All right. Good stuff. Should be quite the spectacle. Hopefully the weather will improve somewhat, but it doesn't -- the forecast doesn't look good, Richard. So, keep the overcoat on and that beautiful umbrella handy. We'll be checking back with you. Richard Quest live for us at London. Thanks, Richard.
Well, keep it right here on CNN for full coverage of the Diamond Jubilee. Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will kick things off at 11:00 a.m. this morning.
A homecoming queen thought she'd never make it back to the U.S. here to speak at her graduation. Facing a three-year ban from the U.S., well, hear how we stepped in to save the day.
And watch this gator get closer and closer to grabbing himself a bobcat.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Checking stories across the country now.
In Indiana, a homecoming queen there was stuck in Mexico after a visa mix-up made it -- she finally made it back to her graduation here in the U.S. Elizabeth Olivas was an undocumented in the U.S., so she went back to Mexico to apply for her visa, but officials told her she was too late and she faced a three-year ban from the U.S. But a senator stepped in and she got back to the states on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH OLIVAS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE: I honestly felt that I was in a dream. And knowing that everybody was supporting me and knowing that everybody was happy that I was there, it just made my day even better. This last week was extremely frustrating because every day I was like, I knew this was my last chance that I had to get back -- back home and back to graduate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: And at a graduation near Austin, Texas, people must have thought they were seeing double. Nine sets of twins graduated together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's real bizarre. I mean we didn't really notice until graduation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've made it through so many years together and now we're finally graduating. We shared the womb together. You shared homework. You helped each other out. You talked to each other about anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Well, they didn't quite set the world record. The record is 13 sets of twins that graduate in a single class.
And look at this Florida bobcat. Just relaxing near a little retention pond there. When a stealth gator silently tries to stalk its prey. A man who lives next door took these photos and he still thinks the cat finally sprinted when he felt the breath of that gator sneak up behind him. The gator actually lunged for the cat, but the bobcat managed to escape. Talk about a close call.
Well, it's a popular storyline in the movies, superheroes joining forces to tackle the world's problems. But this doesn't just happen on the big screen. Let me introduce you to some real life CNN Heroes teaming up to help AIDS orphans in Malawi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: Marie da Silva was a nanny in the U.S. when she started a school for AIDS orphans in her native Malawi. Honored as a top 10 CNN Hero in 2008, she's now joined forces with two other honorees. Magnus MacFarlane-Barro was recognized in 2010 for his work feeding school children around the globe.
MARIE DA SILVA, CNN HERO 2008: We started this organization in Malawi. So I just asked him to consider it.
MAGNUS MACFARLANE-BARRO, CNN HERO 2010: I was very struck by her. I felt we were people who could work together.
DA SILVA: This is the stove.
COOPER: Today, Magnus' organization, Mary's Meals, provides free porridge daily to all 400 of Marie's students.
MACFARLANE-BARRO: Am I giving them too much?
DA SILVA: His support means the children will always have something to eat. He is a saint to me.
COOPER: 2010 honoree Evan Wadongo makes solar lanterns for rural African communities. Evan has visited Marie's school, and recently his team taught students to build their own lamps.
DA SILVA: For the family, it cuts the cost. And for the children, it's helping them to study. Evan really motivated our kids to be inventors. To come up with their own little model.
COOPER: Now, Marie's students plan to supply lamps to their community. The creativity and compassion these CNN Heroes are helping each other to change even more lives.
DA SILVA: CNN Heroes coming together to work together. It's a family. How sweet is that?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Want to find out how a fell veteran's death shaped Jake's mission, go to cnnheroes.com.
And, remember, CNN Heroes are all chosen from people you tell us about. So if you know someone like Jake Wood who is making a difference, go to cnnheroes.com. Your nomination could help them help others.
Well, in Wisconsin, the recall election of Governor Scott Walker has gained national attention. Now it's time for the voters to decide. Some speculate Tuesday's outcome could be a preview of November.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, Wisconsin voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether or not to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker. Polls show Walker and his Democratic opponent, Tom Barrett, in a tight race. Now political heavy hitters are taking sides. Former President Bill Clinton for the challenger, while South Carolina's Governor Nikki Haley and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie support Walker. Here's CNN's Ted Rowlands on what some are calling a political civil war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scott Walker shouldn't be campaigning until 2014, but the now second year governor of Wisconsin made so many people mad in his first few months in office he's facing a recall.
ROWLANDS (on camera): Were you surprised at the fact that the recall did go through? And what could you have done to prevent it?
GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: Well, eventually I wasn't. If you would have asked me a year and a half ago, I would totally have been surprised because I just tried to fix things. What would I have done differently? Simple. I would have spent more time last January and early February making the case for our reform.
ROWLANDS (voice-over): Those reforms slashed the power of public employee unions, which set off a firestorm.
CROWD: Kill the bill! Kill the bill!
ROWLANDS: Thousands of protesters were angry that Walker had launched what they saw as a surprise attack against labor unions. Walker's new law, which he signed last year, also makes employee contributions to the union's optional.
Walker's opponent in the recall, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, says Walker's grand plan from the start was to attack labor unions.
MAYOR TOM BARRETT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: I look back at 2011, and Governor Walker -- and these are his words. These are not my words -- said he was going to drop the bomb. That was his first phrase.
ROWLANDS: Drop the bomb is from this phony phone call. What Walker thought he was talking to billionaire donor David Coke (ph).
WALKER (voice-over): Monday night I had all my cabinet over to the residence for dinner, talked about what we were going to do, how we were going to do it. We had already kind of built plans up. But it was kind of a last hurrah before we dropped the bomb.
BARRETT: The second phrase he said was he was going to divide and conquer.
ROWLANDS: Divide and conquer is from this documentary clip showing Walker talking to a supporter shortly after he was elected.
WALKER (on camera): Well, the first step is, we're going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
WALKER: As you (ph) divide and conquer.
BARRETT: He started this political civil war.
ROWLANDS (on camera): He says that you started a civil war in Wisconsin. Is that true?
WALKER: No. If anything, what we did was we said we're going to stand up and take on the special interests that had dominated things at both the state and local level. Instead, stand with the hard- working taxpayers of Wisconsin.
ROWLANDS (voice-over): Both candidates agree that Wisconsin voters are split.
BARRETT: And you have situations where neighbors don't want to talk to neighbors or workers won't talk to fellow workers.
WALKER: This is not the Wisconsin way. I think we've had passionate debates before. Back in 2000-2004 we were the closest blue state in America, and we still got on.
ROWLANDS: With less than a week to go, Scott Walker has a slight lead in the polls. He says win or lose he has no regrets.
WALKER: I'm doing everything in my power to win in terms of reaching out to voters. But, you know, I said I've never been afraid to lose.
ROWLANDS: And, even if he does lose, his new union law will remain in place.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Milwaukee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: President Obama is supporting Mayor Tom Barrett, but his campaign downplays the importance of the recall's outcome. Others disagree. Many believing it's a good indication of voter morale and how November's election may play out.
Well, when politicians campaign, they often go door to door. What would you do, though, if President Obama showed up on your block? I'll show you what they did in Chicago, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back and thanks for starting your morning with us. I'm Rob Marciano, in today for Randi Kaye. It is half past the hour. Let's check on some of the stories that are making headlines while you were sleeping.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is denouncing what he calls international conspiracies targeting his country. He addresses newly elected parliament just a short time ago. Even as he spoke, heavy shelling rained down on the opposition stronghold in Homs. Activists say at least five people were killed there.
In Egypt, protesters continue to fill Cairo's Tahrir Square. They are furious that ousted president Hosni Mubarak will not face execution for the death of unarmed protesters in last year's uprising. They are also angry that six of his former top aides were acquitted. Mr. Mubarak is at a maximum security prison serve out a life sentence. He does plan to appeal.
And Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warns any attack by Israel on Iran will blow back on Israel like thunder. In a televised speech marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, he said suspicions by the west that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons are based on lies, and he said international sanctions only strengthen Iran's resolve.
And back here at home a high speed chase in Arizona ends with a discovery of five bodies and a burned out SUV. And now officials want to know what happened. Well, the cause of death is still yet unknown. Police are investigating whether the bodies found there are linked to the Mexican drug cartels.
And we have life pictures, in Florida where George Zimmerman has been given until this afternoon to turn himself in to authorities after his bond was revoked. The judge made the ruling Friday stating that Zimmerman misrepresented, misled, and deceived the court about his financial situation during April's bond hearing. Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder m death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Well, President Obama is looking to the past, specifically former President Bill Clinton in a bid to secure his political future. Paul Steinhauser has that story and more in this preview of the political week ahead.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Rob. Former president Bill Clinton teams up tomorrow night with President Barack Obama at a fundraiser in New York City for Mr. Obama's reelection bid. Their get-together comes just four days after Clinton made news on CNN's Pierce Morgan by disagreeing with the Obama campaign's attacks on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital, the private equity firm the Republican presidential challenger co-founded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: I don't think that we ought to get in the position where we say this is bad work. This is good work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Wisconsin is in the political spotlight Tuesday as it holds a recall election with national implications.
The state was in the headlines last year, as Republican Governor Scott Walker and State GOP lawmakers pushed through a bill that limited collective bargaining rights of public sector union workers. That led to a recall effort against Walker who now faces of in Tuesday's contest against the Democratic challenger he beat in the governor's contest two years ago.
Some top name Republican and Democratic surrogates like former President Clinton have stumped in the state, and national Republicans and Democrats as well as Tea Party groups and other fiscal conservatives and unions and progressive groups have poured big bucks into the election, which many people see as a test case for November's presidential contest. Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. Thanks, Paul.
Well, President Obama closed out his week with a return trip of sorts. He headed back home to Chicago for three separate fundraisers, but he was there for more than just business. The president got a chance to spend the night in his Chicago home, stroll through his old neighborhood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I was home
Good. Still works.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you cook breakfast?
OBAMA: No, you know, I woke up too late.
MARCIANO: Some Chicago residents were delighted by Obama's visit. Can you imagine? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When he said hey, and I said hey back.
MARCIANO: Did you ever think you would be able to talk to the president of the United States of America?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was an opportunity of a lifetime. It was amazing. Having the opportunity just look up and see him was incredible. It's overwhelming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met the president. I was, like, whoa, very exciting. Very exciting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: It was the first time the president had stayed overnight in his Chicago home in more than a year.
Well, coming up in two days the planet Venus is going to cross between Earth and the Sun. It's a sight that you're not going to see for another century. We're going to tell you exactly how to see it. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, good morning. And welcome back. It's 38 minutes after the hour. Here are some stories that may be off your radar.
SunTrust mortgage has been ripping off black and Hispanic borrowers. That's according to the Justice Department. And now the banking giant agreed to pay up to $21 million to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit. The feds' two and a half year investigation found between 2005 and 2009 about 20,000 qualified minorities were charged higher fees and interest rates based solely on their race or national origin. SunTrust mortgage denies any wrongdoing, but says it agreed to pay the settlement to avoid expensive litigation.
More than 600 L.A. teachers could lose their teachers licenses in the wake of a misconduct scandal. The district has turned over discipline cases from the last four years for a state board to review. This all follows the arrest of two elementary school teachers charged with lewd acts against students. One of the teachers is accused of tying up his students in adult-like bondage situations.
And it's not often you hear Sesame Street, Barney, and torture used the same sentence. But songs from both children's shows might have been used to torture prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Al-Jazeera's new documentary "Songs of War" reports that detainees were strapped to chairs with headphones on with music blaring sometimes for days on end. U.S. military officials say they don't use torture, but can you imagine listening to this song nonstop?
(MUSIC)
MARCIANO: All right. Sky watchers, get ready for two big celestial events this coming week, we have got a partial lunar eclipse that's happening, but more importantly, on Tuesday there's a rare Venus transit where Venus will cross between the Earth and the Sun, and we're not going to see this for another 100 years. So Reynolds Wolf is on it, and you're going to tell me exactly how I can see it and what it's going to look like.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, this is one of the tricky kind of things. It's definitely going to be happening, and it is without a doubt going to be something cool, but it will be very difficult to see. First and foremost, you can only be in certain parts of the country. The best place to actually see this, if you happen to live on the West Coast, or anyone -- anywhere near close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, you should have a decent time if weather allows and if you have the right equipment. Now, for most people you need something almost like welders glasses to use to protect your eyes in the sun, but if you have those, you should be able to see a very small dot that will be crossing the sun and that, of course, is going to be Venus. Right there. It gives you also an idea of just how immense the Sun happens to be. Something else is going to be kind of interesting, is, is a lot of people may have the compulsion to try to look up and see it again. You don't want to stare directly into the Sun.
MARCIANO: So, the same rules apply for one we have -- actually, even more so, because so little of the Sun is actually going to be blocked out. Same rules apply like when we have the solar eclipse just a couple of weeks ago.
WOLF: Precisely, you won't have the same intensity. You won't have the exact same intensity, but it's going to be very, very similar.
MARCIANO: And people may look at this picture and say, well, that's just insignificant. I want to see, you know, a solar eclipse where the Sun blacks out during the day, but those happen fairly frequently. At least a few times in our lifetime.
WOLF: Absolutely.
MARCIANO: But this is not going to happen for the rest of our lives.
WOLF: Absolutely, so the temptation will be there to try to view this, and if you get the opportunity, by all means do so. But everyone, again, you have to protect the eyes. For you personally, Rob, I recommend that you wear reading glasses, the strongest telescope you can possibly have. And just aim it right towards the Sun.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Just for you. For no one else, but just for you.
MARCIANO: He has always been like a father to me. And that sort of advice--
(CROSSTALK) WOLF: It's truly amazing. And next opportunity to see this is going to be about -- about a century from now.
MARCIANO: So, now you say the West Coast is best, but I mean in Atlanta, Chicago, it kind of has the sun is setting, we'll get to see some of it if we have ...
WOLF: You might see. Some of the biggest enemies will (ph) be time. Because obviously, the Sun sets towards the west, this is -- when this is going to be occurring, so I'm talking if you are in Atlanta or, say, even in Dallas, it's going to be really, really far in horizon, so you've got really time that's going to be the big issue. Plus, the same time you're also going to have the light will be diffusing somewhat with atmospheric dust and whatnot that's going to be out toward the west.
MARCIANO: You personally, though, I mean what's your favorite celestial event?
WOLF: Always the eclipse. Always. Absolutely. Bar none.
MARCIANO: I -- you know, that one time when you and I were watching shooting stars in the meteor shower ...
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Yes.
MARCIANO: Anyway, that's my favorite.
WOLF: I appreciate it, Rob, thank you. I'll never forget.
MARCIANO: Speaking of zombie apocalypse ...
WOLF: Wow!
MARCIANO: ... something is happening in Florida. We've told you about this from the past couple of days, and it's just really unbelievably great mind-boggling stuff, and the latest thing that's coming out of Miami is that authorities say that this stuff may be linked. So, we're going to talk more about that story coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, guys. Good stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, In Canada and New Jersey and Maryland there are reports of unimaginable violence, cannibalism and even dismemberment. In one startling CNN folder in Miami, it prompted this 911 call from a local bus driver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a naked man on the N causeway, at the end of the He is -- beating another man. on top of the man on top of the man, beating him. The man is bleeding. He's going to kill the man, I promise you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Now, authorities believe there may be a connection with this unspeakable violence to a drug known as bath salts. Dr. Drew of our sister network HLN, breaks down the drug and its profound effects.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DREW PINSKY, HLN: This is a series of chemicals that is related to amphetamine and ecstasy. It has caused hallucinogenic properties and it cause a stimulant properties. It causes a delirium. I mean you are completely detached from reality because of a biological disturbance in your brain caused by bath salt. I'm going to say it again. Nothing to do with the bath. It is a pure drug that people snort and shoot. It can trigger violence. Some people have been shown to have unexpected strength. Again, I talked about this and Spice, which is a different thing altogether. Both can be bought over- the-counter. So, this is a warning for your kids. Let's go to a quick call. Renee in Ohio. What do you have got for me?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Dr. Drew. I just wanted to kind of let you know how terrifying it is to live with someone who is abusing bath salts.
PINSKY: Oh, you've been through that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, my ex-husband was abusing bath salts, and it is absolutely terrifying to live like that.
PINSKY: Renee, can you describe what it was like? As Michelle and I have seen this, and we know how -- how out of their mind they are. But also, that your ability, the liability and the incredible aggression and violence, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. All of that. The hallucinations are probably the scariest. When you're speaking to people who aren't there and they're expecting you to acknowledge them when they're getting angry and getting violent, breaking things. It's absolutely terrifying. Especially when the person has no history of, you know, mental problems at all, and there's children involved. It's absolutely terrifying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Incredibly enough, only 39 states have legislation on their books that ban the chemicals found in bath salts.
Well, as we prepare to remember D-Day, a World War II veteran shares his experiences storming the beach of Normandy. His amazing story just three minutes away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: On Wednesday, America marks an iconic day in military history. It was June 6, 1944, the largest ever sea-borne invasion unfolded. Allied forces swarmed five beaches at Normandy, France -- Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men became part of world history that day. We call it D-Day. Veteran Morton Waitzman was there, and he shares his pointed experience.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MORTON WAITZMAN, WWII VET: My name is Morton Waitzman. I was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 8, 1923. I was in the 29th Infantry Division, (inaudible) Company, Second Battalion. I actually enlisted in January of 1943. I would have been drafted anyway, but I was anxious to get after people who started that whole war after Pearl Harbor.
I was told I had a choice between going directly to Europe or staying behind in the States and training for officers candidate school in engineering. But I made clear that my choice would be to go into the European theater if possible. And so I found myself on a mortar troop ship in December of 1943 on the way to Southampton, England, initially going to be going to the 82nd Airborne or the 101st Airborne, and landing just before D-Day so I could join the French underground. But that never took place.
I was in jump training, and I jumped off towers and so on, but the training was stopped because there would be only one reason. D- Day was rapidly approaching.
We soon found out it was supposed to be June 5th, but then the weather was bad and General Eisenhower made it June 6th. So we were on one of our motherships about June 4th, going across the English Channel, bobbing up and down in pitch black, and eventually got to about, oh, 15, 20 miles offshore off the coast, and we were told where we were going then. And it would be Normandy. It would be Omaha Beach in Normandy.
I was at the beaches in Normandy, but I had to get to the landing craft, so climbing down those cargo nets at about 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, it was pitch black, it was raining, it was cold, and it was a matter of survival, the time you jumped from the cargo net into the infantry craft.
Many didn't make it. If you fell into the sea, that was the end. And we lost several comrades this way.
I obviously survived that, got onto the boat, and we headed towards shore. And hitting the beach at about 6:30 or so in the morning.
When those doors opened up, our job was to move out fast. And we came in at low tide, and it was still where we could see the obstacles around the beaches. The enemy fire was very intense, 8,000 in our group were killed or wounded in the landings. And I to this day remember specific stories involving the vision of human beings being torn apart by the artillery fire, machine-gun fire.
It was not an easy time. It was an experience that any of us who experienced this find very difficult to keep from having recall, that makes life difficult sometimes.
For 50 years after the war was over, I didn't talk about anything concerning the war. The memory of it was so difficult that -- I had to go on living. I talk as frequently as I can now as part of the emotional impact that it has on me and my family and my wife, because I have to teach this, and my comrades who do the same feel the same way.
It's a history lesson. History is important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Well, this Wednesday, June 6, will be the 68th anniversary of D-Day.
Huge wildfires, they're ripping through the forests of at least mine states today. This fire in New Mexico has gotten so big, it's setting a new record.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Here's some of the big stories that are coming up in the week ahead. We have our calendar out here, so we'll highlight some things for you. The Jerry Sandusky trial takes place on Tuesday. Of course, the former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, he was arrested and is under house arrest since December after being charged with sexually abusing ten boys over a 14-year period. He has pleaded not guilty to that.
And on Wednesday the Enterprise, the space shuttle Enterprise actually will retire officially on the Intrepid Air and Space Museum up there. It's been making its trip from JFK. It's on a barge right now. It's going to be making its way up the Hudson and will park itself on the West Side of Manhattan to its permanent home. It's going to be a museum open to the public, and that will be officially opened on the 19th.
And as we mentioned in the last block, on Thursday, officially is the D-Day anniversary, the 68th anniversary of D-Day, and excuse me, on -- also on Thursday is Jamie Dimon, and he is going to testify to the Senate committee. I want to correct this, though, D-Day is on Wednesday.
So, Jamie Dimon is going to testify to the Senate Banking Committee. He reportedly approved the trading strategy to expose the bank to losses that so far total $2 billion.
And finally, when we get to the weekend, come Saturday, come on. "I'll Have Another," my magic wall at the weather department works just as well. I'll have another is going to run for the Triple Crown, potentially. Down the stretch they come for the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes. You win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness.
And this will be -- I think, if he manages to pull this off, it will be the first time in 34 years we have the Triple Crown. All right. Love me some technology.
Stay right there. More on CNN SUNDAY MORNING starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): From the CNN world headquarter in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
A wildfire bigger than the entire city of Chicago has become the largest one on record in New Mexico. More than a quarter of a million acres burned, 1,250 people fighting it, and still, only 17 percent contained. It's just one of nine states on fire.
Plus, Tuesday's Wisconsin recall race has pitted party heavyweights against each other as last minute money continues to pour in on both sides. We'll explain why it could be a bellwether for November.
And we are just hours away from the deadline for George Zimmerman to return to jail. The man who killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin had his bail revoked by a judge and was given until this afternoon to turn himself in.
And the diamond jubilee flotilla launches at 9:30 this morning. A thousand votes, 20,000 people, and a Prince Harry surprise. We have live team coverage.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Good morning, everyone. I'm Rob Marciano, just filling in for Randi Kaye. It's 7:00 on the East Coast, and 4:00 on the East Coast. Thanks for starting your morning with us.
We'll start you off with the massive wildfire in New Mexico. It grew to historic size and it's expected to get bigger. The fire burning in the Gila National Forest so far has devoured more than 354 square miles.
It's the largest fire in the state's history and has been burning for nearly a month now. Firefighters are having a tough time controlling it. In New Mexico, you know, it's not the only state where wildfires are burning.
Look at this map. Massive fires are burning in at least eight other states. We're talking about more than 300,000 acres of land. That's currently on fire.
And not just in dry states. Some fires are burning as far east as Michigan. So, we're off to a quick start here.
Of course, Reynolds Wolf here to talk more about the weather situation with this. Not a whole lot of snow out west. It's obviously not helping things. The Desert Southwest, specifically Arizona and New Mexico where this big fire is burning. We probably won't see rain for I don't know how long.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's probably a while. And, Rob, they really are going to be suffering from the double whammy today. That being the very, very low humidity. At the same time, the wind can intensify by the afternoon.
Something else that may be a big issue later on today, high base thunderstorms. Thunderstorms will be fairly high, very dry air below them. So, you want the benefits of the rain, but there's a chance, Rob, you could have lightning strikes that could high some of the high reaches. If that happens, it means the possibility of more fires.
MARCIANO: Winds are going to pick up or they are pretty much marginal?
WOLF: This is what we have for you. Take a look at this. Winds gusting to about 25 miles an hour, but, Rob, as you know, when you have wind that passes right through those high mountain canyons, a lot of times what happens is really two things. One, the wind actually accelerates when it moves right through the ravines. So, that's one bad thing.
The second thing it's going to do is when the air molecules are forced together, it actually generates a little bit of heat. So, it helps dry out a lot of the chaparral, a lot of the ponderosa pines and the chaparral. It's going to be difficult to deal with.
The acres burned -- the machines really are staggering, over 200,000. It's only 17 percent contained. Gusts of 25 miles per hour.
It's one of those oh wow features you might deal with today if you happen to be flying out towards the West. So, if you are flying over New Mexico or over Arizona, most pilots might say you look out the window, and you can see the smoke plain as day, and it is certainly going to be a tall order for them. Thousands of firefighters not just battling this one but places across the country, working very hard to stop its progress.
Let's send it back to you, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. Reynolds, thanks very much.
For only the third time in history, one of the nation's governors is facing a recall election this Tuesday. Wisconsin Republican governor Scott Walker will face his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Many voters are upset that walker stripped collective bargaining rights from state employees. Walker says that even if he remains in office, he has no plans to overturn the Wisconsin law.
And in Florida, George Zimmerman was given until this afternoon to turn himself into authorities after his bond was revoked. The judge made the ruling Friday, stating Zimmerman misrepresented, misled, and deceived the court about his financial situation during April's bond hearing. Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
And now we head to London where the rain is not dampening the mood. Crowds gather to celebrate day two of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee. Today's main event, a 1,000-boat flotilla down the River Thames headlining by queen herself and her family.
So, let's bring in the colorful Richard Quest. He is live at London's Tower Bridge near the river himself.
Oh, no umbrellas. Has the rain lightened up at all, Richard?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Now, you raised an interesting question there, Mr. Marciano, one that will excerpt me for sometime. Are we going up the River Thames or are going down the River Thames? Now, if that's the mouth of the river in that direction, and they're starting in that -- I need to think about this and give it some thought. Whichever way they are -- go on.
MARCIANO: Look down. Just look down. It sounds like they'll be going down the river. They'll be burning less fuel that way, right, going with the current?
QUEST: Good question. Good point. I'll buy a book on the subject.
The way the 1,000 boats -- the way the 1,000 boats are going to go is from the west to the east. They will be in 10 sections and very defined sections. So, we'll have historic boats and those from (INAUDIBLE) during the Second World War. We'll have narrow boats. We'll have the flag boats, and we'll have lots of rowing boats, including a very long 18-man row boat called Gloriana.
And right at the head of it will be the queen, the royal family, and their own royal squadron. It is despite the awfulness of the weather, it's a very British sort of day, overcast and drizzly. It's not so bad you would stay at home, but it's not so sunny you would take your coat off. That wonderful sort of British weather.
And there are going to be a million people or so watching the delights of the river. We will be here along throughout.
MARCIANO: Nice work there. We're about halfway through the festivities. It follows last year's wedding of William and Catherine. With these historic events, the money -- are you spending money, but I guess the money is pouring in as well. Tell us about the impact the royal family is having on the British economy there.
QUEST: It is. Today's pageant will cost about $15 million to $20 million. It's been privately funded. So, in austerity, Britain has no call on the public purse.
Tomorrow's concert again has been funded. That's a big concert outside Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday, this is going to be spectacular because you don't see this every 100 years or so. In fact, it's been three 300 since we've had this many boats. But on Tuesday, you will see the best of what we do -- more horses, more guardsmen, more uniforms, more trumpeters, more buglers, more carriages than you can shake a royal stick at. There will be several of them to be shaken. You'll see that on Tuesday afternoon.
Today, I'm just wanting to see -- I just want to see that moment when the whole of the river is full of boats. Tower Bridge has lifted her whatever you call it, the roadway. There's a proper name for that, which I'll need to look up. I'm going to be busy after we have finished. We will get a feeling for it all.
MARCIANO: It is going to be a sight to behold, I'm sure, and we'll be covering it live. Thank you for that preview. Richard Quest live for us in London -- thanks, Richard.
For all the pomp and pageantry of the diamond jubilee, keep it right here on CNN. Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will kick off our coverage this morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Well, Egypt, on edge. Demonstrators spelling into the streets after their ousted president escapes the gallows. Dozens are injured. Will the protest ratchet up as the country prepares to elect a new leader?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is blasting what he says is, quote, "a war from abroad targeting his country." He addressed his newly elected parliament just a short time ago, but even as Mr. Assad spoke, military shells rained down again on the opposition stronghold of Homs, which has been under siege for months now.
CNN's Leone Lakhani joins us now live from our bureau in Abu Dhabi.
Leone, President Assad blaming foreign conspiracies for the assault on his country. What does anybody make of that?
LEONE LAKHANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is stuff we've heard before, Rob, but it was a rare public appearance from him. We haven't seen him in public since January. He was speaking in front of the parliament and he basically said Syria is facing a war from outside forces.
This is something he said for the past 15 months that Syria is backing against armed terrorists from outside of Syria and needs to defend itself. It's not something we haven't heard from before. But amidst all of this, we've seen a lot of diplomatic pressure from the international community which is asking for the Syrian government to stop the violence.
As you mentioned, there are tanks being moving towards the east, towards Homs, according to opposition and activists, and the death toll continues to rise. I mean, we've heard reports from opposition groups saying there are at least 33 people killed on Saturday alone. There have been more than 12,000 people, again, according to opposition groups that have been killed during this unrest that started 15 months ago, Rob.
MARCIANO: And he also denied responsibility for last week's brutal massacre in Houla. What does anybody make of that claim?
LAKHANI: He did. He did. I mean, he basically said that any accusations that the government forces had any part in it was completely baseless, and he said people who perpetrated those killings were monsters and, again, he said we need to defend ourselves against these monsters. A complete flat-out denial against what happened in Houla, Rob.
MARCIANO: OK. Leone, thanks for that update.
And now to Egypt where demonstrators are filling Cairo's Tahrir Square for the second straight day. They're furious that ousted President Hosni Mubarak escaped execution , and that his top security chiefs were cleared in the deaths of unarmed protesters during year's Arab Spring uprising. Mr. Mubarak was sentenced life in prison. His attorney says he will appeal.
And if you're in the Gen-X generation you may bracing for a rough couple of months or even years. More people in that generation are finding themselves unemployed, and caring for both their kids and their parents. We have some advice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, as the saying goes, timing is everything, and the timing hasn't been good for those falling in generation X. They are caught between the baby boomers and the younger Generation Y, and Gen-X is feeling the pinch of fewer opportunities and more responsibilities.
Joining me now is CNN financial lifestyle analyst Clyde Anderson.
Good morning, Clyde. Good to see you.
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: Good morning, Rob. How are you?
MARCIANO: I guess I could call myself a Gen-Xer, and my folks are getting older, and a lot of my friends are struggling as well. Why is this so? What's the problem here?
ANDERSON: It's very interesting times. We're talking about Gen- Xers that are pretty much born from 1965 through 1978. These are -- we're now in the situation where we're taking care of parents and becoming caregivers of parents as they get older, the baby boomers. A lot of these baby boomers weren't prepared for retirement.
And now, we're dealing with issues that we didn't have to deal with before, and especially in this economy. So, an economy -- a lot of them have lost money in their retirement plans, their 401ks. So, now, they're having to take care of these parents, as well as raise with children and deal with rising education costs and a lot of other things coming into the mix.
MARCIANO: So, unless the economy really starts to pick up, and everybody gets on the green trees, like we have in the '90s I supposed, it's going to be a tough go. For how long?
ANDERSON: Yes, it's going to be a tough go I think from now until. We got to really try to figure out ways to make sure we make it work, and so a lot of people are doing different things. Moving in together, consolidating, really cutting costs and you really have to make sure you're able to care for these parents. And also, again, raise these children, where college tuition is increasing dramatically and it's not at the rate of inflation.
MARCIANO: So, you're telling me to build an in-law suite.
ANDERSON: Hey, that's a smart thing to do. We have to go back to the basics and do things that are basic, and if that's bringing in everybody closer together, that's how we used to do it years and years ago.
MARCIANO: May be a good thing for us.
ANDERSON: A lot of people also take care of grandparents, and we're dealing with that situation as well.
MARCIANO: You know, for the Gen-Xers, you know, you go from your 20s and you have no responsibility and then you get more responsibility, and then all of a sudden, you have this much responsibility, and you need to look at your parents, and you may be struggling financially because of the economy, and it hits you like a brick.
ANDERSON: Right. It hit us, definitely. Think about Gen-Xers we came out into a rough economy where things -- we had one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. So, we're dealing with that, and now that you think about it, we're in this situation where a lot of the people, the baby boomers, are still having to work because of retirement issues, because they don't have the money, they're having to work a lot longer.
Now we got the generation Y, the younger generation. So, we're competing for jobs at Generation Xers and baby boomers as well as people in Generation Y.
MARCIANO: OK. So, you build an in-law suite and have folks living together. Whatsoever other advice? Are there support groups out there? Are there books to read?
ANDERSON: Definitely. Check out web. There are several support groups. They're different in each state. There is some sort of aging or elderly support groups for people that are dealing with this, because it is a big issue. So, you want to make sure that you're researching that to make sure that you have that kind of support. You have people that -- get your mother involved with some activity and make sure you are dealing with children and having time for your marriage and having a social life as well.
MARCIANO: So, we don't want to go as far as to say the American dream has skipped a generation because this may bring us all together.
ANDERSON: It will bring us closer together. We have to look at the positive side. There's always a bright side.
MARCIANO: Clyde Anderson, good to see you.
ANDERSON: Thanks for having me.
MARCIANO: Well, only Air Force servicemen who are tough as nails can make it in the mob and CNN's Reynolds Wolf is tough. He trained with that elite group, and you're going to see firsthand why so much depends on these guys when they go into the war zone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Whenever there's a war, someone has to be first in and eventually last out. For the Air Force, that's the Fifth Combat Communications Group, better known as the Mob.
As we all know, you don't want to mess with the mob unless you're Reynolds Wolf, who is a tough guy. And he went in with the elite unit and got the training with him, and I've see parts of the story yesterday, and it's worth showing again. Your experience was amazing.
WOLF: It was amazing and it's amazing to get an understanding of what these men and women of the mob have to do. What happens, Rob, a lot of times wars are fought in plays that aren't exactly convenient, places that are sometimes very rough, very difficult landscapes. Say, in Afghanistan or say in Iraq.
So, when you have troops that arrive in countries, they don't have the city locations. They don't have the water. They don't have the communications. They don't have power.
The mob goes in. They're the first to go in, and they're also the very last to depart, and they basically lay the ground work for all success in operations. The work is amazing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF (voice-over): In modern combat, targeting and taking out enemy combatants is crucial to military success. There is one elite Air Force unit that lays the groundwork for it all.
COLONEL JOSEPH SCHERRER, COMMANDER, 689TH COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP: We just had a team in Afghanistan working with Army Ranger forces that were up-close-and-personal with the Taliban, and they were feeding downlinked imagery to be able to find, fix, target and finish those adversaries out there.
WOLF: That team is the 5th Combat Communications Group, also known as the Mob. They are literally the first to deploy and the last to leave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're always first. First ones out the door, first ones in excellence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we go out, we're building up for installing initial communications. And make it so that we can actually get up within just a few days and have communications with the outside world.
WOLF (on camera): This is really the first step to base building. I mean, this is it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.
WOLF: All begins here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.
WOLF (voice-over): To get a better understanding of what the Mob does, I was made an honorary member for the day. From communications to shelter, to air traffic control and supplying troops in the field, the Mob does it all.
(on camera): You guys make the complex look easy, and it's not easy at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's training, that is all it is. Just training.
WOLF: There is a lot to this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We put the tax dollars to work.
WOLF (voice-over): But their mission doesn't come without risk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our business is a life and death business for soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
WOLF (on camera): So again, we're covering a lot of ground. These are guys who are going to deal with electronics, they are going to deal with engineering, but they are also going to be soldiers, don't they?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They may be in an environment where bad guys want to do them harm. They need to be prepared to face that as well.
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Follow me, follow me.
WOLF: Yes, sir, yes, sir, right behind you. Right behind you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up against the door, let's go. Roger that. Wolf, follow.
WOLF: Yes, sir.
(voice-over): This aspect of the training brings it home.
(CROSSTALK)
(GUNFIRE)
WOLF: Shouldering a weapon in, well, let's say adverse circumstances.
(on camera): That was intense. How can you not respect these airmen that are out here doing this stuff? Seriously, from the high tech gadgetry to all the electrical engineering, to the day-to-day tactics to this stuff, it's amazing. A lot of respect for them.
SCHERRER: We pick up and go someplace where we have never been before potentially. It requires us to operate as a team, to depend on each other, and to rely on each other's expertise to get us through potentially hazardous and stressful situations.
SR. AIRMAN JAMES FERGUSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: Whoever the higher up is, makes that call, like I want to send the Fifth Mob out, we're already good. You know, we're basically a plane ticket away.
WOLF: Always ready?
FERGUSON: Oh, yeah, always. Everybody loves the Mob.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Combat --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: Rob, there is no soldier like the American soldier. They are absolutely incredible. The rest of the world needs them to keep it free, and what's incredible also about these men that we always remind ourselves, this is a volunteer unit. We're all volunteers. We don't have a draft. We all know that.
The sacrifices they make are just incredible. One of the reasons why they're so effective, just all across the armed forces, not just the Mob, is because of the incredible training they do. You saw the amazing work they do.
As we wrap things up, take a look at some of the actual shell casings that we had from the exercise rifle. These are actually bullets. The only difference is they take out the lead slug and they put n a tiny beanbag.
MARCIANO: But those hurt when they hit in.
WOLF: When you get shot, I'm telling you, they will leave huge bruises on you. They want a penalty so you are going to learn from the mistakes you'll make in combat. MARCIANO: Great story, Reynolds. I know you feel strongly about the men who serve and it's been my honor to serve with you this weekend.
WOLF: Absolutely, brother. You bet.
MARCIANO: Well, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." is coming up after this.
