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CNN Saturday Morning News
USS Enterprise Returns From Combat in Middle East
Aired November 10, 2001 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The USS Enterprise has completed its mission. It was the first aircraft carrier to report for combat duty in the Middle East, and now the Norfolk, Virginia-based ship is heading home.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve is there live this morning getting ready for this big homecoming. No doubt it will be very emotional, Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, it's going to be great. This ship won't even come into view for more than hour, and look at these crowds. They started gathering here at about 5:00 this morning. They're expecting thousands, they're expecting the biggest homecoming since Desert Storm.
About 4,500 men and women are still on this ship, but the air wing left yesterday, and they've already had their reunion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): His last night on board the U.S.S. "Enterprise," F-14 pilot Mike Clark, call sign Swampy, attends a briefing on his squadron's flight back to home base, Oceana Naval Air Station. And when he gets there, what's he going to tell his wife?
MIKE CLARK, PILOT: I love her, she looks great, and I'm glad to be home.
MESERVE: The same night, his wife, Jennifer, prepares a party to welcome him and anticipates what she'll do on his return.
JENNIFER CLARK, PILOT'S WIFE: I'll probably be laughing, crying, probably -- if I can run fast enough, I'll run to him and probably tackle him, if I can. But it's just going to be so fantastic.
MESERVE: Friday comes, and with it, a one-of-a-kind F-14 flyover. Mike is piloting one of those 22 jets. Jennifer is watching.
The slow taxi on the runway seems to take forever. Jennifer walks out on the tarmac, sees Mike, and does just what she said she would.
And when we asked what he told her, just what he said he would.
CLARK: I love you, she looks great, and I'm happy to be home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: It's hard to say who had a tougher time over the last seven months. Mike is going into training on the F-18 Super Hornet, which means they have to move to California. So Jennifer has to sell the house and do the move all by herself.
But Mike, on the other hand, was flying combat missions over Afghanistan, dropping bombs, coming under antiaircraft fire. And also he's had to endure almost seven months of carrier life.
We're going to see a lot more of those wonderful reunions today. Some of the most special will involve the white tents, the first of the white tents that you may see over my shoulder. In there are 90 newborn babies, babies that have been born since the dads went out to sea. They're going to be some of the first off this ship.
Kyra, it's going to be wonderful to see. Back to you.
PHILLIPS: Ah, Jeanne, what a wonderful human touch. I know you spent time on the "Enterprise" too, right? So what kind of...
MESERVE: I did. I -- Go ahead.
PHILLIPS: No, go ahead. I want you to tell us about it. Give us some inside scoop.
MESERVE: I catapulted off the ship yesterday, which was quite an experience. But let me tell you, the guys on board and the women are so excited about coming home. They yearn, of course, to see their families, and they want the simple things. They want to be able to walk to Wal-Mart and go shopping. They want to be able to smell newly cut grass. They want all kinds of stuff.
I left them 24 hours ago. I imagine by now, Kyra, they are just jumping out of their skins. We'll see them in about an hour and a half's time.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll see you again soon too. Thanks so much, Jeanne Meserve.
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