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CNN Saturday Morning News
Seven Ex-POWs Scheduled to Leave for Texas Today
Aired April 19, 2003 - 07:32 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As part of our coverage of the new Iraq, we are covering the return of the seven rescued American POWs, almost homeward bound at this moment. They're going to be leaving Germany this morning for Fort Bliss, Texas. The takeoff's supposed to be in about an hour and a half.
Want to check in with our Matthew Chance now, who is at Ramstein Air Base in Germany -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Anderson.
And that's correct, the plane right behind me is expected to take off within the next hour and a half with all seven of those rescued, those freed U.S. prisoners of war. They'll be touching down in the evening in the States in Fort Bliss, then going on to Fort Hood. Members of the 507th Maintenance Company, of course, at Fort Hood, the others getting off slightly later.
A number of people have gathered here to see off these prisoners of war. The crowd has started to gather already. Let me just get us to swing round and show you some of the people who are gathering here. You've got a -- you know, obviously family members of American soldiers based here in this part of Germany, where there are a number of U.S. bases.
Madam, let me, let me first ask you, can you just tell me why you're coming here today? To show your support?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To show our support and show these guys that we're really proud of them, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CHANCE: Why are you proud of them so much? Why for you? Why for so many Americans are these people heroes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because they represent everything that we live by. They're great Americans. They've given everything that they could possibly give to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our country and to be the soldiers that we need them to be. They're excellent.
CHANCE: All right. Thank you very much...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're welcome.
CHANCE: ... for being on CNN there.
Anderson, there you have it. A lot of people, you know, very proud to be here today, to be involved in this sending-off. As I mentioned, that plane behind me expected to take off in about an hour and a half from now, but the actual freed prisoners of war have not yet boarded.
They're still being -- haven't yet been transported back from the Landstuhl military U.S. Army hospital facility, where, of course, they've been based for the last week or so, having their injuries treated and undergoing psychological therapy as well, Anderson, because of that terrifying ordeal that they endured.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, it's nice to see that crowd gathered out there. I was interested in the woman you talked to. It looked like her son was out there as well, and it seemed to have his face painted. I almost wanted to hear from him a little bit about his thoughts on seeing this plane.
About how many people have gathered there?
CHANCE: Well, at the moment, about, I'd say, you know, 70 or 80 or so. But, as we said, it's still an hour and a half before the takeoff of this plane, and people are still arriving by the minute.
Let's just step over here, maybe we can have a word with the little guy.
What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Austin.
CHANCE: Austin? Austin, what do you think of these seven?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're great, and I'm glad they defended our country for us and the Iraqis.
CHANCE: Can I ask you why you've got your face painted like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that -- I was just at a Easter party...
CHANCE: Oh, I see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and there was free face-painting.
CHANCE: OK, good. Well, good to see you here.
There you have it, Anderson. Quite a festive, I suppose, atmosphere here at the moment. People very proud to be involved in this sending-off ceremony.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, I appreciate you taking the extra mile, talking to the young boy. It's a nice report. Thanks very much, Matthew Chance. We'll check in with you a little bit later on -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And the eyes of Texas and the nation are on Fort Bliss now, where the former POWs are to return today to a red, white, and blue homecoming.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez joins us now live with the mood at Fort Bliss.
I can't imagine what that would be, Theresa -- or Thelma, I'm sorry.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, I'm sure that when the crowds gather here a little bit later today, it'll be a very, very festive scene, although right now, it is quite early, and so we're here all by ourselves.
Now, the big celebrations are planned today. They will have them right on the tarmac here at Fort Bliss. Now, the former POWs are scheduled, as Matthew had said, to leave Germany sometime within the next couple of hours and arrive at Fort Bliss about 6:00 p.m. this evening.
All seven made a final appearance yesterday at a medical facility at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. They are said to be in good spirits and very eager to get back home to their loved ones.
Now, when the former POWs arrive, there will be quite a bit of fanfare, as we had mentioned, at Fort Bliss, which is where five members of the 507th are based.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be a happy day for a lot of people, not only the families. It'll be a celebration for the entire El Paso Fort Bliss community. We're going to welcome them home in style with bands. And we've invited the public out to see them come home, and we've asked everyone to bring their flags.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, the seven returning, former prisoners of war who are expected to arrive here at the Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss, are Specialists Edgar Hernandez, Joseph Hudson, Shoshana Johnson, Private First Class Patrick Wayne Miller, Sergeant James Riley, and Chief Warrant Officers David S. Williams and Ronald D. Young. Now, those are the two pilots who were shot down over Iraq. They will be brought here to Fort Bliss with the seven and then moved on to Fort Hood, where they are based here in Texas.
And already some of the friends of the seven have said that they are planning a big welcome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA ROWLAND, SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S FRIEND: I'm so happy she's home. Just -- I'm just so happy she's home. And tell her how much, you know, that I love her, and probably once I hug her, I'm not going to want to let go.
(END VIDEO CLIP) GUTIERREZ: Now, that is the friend of 30-year-old Shoshana Johnson, who's a cook with the 507th. Shoshana is a single mother with a 2-year-old daughter. Her family said that they are very eager to reunite the two, and that should be quite a sight.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: That's right. And Thelma, you say they are planning a big celebration, and if it's in Texas, it's going to be big, just like everything in Texas...
GUTIERREZ: Sure.
COLLINS: ... I'm sure. Thelma Gutierrez, thanks so much for the update on that.
And keep it tuned to CNN for our live coverage of the former POWs' departure from Landstuhl, Germany. It starts at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, right here on CNN.
COOPER: Another former POW from the 507th, Private First Class Jessica Lynch, well, she has undergone another operation. Doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center say they performed surgery Thursday on her right foot. They say the operation was successful. Lynch is taking occupational as well as physical therapy to aid in her recovery from numerous injuries and broken bones. U.S. troops, of course, rescued her from an Iraqi hospital on April 1.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 19, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As part of our coverage of the new Iraq, we are covering the return of the seven rescued American POWs, almost homeward bound at this moment. They're going to be leaving Germany this morning for Fort Bliss, Texas. The takeoff's supposed to be in about an hour and a half.
Want to check in with our Matthew Chance now, who is at Ramstein Air Base in Germany -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Anderson.
And that's correct, the plane right behind me is expected to take off within the next hour and a half with all seven of those rescued, those freed U.S. prisoners of war. They'll be touching down in the evening in the States in Fort Bliss, then going on to Fort Hood. Members of the 507th Maintenance Company, of course, at Fort Hood, the others getting off slightly later.
A number of people have gathered here to see off these prisoners of war. The crowd has started to gather already. Let me just get us to swing round and show you some of the people who are gathering here. You've got a -- you know, obviously family members of American soldiers based here in this part of Germany, where there are a number of U.S. bases.
Madam, let me, let me first ask you, can you just tell me why you're coming here today? To show your support?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To show our support and show these guys that we're really proud of them, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CHANCE: Why are you proud of them so much? Why for you? Why for so many Americans are these people heroes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because they represent everything that we live by. They're great Americans. They've given everything that they could possibly give to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our country and to be the soldiers that we need them to be. They're excellent.
CHANCE: All right. Thank you very much...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're welcome.
CHANCE: ... for being on CNN there.
Anderson, there you have it. A lot of people, you know, very proud to be here today, to be involved in this sending-off. As I mentioned, that plane behind me expected to take off in about an hour and a half from now, but the actual freed prisoners of war have not yet boarded.
They're still being -- haven't yet been transported back from the Landstuhl military U.S. Army hospital facility, where, of course, they've been based for the last week or so, having their injuries treated and undergoing psychological therapy as well, Anderson, because of that terrifying ordeal that they endured.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, it's nice to see that crowd gathered out there. I was interested in the woman you talked to. It looked like her son was out there as well, and it seemed to have his face painted. I almost wanted to hear from him a little bit about his thoughts on seeing this plane.
About how many people have gathered there?
CHANCE: Well, at the moment, about, I'd say, you know, 70 or 80 or so. But, as we said, it's still an hour and a half before the takeoff of this plane, and people are still arriving by the minute.
Let's just step over here, maybe we can have a word with the little guy.
What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Austin.
CHANCE: Austin? Austin, what do you think of these seven?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're great, and I'm glad they defended our country for us and the Iraqis.
CHANCE: Can I ask you why you've got your face painted like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that -- I was just at a Easter party...
CHANCE: Oh, I see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and there was free face-painting.
CHANCE: OK, good. Well, good to see you here.
There you have it, Anderson. Quite a festive, I suppose, atmosphere here at the moment. People very proud to be involved in this sending-off ceremony.
COOPER: Yes, Matthew, I appreciate you taking the extra mile, talking to the young boy. It's a nice report. Thanks very much, Matthew Chance. We'll check in with you a little bit later on -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And the eyes of Texas and the nation are on Fort Bliss now, where the former POWs are to return today to a red, white, and blue homecoming.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez joins us now live with the mood at Fort Bliss.
I can't imagine what that would be, Theresa -- or Thelma, I'm sorry.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, I'm sure that when the crowds gather here a little bit later today, it'll be a very, very festive scene, although right now, it is quite early, and so we're here all by ourselves.
Now, the big celebrations are planned today. They will have them right on the tarmac here at Fort Bliss. Now, the former POWs are scheduled, as Matthew had said, to leave Germany sometime within the next couple of hours and arrive at Fort Bliss about 6:00 p.m. this evening.
All seven made a final appearance yesterday at a medical facility at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. They are said to be in good spirits and very eager to get back home to their loved ones.
Now, when the former POWs arrive, there will be quite a bit of fanfare, as we had mentioned, at Fort Bliss, which is where five members of the 507th are based.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be a happy day for a lot of people, not only the families. It'll be a celebration for the entire El Paso Fort Bliss community. We're going to welcome them home in style with bands. And we've invited the public out to see them come home, and we've asked everyone to bring their flags.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, the seven returning, former prisoners of war who are expected to arrive here at the Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss, are Specialists Edgar Hernandez, Joseph Hudson, Shoshana Johnson, Private First Class Patrick Wayne Miller, Sergeant James Riley, and Chief Warrant Officers David S. Williams and Ronald D. Young. Now, those are the two pilots who were shot down over Iraq. They will be brought here to Fort Bliss with the seven and then moved on to Fort Hood, where they are based here in Texas.
And already some of the friends of the seven have said that they are planning a big welcome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA ROWLAND, SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S FRIEND: I'm so happy she's home. Just -- I'm just so happy she's home. And tell her how much, you know, that I love her, and probably once I hug her, I'm not going to want to let go.
(END VIDEO CLIP) GUTIERREZ: Now, that is the friend of 30-year-old Shoshana Johnson, who's a cook with the 507th. Shoshana is a single mother with a 2-year-old daughter. Her family said that they are very eager to reunite the two, and that should be quite a sight.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: That's right. And Thelma, you say they are planning a big celebration, and if it's in Texas, it's going to be big, just like everything in Texas...
GUTIERREZ: Sure.
COLLINS: ... I'm sure. Thelma Gutierrez, thanks so much for the update on that.
And keep it tuned to CNN for our live coverage of the former POWs' departure from Landstuhl, Germany. It starts at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, right here on CNN.
COOPER: Another former POW from the 507th, Private First Class Jessica Lynch, well, she has undergone another operation. Doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center say they performed surgery Thursday on her right foot. They say the operation was successful. Lynch is taking occupational as well as physical therapy to aid in her recovery from numerous injuries and broken bones. U.S. troops, of course, rescued her from an Iraqi hospital on April 1.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
