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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Shoshana Johnson

Aired January 24, 2004 - 08:06   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.


JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Atlanta, former Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson is in town for the annual Trumpet Awards, which honor African-American achievement. You may recall that Johnson returned from duty in Iraq with injuries to both of her legs. Her 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed and taken prisoner in March. Jessica Lynch was rescued a week later. Then Johnson and five others were freed April 13.
Shoshana Johnson is now retired from the Army and we're honored to have her here to sit down.

Thank you so very much for joining us.

SPEC. SHOSHANA JOHNSON, U.S. ARMY (RET.), FORMER PRISONER OF WAR: Oh, thank you.

CARROLL: You know, the last time I saw you -- I know you're not aware of this -- but it was in New York City, Times Square for that big celebration. Now you're here in Atlanta for the Trumpet Awards, which, as we said, honors African-Americans for their achievement. I'm wondering, have you had any opportunity with doing so much in the past year to have any down time to sort of take in everything that's happened?

JOHNSON: Oh, definitely. I have to make, you know, time for myself, time for my daughter and actually I haven't been doing much for the last two, two and a half weeks or so, just basically staying at home, spending some time with the family hanging out.

CARROLL: Yes, of course. I know since being here you told me that, as we were sitting here, you had time, just enough, to get your hair done and relax before you came in.

JOHNSON: Yes.

CARROLL: Before you came in. But, you know, in going over what happened to you, do you ever relive or have you sorted out everything that's happened to you and put it into the proper perspective? Have you had time to do that?

JOHNSON: I don't think I will ever really be able to put everything in the proper perspective. You know, it's just an unknown. Why me? You know, why did it happen to me? Why was I able to come home? You know, I'll never have the answer to these things and it's something I'll just have to live with.

CARROLL: Yes, and we were just looking at some of the pictures a little earlier of the whole operation, the rescue operation. Do you ever relive that? Do you go -- does that go through your mind at any point?

JOHNSON: Oh, definitely.

CARROLL: Yes.

JOHNSON: It's, you know, it's very hard with the conflict continuing to have the images pop up all the time of Iraq.

CARROLL: Right.

JOHNSON: So it's a...

CARROLL: For you, you can't get away from it.

JOHNSON: Yes. It's very hard. I'm just grateful that I have such a supportive and wonderful family to help me deal with some of the things and that I can go to and talk to about a lot of the things that happened. I don't know how I would be able to deal with it if they weren't there for me.

CARROLL: I'm curious, I know you like to stay away from politics. You told me that. But I'm wondering what you think of the military operation and how it's been developing. We've had more deaths in Iraq today.

JOHNSON: Unfortunately two more. And it's heartbreaking. You know, every -- you know, you turn on the TV every morning and you hope that you don't hear about any more soldiers losing their lives. But we've begun a mission and we have to finish it. I don't believe pulling out early without the job being done will show the proper respect for those soldiers that have given their lives. You know, if we don't accomplish the mission, what did they give their lives for, you know? And some of them were my dear friends and comrades.

CARROLL: I'm wondering, with so much going on in the past year, what's next for you? Have you even thought about what's next for you?

JOHNSON: I have been thinking about it. Actually, with Black History Month, I have been invited to quite a few speaking engagements and I want to go back to school in the summer and...

CARROLL: And do what? Study what?

JOHNSON: I'm not sure.

CARROLL: Undecided.

JOHNSON: I am still not sure. I mean the world has just opened up for me and I don't know. You know, I just take it one step at a time.

CARROLL: After the Trumpets Awards, more public appearances. You'll be doing some more of that, I'm sure?

JOHNSON: Yes. Actually, was it Sunday evening I'll be at the, actually, in California...

CARROLL: My home state.

JOHNSON: ... for the Grammy Golden Globes after party thing and then I come back for the Trumpet Awards and everything. I'm very eager to meet Della Reese. I am so eager to meet that extraordinary woman.

CARROLL: All right. I'm glad you're going to be able to get out there and do a little partying and relax. It's, again, an honor to have you here with us.

Thank you so very, very much.

JOHNSON: Oh, thank you very much.

Thank you.

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 January 24, 2004 - 08:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Atlanta, former Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson is in town for the annual Trumpet Awards, which honor African-American achievement. You may recall that Johnson returned from duty in Iraq with injuries to both of her legs. Her 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed and taken prisoner in March. Jessica Lynch was rescued a week later. Then Johnson and five others were freed April 13.
Shoshana Johnson is now retired from the Army and we're honored to have her here to sit down.

Thank you so very much for joining us.

SPEC. SHOSHANA JOHNSON, U.S. ARMY (RET.), FORMER PRISONER OF WAR: Oh, thank you.

CARROLL: You know, the last time I saw you -- I know you're not aware of this -- but it was in New York City, Times Square for that big celebration. Now you're here in Atlanta for the Trumpet Awards, which, as we said, honors African-Americans for their achievement. I'm wondering, have you had any opportunity with doing so much in the past year to have any down time to sort of take in everything that's happened?

JOHNSON: Oh, definitely. I have to make, you know, time for myself, time for my daughter and actually I haven't been doing much for the last two, two and a half weeks or so, just basically staying at home, spending some time with the family hanging out.

CARROLL: Yes, of course. I know since being here you told me that, as we were sitting here, you had time, just enough, to get your hair done and relax before you came in.

JOHNSON: Yes.

CARROLL: Before you came in. But, you know, in going over what happened to you, do you ever relive or have you sorted out everything that's happened to you and put it into the proper perspective? Have you had time to do that?

JOHNSON: I don't think I will ever really be able to put everything in the proper perspective. You know, it's just an unknown. Why me? You know, why did it happen to me? Why was I able to come home? You know, I'll never have the answer to these things and it's something I'll just have to live with.

CARROLL: Yes, and we were just looking at some of the pictures a little earlier of the whole operation, the rescue operation. Do you ever relive that? Do you go -- does that go through your mind at any point?

JOHNSON: Oh, definitely.

CARROLL: Yes.

JOHNSON: It's, you know, it's very hard with the conflict continuing to have the images pop up all the time of Iraq.

CARROLL: Right.

JOHNSON: So it's a...

CARROLL: For you, you can't get away from it.

JOHNSON: Yes. It's very hard. I'm just grateful that I have such a supportive and wonderful family to help me deal with some of the things and that I can go to and talk to about a lot of the things that happened. I don't know how I would be able to deal with it if they weren't there for me.

CARROLL: I'm curious, I know you like to stay away from politics. You told me that. But I'm wondering what you think of the military operation and how it's been developing. We've had more deaths in Iraq today.

JOHNSON: Unfortunately two more. And it's heartbreaking. You know, every -- you know, you turn on the TV every morning and you hope that you don't hear about any more soldiers losing their lives. But we've begun a mission and we have to finish it. I don't believe pulling out early without the job being done will show the proper respect for those soldiers that have given their lives. You know, if we don't accomplish the mission, what did they give their lives for, you know? And some of them were my dear friends and comrades.

CARROLL: I'm wondering, with so much going on in the past year, what's next for you? Have you even thought about what's next for you?

JOHNSON: I have been thinking about it. Actually, with Black History Month, I have been invited to quite a few speaking engagements and I want to go back to school in the summer and...

CARROLL: And do what? Study what?

JOHNSON: I'm not sure.

CARROLL: Undecided.

JOHNSON: I am still not sure. I mean the world has just opened up for me and I don't know. You know, I just take it one step at a time.

CARROLL: After the Trumpets Awards, more public appearances. You'll be doing some more of that, I'm sure?

JOHNSON: Yes. Actually, was it Sunday evening I'll be at the, actually, in California...

CARROLL: My home state.

JOHNSON: ... for the Grammy Golden Globes after party thing and then I come back for the Trumpet Awards and everything. I'm very eager to meet Della Reese. I am so eager to meet that extraordinary woman.

CARROLL: All right. I'm glad you're going to be able to get out there and do a little partying and relax. It's, again, an honor to have you here with us.

Thank you so very, very much.

JOHNSON: Oh, thank you very much.

Thank you.

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