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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Teresa Rowland

Aired April 20, 2003 - 17:33   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.


SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush called it a glorious day. No doubt the families of the seven POWs would agree. This morning marked the first time the servicemen and woman woke up on American soil since their ordeal began in Iraq. And it would have been a holiday even if it wasn't Easter Sunday.
CNN reporter Ed Lavandera joins us from Fort Bliss, and our Susan Candiotti is in Fort Hood with more. Let's go to Ed first.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, well, thank you very much, Sophia. Well, here, the attention has turned this Sunday to Easter services, but last night more than 1,000 people gathered here at Fort Bliss to welcome home the five former prisoners of war of the 507th Maintenance Company. And one of the people who was in the crowd there last, Teresa Rowland, who is a very good friend, a best friends with Shoshana Johnson, known her for more than ten years.

What went through your mind last night as you saw that victory lap as they were taken in the golf cart?

TERESA ROWLAND, SPC SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S BEST FRIEND: Oh, my God. I was so happy to see her. At first they were at the far side by all the press and everything, and I just wanted that golf cart to get closer so I could see her. And then they did like the little horseshoe and they went past the AIT soldiers. So I thought that was it. I thought, well, OK, they are gone. But then they came back around and they were so close. And she just let out that big old Shoshana smile, you know.

LAVANDERA: I talked to Patrick Miller, one of the former POWs this morning. And he told me that he was amazed at how many people turned out. Did you get the same response from Shoshana?

ROWLAND: Yes, I did. Her mind was blown that so many people were there, not only just the people from El Paso, but so much media was there. She was like, when I asked her, I said, you had no clue, huh? She goes no, I had no clue. I had no idea. I said, well, get used to it.

LAVANDERA: Share with us what you've been through since March 23 when you found out she had been taken as a prisoner of war and then everything culminating last night, just the wide-ranging emotions you've been through?

ROWLAND: From March 23 to April 13, every day I cried. I cried because I was so worried about her. We hadn't heard anything. That was what was worrying me so much, we hadn't heard anything. And if I could have just seen her picture, something to let me know, you know, okay, Shoshana, but we never heard anything, you know, but I never gave up. And I knew she was coming back to us and everything, but I just wanted to see her picture. I just wanted to see a tape of her, something. April 13, till last night has been -- I've been on a cloud. I have been on a cloud. I've been so excited all week long. Every time I cry now, it's tears of joy, it's happiness. It's not like, it's OK, she's coming back. It's like she's back, you know.

LAVANDERA: How do you think Shoshana's going to handle this change back? Do you think she'll be able to handle everything OK?

ROWLAND: Yes. The Shoshana I know, yes. I mean, when I talked to her last night when she called me, sounded just like always. All our phone conversations like before she ever left for Kuwait was always, you know, hey girl, you know. And we just started talking.

LAVANDERA: That's very good news to hear. We've heard from a lot of former prisoners of war who have said they have gone through a lot of emotions when they come back from an experience like this, and her family said that they are going to let Shoshana take care of her own business, and talk about things as they wish. And they hope that will be the best medicine in making her readjust to her life back here in the U.S. Sophia, back to you.

CHOI: I think her family would know what's best for her. Thanks so much.

And now, let's go to Fort Hood where Susan Candiotti is standing by to tell us what's happening there. Hi, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Sophia. According to one relative of pilot Ronald Young, he called his Sunday morning, quote, "awesome." Following an Easter church service with their immediate families, both pilots Young and David Williams met privately with the first family and with Mr. Bush's parents. It was hard to tell afterwards who was more impressed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll tell you one thing about this guy, he's going to go see his children for the first time since he was captured. He hasn't even seen his children. So if you ask him questions, don't make it long because see, we're holding a dad up from hugging two children.

QUESTION: Could you tell us a bit about your meeting with the president?

CWO RONALD YOUNG, EX-POW: Yes, it was an absolute honor, sir. Absolute honor.

CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, EX-POW: We stand 100 percent behind whatever our president decides to do. We're honored to serve him, and this is definitely one of the highlights of my life, absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now on Saturday night, a rousing welcome from several hundred members of their aviation brigade here at Fort Hood. Both pilots addressed the troops thanking them for their support and asking that they pray for those still in Iraq, some 10,000 troops from here, and for those not coming home. Both pilots spent today with their families individually. David Williams along with his wife attended a big barbecue here on base. As for Ronald young, he spent the time with his family and friends. We know that last night I was told by one of the relatives that he was so exhausted after that big reception, that he went straight to bed. Both pilots are planning vacations with their families for a week at the very least. Back to you, Sophia.

CHOI: Well, deserved, indeed. Thank you so much, Susan.

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 20, 2003 - 17:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush called it a glorious day. No doubt the families of the seven POWs would agree. This morning marked the first time the servicemen and woman woke up on American soil since their ordeal began in Iraq. And it would have been a holiday even if it wasn't Easter Sunday.
CNN reporter Ed Lavandera joins us from Fort Bliss, and our Susan Candiotti is in Fort Hood with more. Let's go to Ed first.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, well, thank you very much, Sophia. Well, here, the attention has turned this Sunday to Easter services, but last night more than 1,000 people gathered here at Fort Bliss to welcome home the five former prisoners of war of the 507th Maintenance Company. And one of the people who was in the crowd there last, Teresa Rowland, who is a very good friend, a best friends with Shoshana Johnson, known her for more than ten years.

What went through your mind last night as you saw that victory lap as they were taken in the golf cart?

TERESA ROWLAND, SPC SHOSHANA JOHNSON'S BEST FRIEND: Oh, my God. I was so happy to see her. At first they were at the far side by all the press and everything, and I just wanted that golf cart to get closer so I could see her. And then they did like the little horseshoe and they went past the AIT soldiers. So I thought that was it. I thought, well, OK, they are gone. But then they came back around and they were so close. And she just let out that big old Shoshana smile, you know.

LAVANDERA: I talked to Patrick Miller, one of the former POWs this morning. And he told me that he was amazed at how many people turned out. Did you get the same response from Shoshana?

ROWLAND: Yes, I did. Her mind was blown that so many people were there, not only just the people from El Paso, but so much media was there. She was like, when I asked her, I said, you had no clue, huh? She goes no, I had no clue. I had no idea. I said, well, get used to it.

LAVANDERA: Share with us what you've been through since March 23 when you found out she had been taken as a prisoner of war and then everything culminating last night, just the wide-ranging emotions you've been through?

ROWLAND: From March 23 to April 13, every day I cried. I cried because I was so worried about her. We hadn't heard anything. That was what was worrying me so much, we hadn't heard anything. And if I could have just seen her picture, something to let me know, you know, okay, Shoshana, but we never heard anything, you know, but I never gave up. And I knew she was coming back to us and everything, but I just wanted to see her picture. I just wanted to see a tape of her, something. April 13, till last night has been -- I've been on a cloud. I have been on a cloud. I've been so excited all week long. Every time I cry now, it's tears of joy, it's happiness. It's not like, it's OK, she's coming back. It's like she's back, you know.

LAVANDERA: How do you think Shoshana's going to handle this change back? Do you think she'll be able to handle everything OK?

ROWLAND: Yes. The Shoshana I know, yes. I mean, when I talked to her last night when she called me, sounded just like always. All our phone conversations like before she ever left for Kuwait was always, you know, hey girl, you know. And we just started talking.

LAVANDERA: That's very good news to hear. We've heard from a lot of former prisoners of war who have said they have gone through a lot of emotions when they come back from an experience like this, and her family said that they are going to let Shoshana take care of her own business, and talk about things as they wish. And they hope that will be the best medicine in making her readjust to her life back here in the U.S. Sophia, back to you.

CHOI: I think her family would know what's best for her. Thanks so much.

And now, let's go to Fort Hood where Susan Candiotti is standing by to tell us what's happening there. Hi, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Sophia. According to one relative of pilot Ronald Young, he called his Sunday morning, quote, "awesome." Following an Easter church service with their immediate families, both pilots Young and David Williams met privately with the first family and with Mr. Bush's parents. It was hard to tell afterwards who was more impressed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll tell you one thing about this guy, he's going to go see his children for the first time since he was captured. He hasn't even seen his children. So if you ask him questions, don't make it long because see, we're holding a dad up from hugging two children.

QUESTION: Could you tell us a bit about your meeting with the president?

CWO RONALD YOUNG, EX-POW: Yes, it was an absolute honor, sir. Absolute honor.

CWO DAVID WILLIAMS, EX-POW: We stand 100 percent behind whatever our president decides to do. We're honored to serve him, and this is definitely one of the highlights of my life, absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now on Saturday night, a rousing welcome from several hundred members of their aviation brigade here at Fort Hood. Both pilots addressed the troops thanking them for their support and asking that they pray for those still in Iraq, some 10,000 troops from here, and for those not coming home. Both pilots spent today with their families individually. David Williams along with his wife attended a big barbecue here on base. As for Ronald young, he spent the time with his family and friends. We know that last night I was told by one of the relatives that he was so exhausted after that big reception, that he went straight to bed. Both pilots are planning vacations with their families for a week at the very least. Back to you, Sophia.

CHOI: Well, deserved, indeed. Thank you so much, Susan.

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