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CNN Live Sunday
Reservists' Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Aired May 25, 2003 - 18:31 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: While America remembers those who have fought its wars this holiday weekend, many families of reservists in the Iraq war are struggling to make ends meet.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa profiles one household.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Juggling two little kids is hard enough without picking up one more from school and even another leaving Shannon Smith all alone with four small kids while her husband is in the reserves fighting the war in Iraq.
SHANNON SMITH, RESERVIST'S WIFE: I said well Tom can't go. I said he's got four kids and me. I said he can't go. I'll run him over with a car if I have to. He's not going.
HINOJOSA: They said their goodbyes but then on top of fear for Tom's life another huge concern.
PATRICK SMITH, RESERVIST'S FATHER: It's the true untold story because they're reservists.
HINOJOSA: The untold story of how a family of five must now make do on a reservist's salary.
S. SMITH: So do you want half of this one?
HINOJOSA: Eight hundred dollars a month less than Tom's regular paycheck as a correction's officer.
PATRICK SMITH: Does the military want their soldiers on welfare and food stamps?
HINOJOSA: That's what Shannon is on now. One hundred and fifty dollars and that's for you and your four kids?
S. SMITH: Me and the four kids.
HINOJOSA: With no health insurance for herself and now Medicaid for the kids, the only way to get welfare, Shannon was told, was to divorce her husband or become a widow.
S. SMITH: It's great that he wants to fight for this country because he cares about this country and, you know, I'm so proud of him for doing that but then again it's like well he's so busy - they get him so busy taking care of this country, you know, he can't take care of his kids.
HINOJOSA: So, the grandparents have stretched their own resources providing room for five more in a house meant for two.
PATTY SMITH, RESERVIST'S STEPMOTHER: If they're going to use our men for this kind of thing they should make sure their families are OK.
HINOJOSA: A phone call from daddy in the war zone.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Hi, daddy.
HINOJOSA: And a quick second to say hello to his son.
PATRICK SMITH: I sent you a letter the other day.
HINOJOSA: But their pride in their soldier son is mixed with frustration that dad is needed her at home.
PATRICK SMITH: There's nothing, there's not even a safety net. The safety net is only created by the people around him. If it wasn't for that, I think there would be a lot of homeless people. That's pretty sad to say that somebody in the service his family would be homeless because they're overseas.
HINOJOSA: So, all Shannon Smith and her four kids have are grandma and grandpa's kindness, food stamps, and a long wait for dad to finish his year of duty.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 May 25, 2003 - 18:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: While America remembers those who have fought its wars this holiday weekend, many families of reservists in the Iraq war are struggling to make ends meet.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa profiles one household.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Juggling two little kids is hard enough without picking up one more from school and even another leaving Shannon Smith all alone with four small kids while her husband is in the reserves fighting the war in Iraq.
SHANNON SMITH, RESERVIST'S WIFE: I said well Tom can't go. I said he's got four kids and me. I said he can't go. I'll run him over with a car if I have to. He's not going.
HINOJOSA: They said their goodbyes but then on top of fear for Tom's life another huge concern.
PATRICK SMITH, RESERVIST'S FATHER: It's the true untold story because they're reservists.
HINOJOSA: The untold story of how a family of five must now make do on a reservist's salary.
S. SMITH: So do you want half of this one?
HINOJOSA: Eight hundred dollars a month less than Tom's regular paycheck as a correction's officer.
PATRICK SMITH: Does the military want their soldiers on welfare and food stamps?
HINOJOSA: That's what Shannon is on now. One hundred and fifty dollars and that's for you and your four kids?
S. SMITH: Me and the four kids.
HINOJOSA: With no health insurance for herself and now Medicaid for the kids, the only way to get welfare, Shannon was told, was to divorce her husband or become a widow.
S. SMITH: It's great that he wants to fight for this country because he cares about this country and, you know, I'm so proud of him for doing that but then again it's like well he's so busy - they get him so busy taking care of this country, you know, he can't take care of his kids.
HINOJOSA: So, the grandparents have stretched their own resources providing room for five more in a house meant for two.
PATTY SMITH, RESERVIST'S STEPMOTHER: If they're going to use our men for this kind of thing they should make sure their families are OK.
HINOJOSA: A phone call from daddy in the war zone.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Hi, daddy.
HINOJOSA: And a quick second to say hello to his son.
PATRICK SMITH: I sent you a letter the other day.
HINOJOSA: But their pride in their soldier son is mixed with frustration that dad is needed her at home.
PATRICK SMITH: There's nothing, there's not even a safety net. The safety net is only created by the people around him. If it wasn't for that, I think there would be a lot of homeless people. That's pretty sad to say that somebody in the service his family would be homeless because they're overseas.
HINOJOSA: So, all Shannon Smith and her four kids have are grandma and grandpa's kindness, food stamps, and a long wait for dad to finish his year of duty.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
