|
 |
CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK
Interview of Jodi Eppler, CH-47 Pilot
Aired March 11, 2002 - 06:31 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Fighting has also picked up in the 10th day of Operation Anaconda. A CNN crew near the front lines reports sustained bombing and missile attacks by allied aircraft. As many as 400 Afghan reinforcement troops were seen heading to the front lines. There have been no U.S. casualties in the past 24 hours.
And we want to expand now on Operation Anaconda and go live to Bagram, Afghanistan where Martin Savidge -- Martin Savidge, you're at Tent City, aren't you?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: That's right Carol. We're standing in the middle of Tent City, which is where when the soldiers are not out in the field fighting, then this is basically where they live. Operation Anaconda is still ongoing, but many of the coalition forces have come back to Bagram here because the fighting is now primarily being taking over by Afghan military forces that are being supported somewhat by coalition forces.
We're joined now by Captain Jodi Eppler. She is a CH-47 helicopter pilot. A CH-47 has been the workhorse throughout all of Operation Anaconda.
Thank you very much for talking to us this morning. I've flown that trip out there a couple of times going to the battlefield, and it is really, as a passenger, a hair-raising ride. What are the challenges as a pilot flying out there?
JODI EPPLER, U.S. ARMY: Well the biggest challenges we face, while we're flying here, is definitely the environment. We are pushing the helicopter to the edge of its capabilities, and then when we land, we're grounding out in the dust. You can't see the ground as you approach. So definitely the environment has been the biggest challenge.
SAVIDGE: And when you fly, you don't fly high up in the air to pass over the mountains. You're actually very low down in the dirt almost.
EPPLER: To keep ourselves tactically secure (ph), we fly close to the ground, nap of the earth is what it's called, and it keeps a low profile, and doesn't silhouette your helicopter, especially because it's so large for the enemy to see.
SAVIDGE: And then it's one thing to fly that route during the daytime, another thing to try to do the same route at nighttime when it's almost impossible to see.
EPPLER: It is, but with the nighttime vision goggles, it gives us the capability to see, pretty much. It adds an extra element of difficulty, but we have the equipment that allows us to complete the mission.
SAVIDGE: What about the prospect of enemy fire? That's got to be a terrible challenge.
EPPLER: It is, but as you're flying, your biggest focus is dropping off your passengers and equipment at the right spot, the right time, and you don't have time to focus on all the outside possibilities. If it happens, you deal with it, and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't.
SAVIDGE: What's the most critical time for a pilot when you're flying?
EPPLER: Probably those last 10 seconds when you're getting ready to land and you hope you've picked a spot that's level and that you can land your passengers safely.
SAVIDGE: And hopefully that somebody is not shooting at you when you do.
EPPLER: Exactly.
SAVIDGE: Well let me ask you this, what is it like as an American now being in Afghanistan being a part of an Operation Enduring Freedom?
EPPLER: It really hits home that you're actually doing something to pay back what happened to us on September 11, especially when you've got these soldiers who you're taking out and you know that their success is being done on the battlefield and they couldn't get there without our flying, and it's humbling to know that we're here to help.
SAVIDGE: You've gone from a remarkable role of sort of being stateside, obviously, September 11 and this happens, and you have an active part of, as you say, maybe payback.
EPPLER: Right.
SAVIDGE: Is it pride? Is it revenge? What motivates you?
EPPLER: It's pride and knowing that I'm here doing something that others don't have the opportunity to do. This is my way to pay my respects to those who lost their lives. It's -- some may say it's revenge, but I feel like I'm doing my part for America and what we stand for.
SAVIDGE: But you're also putting your life on the line. Do you know it? I mean do you feel -- you must feel the danger.
EPPLER: You don't think about it. You don't think of the danger. You just feel proud to be an American and proud to be out there and doing what I signed up to do when I joined the Army.
SAVIDGE: There aren't a lot of women here, that part I have noticed. What is it like for you being sort of a woman in basically a male dominated role?
EPPLER: You really don't think about it on a day-to-day basis. Everybody's got the same lack of privacy, the same lack of -- couple privacies, the big ones (ph), but you live inside your own racetrack -- or your own racecar, and you don't realize how odd it is from the outside when you're inside that car.
SAVIDGE: And should the need arise, you're ready to go on any other mission that comes your way.
EPPLER: Oh definitely, I'll be the first to sign up.
SAVIDGE: Captain, thank you very much for talking with us.
EPPLER: No problem.
SAVIDGE: We really appreciate it. It's a pleasure meeting you.
EPPLER: Nice to meet you as well. Thank you.
SAVIDGE: I wouldn't say it's always a pleasure to fly the CH-47, especially during some of that loud nap of the earth flying, but anyway, Carol, just a little bit of an idea of what it's like for the many men and women that are serving here not only in Operation Anaconda, but Operation Enduring Freedom -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Truly amazing. From your perspective, Martin, are women soldiers treated differently? Do they have problems? What's it like for them from your perspective?
SAVIDGE: Well from my perspective, and I guess mine isn't a fair one because I'm a guy. There are not a lot of women that are here, but many of them do have very critical roles, and for the most part, they are treated, I guess you could say, like "one of the guys" to a -- to a certain perspective, but they also bring a stability. The guys tend to act a little nicer, a little more polite, perhaps, when a woman is present. So I always like it when you have a coed mixture, just a friendlier war, if you can put it that way -- Carol.
COSTELLO: If there is such a thing, all right Martin Savidge, thank you very much, reporting live from Bagram, Afghanistan this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
|
|
|
|
|
