Field Notes

From cheers to tears near Fort Hood

Petra Cahill — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:01:00 GMT

By Mark Potter, NBC News Correspondent

KILLEEN, Texas – On a bright sunny morning, the day after the mournful memorial service for the shooting victims at Fort Hood, the mood here seemed to lift a bit, especially in downtown Killeen.

Along a parade route that ran past stores, homes and churches, cheering residents waved American flags in celebration of Veterans Day. High school marching bands, children's groups, veterans organizations, motorcycle clubs and active Army units basked in the adoration from the crowd and stepped lively to the music and rhythms of the national holiday, which is always a major event here in the city that supports Fort Hood.

VIDEO: After days of mourning, Fort Hood celebrates

But even in this crowd, it was clear that emotions are still raw just below the surface and that the sorrowful events at the base have hit home and hit hard. Most everyone we interviewed struggled with their feelings as they explained why they wanted to attend the parade to show their support. Tears flowed and voices quavered almost every time someone was nice enough to talk with us.

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Inside one of America’s largest warships

Petra Cahill — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

By Lulu Chiang, CNBC Senior Producer

ON BOARD THE USS HARRY S.TRUMAN – Nuclear-powered and carrying up to 4,500 sailors and airmen, the USS Harry S. Truman is one of the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carriers.

Recently, I get a rare tour with a few others of the inner workings of this floating city from its Commanding Officer Capt. Clarkson, Executive Officer Capt. John Meier and Reactor Officer Capt. Kevin Hill.

On a typical day, there are at least 3,000 sailors who keep the ship humming, according to Clarkson. They operate the reactor plant, run the hotel, cook the meals, run the airport and do maintenance on all the critical equipment that allows planes to take off and land on the ship. In addition, there are about 1,500 airmen who do the maintenance on the planes and, of course, the flying.

Donald R. White Jr. / U.S. Navy

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on Nov.8.

"The ship is a neat machine. It has a lot of cool stuff, like the propulsion plant and all the stuff on the flight deck," said Clarkson. "But really, what makes this ship really special is the people."

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Signs of the sacrifices of military life

Petra Cahill — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:00 GMT

By Janet Shamlian, NBC News Correspondent KILLEEN, Texas – Having arrived in Fort Hood from another assignment with little more than the clothes on my back, I was in Wal-Mart Saturday night looking for some basics. Watching families walking together through the store, I was – I admit – feeling a little sorry for myself that I was away from my own family … until I had a chance to meet the young woman ahead of me in line. She couldn't have been much older than 20 years old and was tiny all...(read more)

In wake of attack, military bases review security

Petra Cahill — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:55:00 GMT

As the U.S. Army continues to search for answers about the Fort Hood shooting, NBC News' Mark Potter reports on how the tragedy has sparked a widespread security review of military bases. VIDEO: Military bases review security ...(read more)

Not supposed to worry about troops at home

Petra Cahill — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

By Janet Shamlian, NBC News Correspondent FORT HOOD, Texas – The city of Killeen and Fort Hood, the military base, are almost interchangeable. Everyone who lives in the community of Killeen has something to do with the military. So shooting rampage that left at 13 dead and 30 wounded has impacted not just the military installation, but an entire Texas community. Flags are flying at half staff here today. There is a very somber mood in town. And people are on heightened alert. Even at the hotel...(read more)

Hoodwinked by ‘balloon boy’

Petra Cahill — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:43:00 GMT

By Lee Cowan, NBC News correspondent FORT COLLINS, Colo. – I believed. Even though it was a head-scratcher, I somehow thought a 6-year-old boy really had stowed himself away on a flying saucer. I was as fascinated by it all, as I was embarrassed that I couldn’t turn away. And then, there was that landing, straight out of a sci-fi movie. It was "War of the Worlds" meets "Close Encounters." A muffled cheer even went up in our newsroom. It looked like it was all going to be OK. But...(read more)

New Orleanians: Obama’s visit too zippy

Petra Cahill — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:55:00 GMT

By Charles Hadlock, NBC News Producer NEW ORLEANS – President Barack Obama will be in New Orleans for less than 3 hours and 45 minutes. In this town known for its spicy gourmet food, some dinners last longer than that. Many New Orleans residents – still weary from the effects of Katrina four years on – are grateful that the presidential spotlight will shine in the city, however briefly. During his short time here, Obama will visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School. It’s the...(read more)

Not all Chicagoans 'back the bid' for 2016

Petra Cahill — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:05:00 GMT

By Leo Juarez, NBC News Producer

CHICAGO – You might think with all the star power surrounding Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics – with President Barack Obama expected to join first lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey in Copenhagen – that there would be a groundswell of support for the effort here in the Windy City.

There just might be, but that depends on which poll you believe.

This week, the Chicago 2016 bid committee trumpeted a Zogby poll showing that 72 percent of Chicagoans "back the bid" (to use the committee's slogan).

But that is a far cry from a Chicago Tribune poll released earlier this month that had locals split down the middle, with just 47 percent for the bid versus 45 percent against it.

VIDEO: Obamas, Winfrey make Olympic pitch

I did my own highly unscientific poll this week and heard arguments on both sides. Everyone agreed the president's in-person pitch could not hurt Chicago's chances, and that the games could show the world the best the city has to offer. But that publicity is not free, and concern lingers about a projected budget that already exceeds $2 billion and cost overruns that have been a staple of recent Olympic history.

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U2: coming for the music or the message?

Petra Cahill — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:26:00 GMT

By John Baiata, NBC News’ Senior Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Political activism from rock stars has a long lineage. You can trace it all the way back to George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh" in 1972, the "No Nukes" concert in New York in 1979, "LIVE AID" and "We Are the World" in the 1980's, and many more. Today such activism is ubiquitous. Concert-goers are urged to support a wide range of causes, and artists' web sites act as grass-roots organizations for a multitude of high-minded projects.

But no band – and no band leader – embodies this ideal more today than U2 and Bono. The band supports the efforts of Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and the Chernobyl Children’s Project. Bono has used his fame to put considerable pressure on countries to reduce the burden of debt on developing countries and to draw attention to the fight against AIDS in Africa with his RED project.

Evan Agostini / AP

Lead singer Bono of the rock band U2 performs with the band during their 360 world tour stop at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Thursday.

U2 was the first big band to play in Sarajevo after the Bosnian war, launched an effort to put thousands of musical instruments back in the hands of New Orleans artists after Katrina, and have been very vocal in their support of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Many of their songs over the years have drawn on socio-political events for inspiration – from the fighting in Northern Ireland to the civil war in El Salvador.

The band’s latest world tour, in support of their most recent album, "No Line on the Horizon," has drawn praise from critics. The tour’s latest stop, at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, sold out for its two nights. With 84,000 attendees per night, that’s more over 160,000 to rally to the cause(s) in just two nights. (According to U2's Web site, they broke every record for attendence in the stadium - breaking the record previously set by Pope John Paul II in 1995.) Do the math for the rest of the tour, and you begin to understand the extent of the band’s reach, and that of others with similar followings.

But what’s the real draw, the music or the message?

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Hula-hoops for peace?

Petra Cahill — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:37:00 GMT

By John Yang, NBC News Correspondent

PITTSBURGH – There are many groups protesting many things outside the G-20 summit: Iraq War veterans against the war, Tibetans against China's policies on Tibet, anarchists against just about everything. But students promoting hula-hoops?

A small band of young people marched through the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland, home of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University, gyrating their hips and carrying signs with anti-war messages: "Out of Uniform and into Hoops," "Put Down Your Arms and Pick Up Your Hoops."

A message with a grin.

SLIDESHOW: G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh

With riot police turning back hundreds of protesters trying to march on the first day of the international summit, we’ll see how the rest of the day develops. Stay tuned.

Related link: What is the G-20?

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