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Father: POW son a quiet family man
(CNN) -- The father of a U.S. Army helicopter pilot captured and held by Iraqi soldiers as a POW described his son Tuesday as a quiet family man who appeared in good spirits when shown on Iraq TV. Chief Warrant Officer David S. Williams, 30, crew member of a downed Apache helicopter gunship, was seen on Iraqi TV Monday with fellow POW and Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D. Young Jr., 26, of Lithia Springs, Georgia. Both appeared to be unharmed. Williams and Young belong to the 1st Battalion of the 227 Aviation Regiment, based at Fort Hood, Texas, as part of the 1st Cavalry Division. They were two of at least seven U.S. soldiers taken prisoner this week by the Iraqi military. "Well he seemed to be in good spirits," said Williams' father, David Sr., on CNN's "American Morning." "And you know, I'm sure he doesn't like being there. But I'm sure, you know, the situation, he'll make the best of it." Williams said his son and his daughter-in-law -- also a military pilot -- are the parents of a boy and a girl -- Jason, 2, and Madison, 5 months. Williams said his son is very close to his children and his son's wife is, "considering the situation, doing just fine." The Orlando Sentinel reported Williams has an address in Orlando, Florida, according to local records. A neighbor, Claudia Heise, was quoted by the newspaper as saying she had seen Williams' sister, Teresa Sanders, crying earlier Monday. "At a time like this you just hurt," Heise told the Sentinel. "You want to jump in and hide in a closet. I'm sure that's how she feels right now." "She's hurting so much she doesn't want to talk." Williams has been in the military for 12 years, according to the paper, and grew up in southeastern Virginia, graduating high school from Chesapeake's Great Bridge High School in 1991, The Associated Press reported. Principal Carolyn Bernard told the AP students there plan to include Williams in a school display expressing support for U.S. troops. Williams' father said his son played football as a boy and was "more on the quiet side." "He likes to observe," he said. "I'm sure he will be kept safe because the world knows that they have him." As for himself, Williams said the situation is very difficult, adding he feels confidence he has "enough support, through friends and family and through God ... that I'll be able to make it along with our families." Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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