| Ecstatic Texas families await released sons' homecoming 04/12/2001 By Bruce Nichols / The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON – Tilda Young screamed with happiness when she answered the phone about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and heard her son's voice: "Hey, Mom ..."
"He said he was OK," she later said as she described her conversation with Rodney Young, a cryptologic technician 3rd class, one of the 24 Navy spy plane crew members released by the Chinese after 11 days.
"He sounded great," she said.
Another call was received by the family of Lt. j.g. Ricky Payne in Pampa in the Texas Panhandle. Lt. Payne's mother, Brenda Payne, said she was able to exchange greetings with her son but could understand little else during the two-minute phone call because of a bad connection.
In the Houston suburb of Katy, Lt. Young's father, Fretitia Young, said his son spoke briefly.
"I only have a couple minutes to talk," Mr. Young quoted his son as saying. "Other guys have to use the phone. I'll see you guys soon.'"
Mr. and Mrs. Young said they don't know when they will see their son, but Mrs. Young said the yellow ribbons around the subdivision will stay up until he returns. She spoke in between hugs from neighbors who were bringing food to the two-story red brick home with the American flag out front.
She said she plans to give her son a big hug when she sees him.
Family members said they supported the government's handling of the crisis. Mr. Young said she has no reservations about her son continuing in a career she says he loves.
"We don't mind the wait," Mr. Young said. "We're OK now. I mean, the good news came, and we're just happy about it."
She said the situation was "nerve-racking the entire time, but we knew it would end. We're happy."
Explaining why relatives had maintained silence since their son's aircraft was seized by the Chinese, Mr. Young told television station KHOU that they "tried to conduct ourselves as he would have conducted himself. We understand that once he took the oath that some responsibilities went along with that. So that's why we've been handling it like we have."
The Youngs said they got a phone call with the good news from the State Department just after 5 a.m., and they later heard from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Ms. Hutchison also talked with the Lt. Payne's mother.
The lieutenant's mother, Brenda Payne, said Tuesday morning, "We're not making any comments now. We're just real happy he's getting home."
Family friend Judy Wood said the mood in Pampa was one of "relief and joy."
"We're just so happy. We've just been thanking God," she said.
Ms. Wood said many in the Panhandle community of about 20,000 have shown support for the 1993 graduate of Pampa High School.
"I think all the yellow ribbon is gone from Pampa," she said. "You'll find it on the trees, around the schools and around homes all around town. I noticed the Navy recruiting station has yellow ribbons in front."
Lt. Payne grew up in Pampa, where he sacked groceries, played middle school football and was known as a serious student through high school. Mr. Payne enrolled at Texas A&M University and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated from A&M in 1997 and began his career in the Navy.
Pampa High School assistant principal Daniel Barker said the negotiations between the United States and China have been frustrating.
"I think most of us are of the opinion we should have gone ahead and apologized to get them [crew members] home then worried about the politics of it later," Mr. Barker said.
Ms. Wood said the safety of the crew has been foremost on the minds of friends and supporters.
"I know they have been afraid to say a whole lot, but the family [wants] everyone to know that they appreciate the prayers, the concern and the support that's been shown," she said.
Free-lance writer David Stevens and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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