Oklahoma Senator Remembers Hussein's Capture

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Saturday marked the 5th anniversary of the day U.S. forces captured the former dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel and current Oklahoma State Senator Steve Russell played a big role in his capture.

Five years later, the day is still very vivid in the mind of Russell, Dec.13 2003. It was around that time many were questioning whether Hussein would ever be caught, but Russell said his troops never wavered.

He said he'll never forget the moment he got the call and the huge since of relief he had after hearing the man responsible for killing thousands of innocent people had been caught.

"After I hung up the receiver on my satellite receiver there, which we had kind of point to point between commanders, I had to go find a place to be alone. And I reflected on so many things, the blood, the sweat, the tears," Russell said.

Saddam Hussein was later convicted and hanged on Dec. 30, 2006.