Niles couple keeps a vigil

By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A tattered American flag decorates the front porch of a Niles couple awaiting word on their son who, along with 23 other Americans, is being held in China.
James and Susan Coursen sit by the telephone inside their Warren Avenue home, hoping for good news. Shawn Coursen, 28, was one of the U.S. military personnel on board the surveillance plane that was forced to land Sunday at a Chinese military base after a midair collision with a Chinese fighter jet.
The flag on the porch was the one placed on Mrs. Coursen's father's coffin at his funeral. She never knew her father, who died before she was born, but hangs the flag for holidays and other occasions.
American diplomats who met with the crew Tuesday afternoon said they are in good health but didn't indicate when they might be released.
A telephone network has been set up in Japan among the families of the 24 Americans to keep one another informed of any developments. Mrs. Coursen was checking with the network to keep tabs on the progress.
"The time difference has really been a problem," Mrs. Coursen said.
Contacted by press: In the meantime, the couple was fielding calls from area news media.
The Coursens traveled to Cleveland early Tuesday and appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"We thought if we went on 'Good Morning America' that would be enough and everyone else would stop calling," she said.
The early-morning television appearance, stress and several telephone calls contributed to a lack of sleep for the pair.
Notified Monday: They received a call at their home about 8 a.m. Monday from a Navy official, telling them their son was aboard the plane and that all on board were reported to be safe.
Shawn Coursen, a graduate of Valdosta, Ga., High School, is a code decipherer for the Navy and has high security clearance. He joined the Navy 11 years ago.
Shawn lives in northern Japan with his wife and their 5-year-old daughter. Mrs. Coursen said the Navy initially called their daughter-in-law with news of the plane being held in China.
Their daughter-in-law, who is Japanese, had difficulty understanding the Navy official and asked him to notify the Coursens.
Shawn Coursen never lived in the Mahoning Valley. His parents returned to the area nine years ago from Georgia. Coursen is a Warren native and Mrs. Coursen is from Niles.