The Hidden Costs of War

“Fighting for Life,” a documentary by two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Terry Sanders, is a portrait of American military medicine. The film tells the story of USU and shows students at the University on their journeys towards becoming military physicians and nurses.

The gripping documentary uses compelling footage, including images from the current conflicts in Iraq as well as interviews with current USU students, to illustrate U.S. Military medical personnel’s dedication to providing the best possible care for those in harm’s way both on and off the battlefield.

On January 29, 2006, Woodruff and Canadian cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously injured in an explosion from an improvised explosive device near Taji, Iraq, about 12 miles (19 km) north of Baghdad.[1] Woodruff had traveled with an ABC News team to Israel to report on the aftermath of the 2006 Palestinian elections, and then via Amman to Baghdad, so he could meet with troops before President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address for 2006.[2]

At the time of the attack, they were embedded with the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, travelling in an Iraqi MT-LB. Woodruff and Vogt were standing with their heads above a hatch, apparently filming a stand-up. Both men were wearing body armor and protective helmets at the time. Woodruff sustained shrapnel wounds; Vogt was struck by shrapnel in the head and suffered a broken shoulder. Both men underwent surgery for head injuries, with a joint Army & Air Force neurosurgical team, at the U.S. Air Force hospital south of Balad, located in Camp Anaconda, and were reported to be in stable condition.[3] Tom Brokaw reported on the Today show that Woodruff had also undergone surgery, with a portion of his skull being removed to reduce the damage from brain swelling.[4]

Woodruff and Vogt were evacuated to the United States Army Medical Command hospital at Landstuhl, Germany overnight on Sunday, January 29.[5] On ABC World News Tonight that evening, anchor Elizabeth Vargas talked about the dangers of reporting in a combat zone and wished Woodruff and Vogt well in recovery.

Wikinews has related news: Bob Woodruff injured by improvised explosive device in Iraq
After leaving Germany, Woodruff was treated for weeks at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Despite the removal of part of his skull, his friend and colleague Martha Raddatz reported that he was not believed to have suffered major disfigurement.[6]

[edit] Recovery from injuries
Woodruff was kept in a medically-induced coma for several weeks to assist his recovery, and ABC News temporarily assigned Good Morning America anchors Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer to alternate duties on the evening newscast as co-anchor with Vargas. Vogt meanwhile was reported to be awake, mobile, and recovering.[7]

As of March 7, 2006, Woodruff’s brother reported that the ABC anchor was beginning to walk, recognize friends and family, and speak in several languages. However, he struggled with expressive aphasia for more than a year after the injury.[8] Woodruff was transferred on March 16, 2006 to a medical facility closer to his Westchester County, New York home, a sign of “continued progress in all respects,” ABC News President David Westin said in an e-mail to ABC staffers.[9] Westin’s email noted that Woodruff was able to get around, talk to and joke with his family, but that “months of further recuperation” were still required.

On April 6, 2006, ABC News released photos of Woodruff recovering at home, along with a letter thanking everyone for their support and kindness during his ongoing recovery. He especially thanked the soldiers, doctors, and nurses who had saved his life. [3]

On December 29, 2006, Woodruff’s wife, Lee, an editor at Family Fun Magazine appeared on Good Morning America to discuss family activities to celebrate the New Year. During the report, anchor Kate Snow asked Lee about her husband’s condition. Lee said that Bob was doing well and was currently filming a television documentary about his experiences. She also revealed that he had been back to Iraq since the incident to visit the soldiers with whom he was traveling at the time of his injury.