‘Bloom Building’ honors civilian news veteran at Fort Lee
By Jamie L. Carson
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 A wall display highlighting the late David Bloom is located in the entranceway of the Fort Lee Public Affairs Office. The display includes photos of Bloom reporting in the Iraq and quotes about Bloom from his family, friends and colleagues.
Sgt. Jorge Gomez
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FORT LEE, Va. (Army News Service March 26, 2004) -- From the comfort of their homes, millions of Americans watched the war in Iraq through the eyes of David Bloom, veteran NBC news correspondent.
Traveling on top of his creation, the "Bloom Mobile," with the 3rd Infantry Division across the Iraqi desert toward Baghdad, the former White House Correspondent was exactly where he wanted to be, at the tip of the spear.
The 39-year-old husband and father of three daughters never made it to Baghdad. Bloom died from a pulmonary embolism April 6, 2003.
Fort Lee honored the news veteran for his commitment in a March 19 ceremony, dedicating its new Public Affairs Office building as the "Bloom Building."
A Soldier's journalist, Bloom stayed on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom to accomplish his mission and broadcast the Soldier's story to the world.
"David risked his life to be with Soldiers, and he died among Soldiers, while telling the Soldier's story," said Maj. Gen. Terry E. Juskwoiak, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee commanding general.
"To recognize David Bloom with the naming of our Fort Lee Public Affairs building is perfectly fitting also because of the bonds forged with the Soldiers of the 54th Mortuary Affairs Company, 49th Quartermaster Group stationed here at Fort Lee, regrettable, however, by David's death," Juskowiak said.
Bloom's wife, Melanie, his father, Harold, and his brother, John, unveiled the bronze dedication plaque. It’s now located on the outside of the Public Affairs Office Building, near the entrance.
Frederik Balfour, another reporter embedded with the 3rd ID, wrote about the 54th Soldiers who received Bloom's body for evacuation from Iraq. In his article, he wrote about the "compassion and humanity" he witnessed while these Fort Lee Soldiers performed their duties. Three of those Soldiers, 1st Lt. Rigo Valdez, Spc. Darren Hughes and Spc. Emanuel Perez, attended the dedication.
Bloom was among more than 600 journalists, photographers and other media embedded with U.S. and British military units, and another 2,000 unilateral journalists in the region.
"David had a choice, he could have covered the war from many different places," said Craig White, Bloom's cameraman. "But for David there was only one real choice, the battlefield."
So Bloom traded the studio for the front line. “We wanted the world to see the war through the eyes of the Soldiers fighting it," White said. "It was just a matter of finding a way."
Bloom found it. He helped design a "slightly" modified M88 Tank Recovery Vehicle dubbed the "Bloom Mobile," which had a satellite-linked camera hooked up to it.
He brought journalism to a new level, said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Gallagher, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (Mech.), Fort Stewart, Ga.
Bloom and White spent most of their time with their battle buddies, Gallagher and Staff Sgt. Joe Todd, the "Bloom Mobile" tank commander.
"I think my crew and I knew a part of David that many did not," Gallagher said. "Most embedded media of his stature were what I would consider 'pampered.'" But not Bloom and White; they were a part of the crew.
When the pace slowed, Gallagher and Bloom spent time talking, sometimes late into the night. "Mostly, we talked about our families. He was trying to figure out how a Soldier willingly leaves his family to deploy in support of our nation's policies," Gallagher said. "I didn't even try to explain it ... I can't. There is no way to describe the hollowness in my heart while I am away from my family and those I love."
But Gallagher didn't have to explain it. "I know he felt that hollowness ... I saw it in his eyes," he said.
As they continued to push their way north, word came that a 3rd ID Soldier's wife had just given birth to a boy back home, Gallagher said. "Damned if David didn't think of a way for this Soldier to talk with his wife. As the combat power moved north, we had this Soldier move to our M88, got him on top, while David called the Soldier's wife in the recovery room in a hospital equipped with a TV, and Craig beamed out images of this Soldier."
The wife was able to talk on the phone while seeing her husband who was a world away on TV.
"I don't believe that anyone saw the tears in this Soldier's eyes when he thanked David," Gallagher said. "David truly cared for my Soldiers, and he had an effect on us, and unknowingly the U.S. Army."
White said he’ll never forget the last day Bloom was alive. Bloom was energized; they had just received word they were going to Baghdad. White was on the phone when out of the corner of his eye he saw that someone was down.
"It was David, and Staff Sgt. Todd was holding him,” White said. “There was nothing we could do. It was meant to be."
Despite the sadness and shock, the mission had to continue, Gallagher said. When the time came to mourn Bloom, he was honored in a traditional military ceremony with two 3rd ID Soldiers who died in support of their nation, Sgt. 1st Class John Marshall and Staff Sgt. Robert Stever. Both men died April 8, 2003. In the middle of the desert, the Soldiers somehow managed to find flowers and keep them alive in empty ammo boxes until the ceremony, Gallagher said.
"Our family will forever remember the impact these Soldiers had on David's life," John Bloom said. "I remember talking with my brother while he was in Iraq. He would tell me not to worry because he was surrounded by his other 'brothers' - the Soldiers."
The building is part of David's legacy, said John Bloom
"David will forever be remembered as a journalist who rewrote how wars are covered," John said.
Editor’s note: Jamie L. Carson is a member of the Fort Lee Public Affairs Office.Additional Photos:
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