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‘Bloom Building’ honors civilian news veteran at Fort Lee
Army News Service ^ | March 26, 2004 | Jamie L. Carson

Posted on 03/27/2004 4:48:57 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl

 
‘Bloom Building’ honors civilian news veteran at Fort Lee

By Jamie L. Carson

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.

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

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:
 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: Virginia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 3rdid; army; davidbloom; fortlee; gnfi; nbcnews; tribute; warcorrespondents

1 posted on 03/27/2004 4:48:57 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
 
Mission Accomplished

 ~  ~

2 posted on 03/27/2004 4:50:06 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I won't soon forget David Bloom. I thought him a delightful young man with a great love of life.
3 posted on 03/27/2004 4:53:15 PM PST by Bahbah
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Additional Photos:
David Bloom's family members unveil a bronze plaque during the Public Affairs Office building dedication. Bloom's wife, Melanie; brother, John; and father, Harold, attended the ceremony and reception March 19.



David Bloom's family members unveil a bronze plaque during the Public Affairs Office building dedication. Bloom's wife, Melanie; brother, John; and father, Harold, attended the ceremony and reception March 19.


4 posted on 03/27/2004 4:53:21 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I remember turning on the TV that Sunday morning to await Meet the Press and saw Katie Couric and Tim Russert talking on the weekend Today show. Neither were usually there, and before the sound came up I wondered what had happened. He was a "soldiers" reporter and truly deserves being remembered in this way.
5 posted on 03/27/2004 5:51:34 PM PST by CedarDave (Election 2004: When Democrats attack, it's campaigning; when Republicans campaign, it's attacking.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
6 posted on 03/27/2004 10:25:35 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
What a wonderful tribute to David Bloom!
7 posted on 03/27/2004 11:39:03 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
8 posted on 03/28/2004 1:24:28 AM PST by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
bump
9 posted on 03/28/2004 1:30:56 AM PST by VOA
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
for lurkers/posters who've not heard of this...from the last e-mail Bloom sent
(to his wife Melanie):

"But I'll tell you, Mel, I am at peace. Here I am, supposedly at the peak of
professional success, but I could, frankly, care less. It's nothing compared to my
relationship with you and the girls and Jesus."

Earlier, Bloom, a convert to Catholicism, hinted that he would not be coming back
from Iraq. According to Joel C. Rosenberg of World magazine, on the night before
he left for Iraq he confided to the Rev. Matthew McGinness: "I'm almost afraid
to say this, but I'm ready."

excerpted from:
http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/4/17/115550
10 posted on 03/28/2004 1:40:41 AM PST by VOA
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Embedded reporters ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

11 posted on 03/28/2004 6:37:23 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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