When I was there, any time we stopped at Taji it was vest and kevlar 24/7. But then we were just passing through.
LANDSTUHL, Germany -- Former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw said Monday Bob Woodruff's family has "some encouraging news" about his condition.Brokaw told NBC he's spoken to Woodruff's wife, Lee. Doctors told her that Woodruff's brain swelling has gone down, he said.
The ABC "World News Tonight" co-anchor and cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously wounded by a roadside bomb Sunday in Iraq.
Brokaw said doctors told the family they had to operate to remove part of Woodruff's skull cap "to relieve some of the swelling."
Brokaw said the family has also heard from witnesses to the blast, who reported that Woodruff turned to a producer right after the blast and said, "Am I alive?" and "don't tell Lee," before crying out in pain.
Brokaw said doctors aren't sure if shrapnel pierced Woodruff's brain, but they are pulling more scraps from his neck.
Both men had surgery in Iraq and were flown to Landstuhl Air Force Base in Germany, where the commander said both men are "very seriously injured, but stable."
Col. Bryan Gamble said Woodruff and Vogt are heavily sedated. He did not specify their injuries, saying he did not have permission from family members.
ABC has said both suffered head injuries. Woodruff also has broken bones.
It's not clear how long they will remain in Germany.
Gamble said the men's body armor may have saved them from fatal wounds...