Posted on 04/07/2003 9:40:06 AM PDT by Prince Charles
David Bloom's Last Ride
The NBC journalist's death was possibly caused by the hours he spent reporting cramped in an Army vehicle -- just another way war kills
BusinessWeek's Balfour is "embedded" in the 3rd Infantry Division
Five short lines to summarize the last day of a man who was, by all measures, in the prime of life. Already known by millions of Americans as a co-host of NBC's Weekend Today show, Bloom's live coverage of the Iraqi war gained him an even wider audience, in large part because of the "Bloom-mobile." He traveled most of the time in an armored military-recovery vehicle with a camera mounted on a gyroscope that allowed it to absorb most of the shocks and bumps en route. A microwave antenna transmitted his voice and image to the rest of the NBC crew following several miles behind which then retransmitted the feed via satellite for broadcast.
FATAL POSITION? The concept was Bloom's brainchild, and it was working brilliantly. NBC's viewers were able to follow Bloom and the 3ID as it advanced and attacked Iraq. He made his broadcasts on the move, while competitors resorted to traditional stand-ups and video clips. On the night before his death, Bloom was already planning how to celebrate his team's performance after the war. He had phoned ahead to London to try to book rooms at the Metropolitan hotel in the Mayfair district and a table at Ivy's restaurant.
Tragically, it may have been the long hours he spent cramped in the Army vehicle that caused his death. Three days ago, Bloom had complained of cramps behind his knee. Like most of us journalists "embedded" in the Army, he had endured days and nights of working, eating, and sleeping in our vehicles as convoys snaked their way toward Baghdad.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
Apparently, Bloom's career & desire to be the "big dog" were more important than his family. Darwin award nominee in my book. Pity for his wife and three (count 'em, three) young daughters.
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I doubt it was the cause. 100,000 other men are doing the exact same thing and are not dying from it. It may have exacerbated the problem but I just don't see it as the cause.
Apparently, Bloom's career & desire to be the "big dog" were more important than his family. Darwin award nominee in my book. Pity for his wife and three (count 'em, three) young daughters.
Yes, my prayers will be with the Bloom family especially his three daughters.
But, I don't think he was putting his career above his family. He volunteered like the military. He was a reporter who wanted to "be there" even if meant he would be in harm's way. I only saw a few of his reports, but he was lovin' every minute of it. In a way, he was serving his country by trying to keep us informed in "real time". And that took courage.
Mod: please nuke this duplicate thread.
Wow, now I feel doubly bad.......this didn't have to happen, and he leaves behind a wife, two nine-year olds and a three year old. Very, very sad.
No. 24-year Navy vet. Spent more than a few of them in the cockpit of an F-14 flying missions in the Persian Gulf & Arabian Sea. Vowed to, and did not, marry until Navy service completed. Family #1 priority -- could not have been while deployed around the world in the defense of our country.
Family should have been Bloom's first priority too, but was not, despite what Russert or others may have said. He wanted the danger and the glory more than he wanted to be there for his wife & children. Period.
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