Injured ABC journalists arrive at Md. hospital

updated 7:50 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2006

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Wounded ABC anchorman Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt arrived in the United States on Tuesday for treatment at a Navy hospital.

They were airlifted from the U.S. military base in Ramstein, Germany.

They were among 30 patients on a C-17 military evacuation plane that arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. Woodruff, Vogt and three other patients were put on a bus for National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. The other patients were taken to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

At Bethesda, Woodruff and Vogt are expected to receive treatment for the head wounds and other serious injuries they suffered Sunday in a roadside bombing in Iraq. The Navy medical center has specialized equipment that can treat penetrating head wounds, according to hospital spokeswoman Ellen Maurer.

Jeffrey Schneider, vice president of ABC News, said outside the hospital that the network considered but rejected the idea of sending Woodruff and Vogt to a private hospital.

“We talked to all the military people and determined that this is the best place in the world to treat those kind of injuries,” he said. Schneider added that ABC is paying for its employees’ treatment. “The cost will not fall on the American taxpayer,” he said.

‘Excellent’ prognosis
Doctors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany who treated Vogt, 46, and Woodruff, 44, after they were flown from Iraq said the conditions of both were improving. Army Reserve Col. Pete Sorini said the prognosis for both journalists was “excellent.”

David Woodruff said Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that his brother’s condition was “markedly” better Tuesday morning.

The co-anchor of ABC’s “World News Tonight” also suffered some broken bones and injuries to the side of his face in the blast. Doctors told the family that Bob Woodruff’s recovery would be more of a “marathon” than a “sprint,” his brother said.

“At this point it would be too early to say what the end situation will be with him,” David Woodruff said. “But we’re all so encouraged.”

Vogt and Woodruff were wounded as they filmed a report from the hatch of the Iraqi vehicle Both were wearing body armor and helmets.

The National Naval Medical Center or Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the first American stop for most soldiers, sailors and Marines wounded in Iraq.

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