Credit: CNN

 

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- David Bloom, a prominent NBC News journalist who was covering the war in Iraq, died suddenly of a non-combat ailment while on duty.

 

Described as "dedicated, tenacious and talented," the 10-year NBC veteran, who was 39, was traveling with troops about 25 miles south of Baghdad when he suddenly collapsed, according to NBC spokeswoman Allison Gollust.

 

He was airlifted to a nearby field medical unit, where he was pronounced dead from a pulmonary embolism, Gollust told The Associated Press.

 

Bloom was embedded with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division near Baghdad.

 

"We have lost one of our very, very best," said Tim Russert, moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press." "He really had captivated the country" with his reporting.

 

"Today" show anchor Katie Couric said he was really "sort of the symbol of journalism in this war."

 

Bloom, a Minnesota native, would have been 40 next month.

 

Co-anchor of the weekend editions of "Today" since March 2000, Bloom, who joined NBC in 1993, covered major stories for the network, including the violence in Israel, the war on terror and recovery efforts at the recovery efforts from Ground Zero.

 

Before he became an anchor, Bloom was a White House correspondent, covering the Republican presidential race for NBC News.

 

Prior to his White House role, he was a Los Angeles-based correspondent, reporting on the Unabomber, the Freeman standoff, the war in Bosnia, Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, and the O.J. Simpson criminal and civil trials.

 

Before joining NBC, Bloom was a general assignment and investigative reporter for WTVJ, the NBC-owned television station in Miam.

 

He was a co-recipient of the 1992 George Foster Peabody Award and an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Hurricane Andrew and was awarded a 1991 Regional Emmy for investigative journalism for his report on South Florida's role in the shipment of arms to Iraq.

 

He attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, from 1981 to 1985. A native of Edina, Minnesota, Bloom and his wife, Melanie, have three daughters.

 

"In times like these, a journalist's contribution to his country is measured in terms of illustrious commitment and sacrifice," NBC Chairman and CEO Bob Wright said in a statement. "There was no one more devoted to his calling than David Bloom and for that we are both grateful and humbled."

 

Bloom was "an extraordinary man and dedicated journalist; his courage, passion, and unerring devotion to his craft was unparalleled," said NBC News president Neal Shapiro in a statement. "Over the past few weeks, we marveled as he demonstrated a tireless devotion to this story. At this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with David's family and all of our brave colleagues who remain overseas."

 

The news of Bloom's death comes on the heels of the death of the first U.S. journalist in the war, Michael Kelly. He was a Washington Post columnist and Atlantic Monthly editor-at-large. Kelly, who was embedded with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, was killed Thursday night in a Humvee accident.

Sad news and Admin that avatar sucks

great journalist.

 

 

 

too bad to see him go down.....

 

 

 

especially in a non-combat way.....

 

 

 

and this probably occurs if he is back home in the states unfortunately.

Sad news and Admin that avatar sucks

I'm sorry but you don't include a joke in a thread for a man who had tons of potential that died.

 

He was a great reporter and was a huge part of The NBC news team.

He was a great reporter and was a huge part of The NBC news team.

Im sorry i didnt mean it