The Last Report

The Last Report

I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

Revelation 14:13

David Bloom began his television career in La Crosse, Wisconsin, covering local government stories. From there it was on to a small station in Wichita, Kansas, and then on to Miami, Florida, where his coverage of Hurricane Andrew won him a local Emmy and a Peabody Award. That’s when he caught the attention of NBC News and became a correspondent, eventually covering the White House.

But in 2003 he was covering the war in Iraq, where he was imbedded with the US Third Infantry Division. In fact, in the news industry, he is remembered for creating the “Bloom Mobile,” an Army tank recovery vehicle retrofitted with live television and satellite transmission equipment so he could continuously broadcast reports as troops made their way toward Baghdad.

The general public knew David Bloom as an energetic and popular NBC News reporter. What most didn’t know was that Bloom was a family man whose faith in God had become a significant force in his life. Bloom, 39, died of a pulmonary embolism while covering the war in Iraq.

Bloom, who left a wife, Melanie, and three daughters, was a committed Christian. A friend acknowledged that it was just two years before he died that he began to allow his faith to influence his life.

Bloom’s very last report out of Iraq on April 5 was not for publication, because it was an e-mail to his wife, Melanie. The message was read at his memorial service: “I hope and pray all my guys (troops) get out of this in one piece. But 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.”

He had no idea that he would die within twenty-four hours of writing this e-mail to Melanie. He simply knew that his heart belonged to her, his daughters, and Jesus.

Take a moment to reflect on the significant and meaningful way your spouse impacts you and maybe even jot a note that can serve as a concrete reminder to your spouse of how special he or she is to you.

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

—Irish blessing