ABC's Woodruff, Wife Talk About Injury In Iraq

BOSTON -- ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff and his wife, Lee, were in Boston Wednesday to promote their book, "In An Instant," which chronicles of their journey following his near-death injury in Iraq last year.

The Woodruffs spoke with NewsCenter 5's Natalie Jacobson about their ordeal.

Riding with an Iraqi patrol, Bob Woodruff and his crew took a hit. For the next 33 days, he remained in a coma, with part of his skull blown away. His survival was in question.

"So much of that I didn't really see. I was asleep during all that time," he said. "Part of me, obviously, there was nothing but happiness. I had the family around me, my wife around me, my kids. Also, there was a lot of guilt that I got to the point where I was able to get to and so many others that had not quite made it as fast."

Recovery has been a long, slow process.

"I think there is a lot of things that I value now, even more than I did before. You know, there is a new rule, too, that comes from my wife. She said that she doesn't want me to go back to Iraq," he said.

Bob Woodruff said that he feels lucky and that he wants to return to Iraq to find the man who helped save his life.

"Can you imagine?" Lee Woodruff said.

"One of the translators that was an Iraqi guy, a guy name Omar, actually held his finger over my neck and kept the blood from coming out. I'd love to go back and meet him back in Iraq. He is a guy that helped save my life," Bob Woodruff said. "There is something intended by what I've gone through. Certainly, one of the things is to try to help those military soldiers and Marines that have been injured in this war. They just need more help."

"We've had so many Vietnam vets come up to us and say, 'This is similar to what we were going through, and we had hoped that it had improved for this next generation of vets.' It's sad and shocking to learn that it hasn't," Lee Woodruff said.

Whether he returns to Iraq or not, he plans to rejoin ABC News, covering as much international news as he can. While the coveted anchor chair no longer is part of his future, his new mission may be his lasting journalistic legacy -- making American aware of the needs of veterans.