Man upset over injuries to ABC workers

Former U.S. Marine Hansen Ahasteen plans to give his combat ribbons, that he earned in Vietnam, to television journalist Bob Woodrow and camera operator Doug Vogt who were recently wounded while embedded with the Army in Iraq. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — A recent explosion in Iraq that injured two ABC news employees hit one local man particularly hard.

Hansen Ahasteen, 59, said he cried when he heard that ABC co-anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were injured Sunday when the armored vehicle they were riding in ran over a homemade bomb.

The Vietnam veteran said he wakes up with ABC news every morning.

"I'm an addict," he said.

Woodruff, Ahasteen said, "went in (to Iraq) like we did (in Vietnam)."

"I know they got paid," Ahasteen said, "but they could have been in the back; but they were up front."

This Navajo veteran and big fan of ABC news then decided to give something to his favorite reporter and cameraman.

"I had a crazy idea," he said.

He held up a green uniform, with colorful ribbons and a name badge pinned neatly on the left side.

"I don't never throw this out," he said.

Because of Woodruff's and Vogt's courage, Ahasteen wants to donate the combat action ribbons he received in Vietnam to the pair, along with a Code Talker Pendleton blanket.

He said he already has one blanket to give and will soon buy another.

When asked why he chose Woodruff and Vogt to honor in this way, Ahasteen said it was a good gesture for the two people who lived.

"It's part of my healing process," he said. "I have survivor's guilt."

Ahasteen suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ahasteen hopes to give his gifts in person and plans to call Sen. John McCain for help.

Cathy Levine, spokesperson for ABC, said Woodruff and Vogt are recovering in Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

"They're being treated and we continue to receive positive reports," she said.

The network has received 15,000 messages on its website along with cards, letters, emails, and flowers.

"We're putting it all together to send to their families," she said.