CBS News marks six years since Memorial Day deaths in Baghdad

(CBS) On May 29, CBS News marks the sixth anniversary of the deaths of cameraman Paul Douglas and soundman James Brolan in Baghdad. On Memorial Day 2006, Paul, James and Kimberly Dozier were shooting for the "CBS Evening News." They were on patrol with the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division when a car bomb exploded. Kimberly was seriously wounded. In addition to Paul and James, a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi translator lost their lives.

Paul and James believed truth was something worth fighting for. They wielded their camera and microphone like a searchlight in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, the Balkans and countless other places where victims of war and oppression cried out.

Today, we hold them and their families in our thoughts.

Since the loss of George Polk in 1948, 13 of our CBS News colleagues have given their lives in the line of duty. Paul and James were two among the 150 journalists killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2003, according to numbers kept by the non-profit Committee to Protect Journalists.

Scott Pelley

Scott Pelley, one of the most experienced and awarded journalists today, has been reporting stories for 60 Minutes since 2004. The 2024-25 season is his 21st on the broadcast. Scott has won half of all major awards earned by 60 Minutes during his tenure at the venerable CBS newsmagazine.