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January 31, 2008 4:48 PM
"This Is A Tough One"
Byron Pitts is National Correspondent for CBS News.
Carmelo Rodriguez III was a U.S. Marine. He served his country with honor in Iraq. Just like every other "Devil Dog" I've met in Iraq and elsewhere, he was proud to serve – and even prouder to be a member of "The Corps."
He was your typical fit, gung-ho Marine: 5'10 and185 pounds of muscle and moxie. He was 29 years old. When I met Sgt. Rodriguez he weighed about 77 pounds. He was dying of cancer.
That alone is enough to give anyone with a heart pause. But that's not the end and far from the beginning of the Carmelo Rodriquez story.
(CBS)
He was your typical fit, gung-ho Marine: 5'10 and185 pounds of muscle and moxie. He was 29 years old. When I met Sgt. Rodriguez he weighed about 77 pounds. He was dying of cancer.
That alone is enough to give anyone with a heart pause. But that's not the end and far from the beginning of the Carmelo Rodriquez story.
August 2, 2007 10:27 AM
Twin Cities Tragedy: "The Bottom Dropped Out"
Byron Pitts is National Correspondent for CBS News. He is in Minneapolis, covering the aftermath of the bridge collapse.
This morning as the sun came up, I met a 51-year old house painter, Berndt Toironen, who fell in his car 30 feet as the bridge simply disappeared beneath him. “The bottom dropped out,” he told me. Still a bit disoriented and still in his work clothes from the night before, he told me that if his vehicle had gone five feet further in either direction, he’d be dead. But, his car fell back at an angle and fell on the riverbank, about four feet from the river.
Once he got out, he saw dozens of people get out of their cars, and other people on the banks all jumping right in to assist and pull people to safety. When I asked him how he felt when it was happening – he said he had no idea, because “It happened too fast.” But his heart goes out to those families who lost loved ones.
I also had an interview with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. He told me it is so extremely dangerous for the divers, that they will go very very slowly and deliberately in recovering bodies – it could be 3-4 days before they get it all cleared. There is a lot of jagged, twisted debris that could entangle divers, and all the debris increases the strength of the current.
He also said that he knows the death toll will rise because the divers have seen bodies in vehicles. It’s sure to take an emotional toll on even the most hardened officers.
(GETTY)
Once he got out, he saw dozens of people get out of their cars, and other people on the banks all jumping right in to assist and pull people to safety. When I asked him how he felt when it was happening – he said he had no idea, because “It happened too fast.” But his heart goes out to those families who lost loved ones.
I also had an interview with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. He told me it is so extremely dangerous for the divers, that they will go very very slowly and deliberately in recovering bodies – it could be 3-4 days before they get it all cleared. There is a lot of jagged, twisted debris that could entangle divers, and all the debris increases the strength of the current.
He also said that he knows the death toll will rise because the divers have seen bodies in vehicles. It’s sure to take an emotional toll on even the most hardened officers.
July 23, 2007 12:43 PM 
Byron Pitts is National Correspondent for CBS News.
Is it a war?
That’s what Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson calls it. Community activist Mel Wells agrees, there is a war going on in parts of Philadelphia. Both men are lifetime residents of Philadelphia. Both love their city deeply. One has enforced the law for 43-years. The other has broken the law a few times in his youth, but has since turned his life around and leads a community service organization called One Day At A Time.
Honestly, I rolled my eyes a bit when they first compared the killings and violence in Philadelphia (406 murders in 2006, more than 200 so far in 2007) and in other American cities to a “war zone.” Too often people have thrown around phrases and words like “war zone” and “battlefield.” I’ve scene war up close and there is no mistaking what’s going on in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. War zones have a certain look. A certain feel. There’s even a smell to it.
After spending several days in Philadelphia, I must admit there are striking similarities...
Battleground: Philadelphia
(CBS)
Is it a war?
That’s what Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson calls it. Community activist Mel Wells agrees, there is a war going on in parts of Philadelphia. Both men are lifetime residents of Philadelphia. Both love their city deeply. One has enforced the law for 43-years. The other has broken the law a few times in his youth, but has since turned his life around and leads a community service organization called One Day At A Time.
Honestly, I rolled my eyes a bit when they first compared the killings and violence in Philadelphia (406 murders in 2006, more than 200 so far in 2007) and in other American cities to a “war zone.” Too often people have thrown around phrases and words like “war zone” and “battlefield.” I’ve scene war up close and there is no mistaking what’s going on in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. War zones have a certain look. A certain feel. There’s even a smell to it.
After spending several days in Philadelphia, I must admit there are striking similarities...
March 27, 2007 3:31 PM Byron Pitts is National Correspondent for CBS News.
We're supposed to ask hard questions.
I've read some of the comments/criticisms of Katie's interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards: Wow! It's good to know people watch her work so closely. We can all benefit from critiques. But my goodness, some of the comments have seemed “over the top.” One week she's “too soft.” The next week she's “too tough.”
Any journalist worth their salt is supposed to ask tough questions and make no apologies for it. It is both the great blessing and burden of a free press. Our viewers and readers expect it and deserve it. John Edwards is seeking the most powerful office in the world at a time of so much uncertainty around the world. Americans deserve to know: is he up for the job? And, God forbid, if there's a turn in his wife's health, could he still focus on the nation's business?
Like or dislike Katie Couric or her questions, they were necessary. Like or dislike John Edwards or Elizabeth Edwards or their answers, hearing and seeing their response was a worthwhile exercise.
And it seems to me, Katie wasn't simply asking questions stacked on a sheet of paper, but asking questions that she once had to ask herself as her husband battled cancer. Since the interview aired I've run into sky cabs, cabbies, housekeepers, and a host of others all talking about "Katie's interview." (Granted these aren't people who 'blog' all day, they actually work outside.) Some thought she was right on, others thought she was way off. "The Edwardses were brave." "The Edwardses are being foolish." Opinions varied to say the least. And who says there is a single right answer...
The Interview: Asking Hard Questions
(CBS)
We're supposed to ask hard questions.
I've read some of the comments/criticisms of Katie's interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards: Wow! It's good to know people watch her work so closely. We can all benefit from critiques. But my goodness, some of the comments have seemed “over the top.” One week she's “too soft.” The next week she's “too tough.”
Any journalist worth their salt is supposed to ask tough questions and make no apologies for it. It is both the great blessing and burden of a free press. Our viewers and readers expect it and deserve it. John Edwards is seeking the most powerful office in the world at a time of so much uncertainty around the world. Americans deserve to know: is he up for the job? And, God forbid, if there's a turn in his wife's health, could he still focus on the nation's business?
Like or dislike Katie Couric or her questions, they were necessary. Like or dislike John Edwards or Elizabeth Edwards or their answers, hearing and seeing their response was a worthwhile exercise.
And it seems to me, Katie wasn't simply asking questions stacked on a sheet of paper, but asking questions that she once had to ask herself as her husband battled cancer. Since the interview aired I've run into sky cabs, cabbies, housekeepers, and a host of others all talking about "Katie's interview." (Granted these aren't people who 'blog' all day, they actually work outside.) Some thought she was right on, others thought she was way off. "The Edwardses were brave." "The Edwardses are being foolish." Opinions varied to say the least. And who says there is a single right answer...
March 5, 2007 2:59 PM Byron Pitts is National Correspondent for CBS News.
After Hurricane Katrina, it's become sport to criticize FEMA and other federal agencies for what DOES NOT get done immediately after a disaster and the months that follow. Trust me, much of the criticism has been fair, but not enough attention has been paid to those who are actually doing the bulk of the heavy lighting: Faith based groups. And so that's what we attempt to do in tonight's "American Spirit" on The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Spend anytime in the Gulf Coast or any of those places hit recently by deadly tornadoes and you'll see what we saw in Lake Mack, Fl. There are countless faith-based groups around the country doing "God's work." We profiled one.
A.C.T.S. (which stands for Active Community Team Services) is a Christian non-profit organization that responds to disasters around the country. David Canther founded ACTS three years ago in Florida. He's a former pastor who decided to leave the pulpit and continue his 'faith walk' where people are in need. ACTS has about 12-thousand volunteers nationwide. Most are students from private and Christian high schools and colleges. They volunteer their time. All receive training in "disaster response."
Hours after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, ACTS hit the ground. "There were trees all over the main highways and we cut our way in," says David Canther. "Man we were determined. It was all thought the night. It took us five hours to go five miles."
"Five hours" turned into nine months. In that time ACTS served nearly 500,000 hot meals and distributed more than $23 million in donated goods.
Canther believes it's important to feed survivors' emotional needs, as well as their physical needs. His teams also brings in tents and concert stages, so people have a place to gather. A place to eat, and and share fellowship and, if need be, grieve. ACTS took note that often-times after a natural disaster (tornado, hurricane, etc) communities are left days and sometimes weeks without electricity. So kids can't listen to music or watch TV for example. ACTS brings in live music and provides games. In places where churches and houses of worship have been destroyed, ACTS puts up tents and allows for religious services...
Keeping Faith After Katrina
(CBS)
After Hurricane Katrina, it's become sport to criticize FEMA and other federal agencies for what DOES NOT get done immediately after a disaster and the months that follow. Trust me, much of the criticism has been fair, but not enough attention has been paid to those who are actually doing the bulk of the heavy lighting: Faith based groups. And so that's what we attempt to do in tonight's "American Spirit" on The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Spend anytime in the Gulf Coast or any of those places hit recently by deadly tornadoes and you'll see what we saw in Lake Mack, Fl. There are countless faith-based groups around the country doing "God's work." We profiled one.
A.C.T.S. (which stands for Active Community Team Services) is a Christian non-profit organization that responds to disasters around the country. David Canther founded ACTS three years ago in Florida. He's a former pastor who decided to leave the pulpit and continue his 'faith walk' where people are in need. ACTS has about 12-thousand volunteers nationwide. Most are students from private and Christian high schools and colleges. They volunteer their time. All receive training in "disaster response."
Hours after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, ACTS hit the ground. "There were trees all over the main highways and we cut our way in," says David Canther. "Man we were determined. It was all thought the night. It took us five hours to go five miles."
"Five hours" turned into nine months. In that time ACTS served nearly 500,000 hot meals and distributed more than $23 million in donated goods.
Canther believes it's important to feed survivors' emotional needs, as well as their physical needs. His teams also brings in tents and concert stages, so people have a place to gather. A place to eat, and and share fellowship and, if need be, grieve. ACTS took note that often-times after a natural disaster (tornado, hurricane, etc) communities are left days and sometimes weeks without electricity. So kids can't listen to music or watch TV for example. ACTS brings in live music and provides games. In places where churches and houses of worship have been destroyed, ACTS puts up tents and allows for religious services...
September 14, 2006 8:42 AM
He's taller than you think. And in better shape than most men half his age.
I've met my share of football coaches, but none like Penn State's Joe Paterno. He was even better than advertised.
We were introduced on the 50-yard line on Media Day at Penn State. I was expecting to meet a legendary and cranky old coach (based on many of the most recent press clippings on the guy). But the man I shook hands with was actually bigger than his legend and far from a cranky old coach.
His first words to me were "Nice to meet you Byron. So glad you made it home safe from the Middle East.” I thought we'd talk x's and o's... and he was more interested in world affairs and the well-being a stranger. That, it seems to me, is the less-widely-known portion of the Paterno legend. He certainly cares about the game he's coached for 56-years (41 as head coach at Penn State), but he genuinely cares more about the kids he's coached and people he's met along the way.
We were told '”Coach is on a tight schedule." We had 20 minutes for the interview and he gave us an hour. I can't remember the last time I learned more or laughed more...
A second cup of Joe
On last night’s Evening News, Byron Pitts offered a surprising and inspiring portrait of a genuine sports hero: Penn State Coach Joe Paterno. You can see the piece by clicking the monitor on the left. Late yesterday, Byron filed a few more thoughts on his encounter with Paterno. We think this Joe is worth a refill. Enjoy. – Ed.
Video: He's taller than you think. And in better shape than most men half his age.
I've met my share of football coaches, but none like Penn State's Joe Paterno. He was even better than advertised.
We were introduced on the 50-yard line on Media Day at Penn State. I was expecting to meet a legendary and cranky old coach (based on many of the most recent press clippings on the guy). But the man I shook hands with was actually bigger than his legend and far from a cranky old coach.
His first words to me were "Nice to meet you Byron. So glad you made it home safe from the Middle East.” I thought we'd talk x's and o's... and he was more interested in world affairs and the well-being a stranger. That, it seems to me, is the less-widely-known portion of the Paterno legend. He certainly cares about the game he's coached for 56-years (41 as head coach at Penn State), but he genuinely cares more about the kids he's coached and people he's met along the way.
We were told '”Coach is on a tight schedule." We had 20 minutes for the interview and he gave us an hour. I can't remember the last time I learned more or laughed more...
Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more.
