February 11, 2009 6:49 PM

ABC's Woodruff, Vogt Back In U.S.

(CBS/AP)  ABC News co-anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt arrived in the United States Tuesday, where they will receive further treatment for their injuries from a bomb blast in Iraq.

Woodruff and Vogt were flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, on a military plane from Germany. The two men were to be taken to the brain injury center of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Woodruff's brother said the "World News Tonight" co-anchor's condition "improved markedly" overnight, and a doctor said the prognosis for both injured men was "excellent."

A C-17 medical evacuation plane took off from the U.S. base at Ramstein on Tuesday afternoon carrying the two journalists and 28 U.S. service personnel, including several others hurt in Iraq.

Members of the 86th Air Medical Evacuation Squadron, based in Ramstein, would tend to the patients in the air, U.S. military spokeswoman Erin Zagursky said. Relatives of the men were traveling home on commercial flights, she said.

David Woodruff told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that his brother's condition "improved markedly over the night. He looks much better than he looked the day before."

"His signs are great, probably as good as can be expected at this stage," he said. "We're all so encouraged."

A neurosurgeon at military hospital said Woodruff, who suffered head injuries and broken bones, again moved his arms and legs and opened his eyes Tuesday morning.

"He's making progress," Col. Pete Sorini said. "I believe Doug's and Bob's prognosis is excellent."

Doctors in Maryland will try to take Bob Woodruff off a breathing machine, Sorini said.

ABC News President David Westin issued a statement Tuesday saying Vogt was talking with others but Bob Woodruff "continues to be heavily sedated and may be for a time."


© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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