CBS News The Carmelo Rodriguez Story
Byron Pitts, Correspondent; Rodney Comrie, Producer; Betty Chin, Producer; Mike Mayberry, Editor; Kim Godwin, Senior Producer; Rick Kaplan, Executive Producer

The challenge of this story was unique and troubling because the man at its center, soldier Carmelo Rodriguez, died as the reporting team prepared to interview him. In stark terms, the journalists work revealed that the startling truth of Rodriguezs death is that active duty personnel have no standing to sue the government for injury or death. Rodriguez was a Marine sergeant serving his country in Iraq when he was misdiagnosed by a military doctor. By the time his skin cancer was discovered, it was too late to save his life. It was never possible, however, for Rodriguez or his family to be compensated for the loss. (less info)