Technically, Kimberly Dozier died — twice.
She was covering the war in Iraq for CBS News and entered a town that American troops said was safe. But, the troops said, there were signs that a group of insurgents had moved in.
Army Capt. James Alex Funkhouser pointed to a villa. “We think they moved in there,” he said to Dozier. “They could be watching us right now.”
A few moments later, a 500-pound car bomb exploded within 20 feet of Dozier, killing Funkhouser, 35; his Iraqi translator; CBS cameraman Paul Douglas, 48; and Dozier’s sound man, James Brolan, 42.
Dozier survived that Memorial Day in 2006, but her heart stopped twice. Shrapnel littered her body, half her blood poured out, both her eardrums shattered and her femoral artery in her thigh blew apart.
Two years later, Dozier, a graduate of St. Timothy’s School in Pikesville, is fully recovered. She spoke Thursday evening to about 2,000 parents and students, opening the school year at Stevenson University.
Dozier wrote a book about her experience, became an advocate for medical workers in the war and wants to return to journalism. She is also training for the Marine Corps Marathon.
“I have been told no so many times it should be emblazoned on my forehead,” she said.
“I ran into all these walls, and each time kept trying to turn it into something positive.”
She said that the students also would face people in their lives that may have good intentions but want to hold them back. When that happens, Dozier said, the students need to remember why they are doing what they are doing.
Dozier repeatedly told herself that she is a reporter because she wants to tell others’ story when they can’t speak for themselves.
Michael Correnti, a 21-year-old junior, was one of many who bought a copy of Dozier’s book, “Breathing the Fire,” and had her autograph it.
“To be honest, it’s really motivational,” Correnti said. “I appreciate everything she does.”
Stevenson President Kevin Manning presented Dozier with an honorary degree, the first the school has given since it became a university in June and changed its name from Villa Julie College.
