Farewell to a Colleague

This will be brief because TMM Executive Producer Marie Nelson and I will be leaving shortly to attend the memorial service for our former colleague at ABC News John ("Jack") McWethy, who covered the Pentagon for years. You may have heard that John died in a skiing accident in Boulder, where he moved following his retirement.

I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I'm glad John was doing something he loved; on the other hand, there's something that just twists me up inside -- after all the time he spent in Iraq, this is how we lost him.

It's such a cliche, but it is true that John was both a reporter's reporter and a gentleman. If you saw his coverage, you will know what I'm saying is true. He knew his stuff better than anybody. He was never rude. He never seemed to tip his hand on a story. You trusted him. And, on a personal note, when I was at the Wall Street Journal and contemplating a move to television, more specifically ABC, John was one of the people who talked to me about what it was really like (he had also been a print reporter, for U.S. News & World Report). I didn't see him often, but he was always kind and supportive when I got there. You cannot say that about everybody.

While the shark nature of broadcast television is sometimes overstated, it is definitely there. And when you find somebody who takes the time to help you, or look out for you ... or show you the ropes, you definitely remember it.

Anyway, so sorry to lose you, John. Hope there's some great hills and fresh snow wherever you are.

Marie, do you want to add anything?

I think you put it perfectly. Thanks for the offer.

See you tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. I hope you get all the chocolates you want from the person (people?) you want ...

Michel Martin

Tags: John McWethy | valentine's day

12:23 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink

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12:23 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink