Kerry's Latest Vietnam Troubles

Opinion Journal ^ | 5/5/04 | James Taranto

[pookie18]

"A group of former officers who commanded John F. Kerry in Vietnam more than three decades ago declared yesterday that they oppose his candidacy for president, challenged him to release more of his military and medical records, and said Kerry should be denied the White House because of his 1971 allegations that some superiors had committed 'war crimes,' " the Boston Globe reports from Washington:

''I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief," said retired Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann, who helped organize the news conference and oversaw all of the swift boats in Vietnam at the time Kerry commanded one of those crafts. ''This is not a political issue; it is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust--all absolute tenets of command." . . .

The senator's campaign has long weathered criticism from some Vietnam veterans over Kerry's actions in Vietnam and as an antiwar leader, but yesterday's event was unprecedented because it included nearly all of his commanding officers.

[BillyCrockett]

Well, well, Here is this story again. Keep it up. Maybe the major networks will have to cover this story eventually.

[AFPhys]

I simply removed the piece of metal by lifting it out of the skin with forceps. I doubt that it penetrated more than 3 or 4 mm. It did not require probing to find it, did not require any anesthesia to remove it, and did not require any sutures to close the wound.

The wound was covered with a bandaid.

Say it ain't true, John!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When you figure Kerry was being wounded in viet Nam at the rate of once every 27 days, he's lucky they got him out alive.

[MEG33]

Don't forget the Bacitracin!

[Republicus2001]

does anyone know if Kerry was in Nam?

[R. Scott]

''This is not a political issue; it is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust--all absolute tenets of command.".

But for some, “judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust” are no more important than character.
Oh, yea … they define character.

[RolandBurnam]

he would need 10,000 paper cuts to bleed to death.

[Tallguy]

In the words of the immortal Billy Jeff Clinton, "Better put some ice on that..."

[DJtex]

Even if the media refuse to cover it now, this letter is very bad news for J. F'ing Kerry. It will be a counterweight to the war story that Kerry wants to run on. Face it, he has nothing else--no legislative victories, no current economic plan, no executive abilities.

From now on, when Kerry touts his war experience and his Band of Brothers, this will haunt him.

[sgtbono2002]

Kinda makes you wonder what kept it in the wound doesnt it? Seems like anyone with good sense would have brushed at it and knocked it out , or picked it out himself. Maybe he put it in the wound himself. Just doesnt make sense to me how it stayed there or why Kerry let it stay there. Well then again ,if you look at it in the light of going home after three of these wounds , maybe it does make sense.

[hobson]

Kinda makes you wonder what kept it in the wound doesnt it?

Good point. For most people it would be a reflex reaction to brush foreign objects from the body. I guess he had to protect it so it wouldn't fall out.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[KarlInOhio]

2-3 mm in diameter, 10 mm long, 3-4 mm penetrated. How did it stay in? If I had a half inch long piece of metal shoved an eighth inch into my skin like that, I would have pulled it out myself right away.

[onedoug]

BUMP!

[tiamat]

Three strikes and he's out.

He needed it documented, which is why he took it to the doc.

[ladtx]

does anyone know if Kerry was in Nam?

Wouldn't know. You would think he would talk about it if he was.

[Qwinn]

"If I had a half inch long piece of metal shoved an eighth inch into my skin like that, I would have pulled it out myself right away."

Heh, agreed. Does seem odd, doesn't it? I initally wondered if he -put it back in- before going into the Doc's office, but discarded that idea. The wound was so shallow and insignificant it would have probably healed over within minutes of pulling out the metal. That's how sad this whole thing is.

Qwinn

[camas]

could it be you are honest. not looking for an easy out???

[thackney]

If you combine the commander's statement with the doctor's statement, it looks that way.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1129870/posts?page=59#59