Kerry's Vietnam Doc: Wound Accidentally Self-Inflicted

NewsMax.com ^ | 5/04/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

The Navy medic who treated Sen. John Kerry after he sustained his first battlefield wound in Vietnam said Tuesday that he thought that the injury had been inadvertently self-inflicted - raising new questions about why Kerry sought a Purple Heart after the incident.

Contacted by National Review Online, Dr. Louis Letson recalled that Kerry insisted during treatment that he was injured by enemy fire while his swift boat was patrolling the Mekong Delta on Dec. 2, 1968.

However, "some of his crew confided that they did not receive any fire from shore," the Navy doc told NRO.

Instead, his crewmen claimed that Kerry "had fired a mortar round at close range to some rocks on shore."

One crewman told Letson that he thought Kerry's injury "was caused by a fragment ricocheting from that mortar round when it struck the rocks."

Concluded Letson, "That seemed to fit the injury which I treated."

He described the top Democrat's wound as "a small piece of metal sticking very superficially in the skin of Kerry's arm.

"The metal fragment measured about 1 cm. in length and was about 2 or 3 mm in diameter. It certainly did not look like a round from a rifle."

Letson recalled that he "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," Dr. Letson said.

Based on the bandaid wound that was likely a result of a mortar round he fired, Kerry sought and eventually received his first Purple Heart.

[Captainpaintball]

Can anyone tell me about the supposed "shrapnel" he still has in his leg?

[martin_fierro]

Al Gore angling for a Purple Heart.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Oooooops!

[Wild Irish Rogue]

"The metal fragment measured about 1 cm. in length and was about 2 or 3 mm in diameter.

"I doubt that it penetrated more than 3 or 4 mm "

The fragment was less than 1/2 inch long, 1/8 inch wide and under the skin by 1/4 inch.

Visualize an ingrown hair.

[doug from upland]

The event has already been memorialized in song -- BAND ON THE RUN

[randog]

It's obvious what needs to be done here--

1) Smear Dr. Letson, claiming he's a pawn of the GOP;
2) Express outrage that anyone could dare question the patriotism of St. Kerry;
3) Wonder aloud, "Why, oh why are we dredging up the Vietnam War? Let's move on.";
4) Discuss in detail St. Kerry's Vietnam War record.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Don't be so harsh! Maybe he couldn't tell the difference between a camera and a carbine...

[MarthaNOStewart]

It is inconceivable that anyone could be a bigger liar than Bill and Hillary, but Kerry may actually take the record once elected.
This VN fiasco called for a courtmartial and not a sivler star, more investigation is needed.

[Brimack34]

Just remember unless you were there. Do not question Kerry!

[Petronski]

Nice headline.

[GATOR NAVY]

The fragment was less than 1/2 inch long, 1/8 inch wide and under the skin by 1/4 inch.

Damn, it must have taken a real effort to keep to something like that from just falling out by itself.

[BunnySlippers]

•

[Ah Beng]

Damn, it must have taken a real effort to keep to something like that from just falling out by itself.

What I've been wondering is just how long Kerry had to carry that fragment in his pocket before he got a scratch big enough to use it in.

[ntnychik]

Max Cleland lost three limbs in a non-combat accident with an explosive. No Purple Heart for him.

[Tamzee]

It's bad enough he got out of Vietnam early based on this fraud and now is campaigning on his fake purple hearts... but it makes a mockery out of all those maimed and killed who earned them.

[SusanTK]

My kids have been hurt worse from falling off their bikes. I thought a purple heart was supposed to mean something. Like walking around with a gimpy hand like Bob Dole or something. John Queery disgusts me. Gigilo liar!

[I'm ALL Right!]

bump for truth about this lying, over-priviledged, french-looking pseudo soldier with no kahunas....

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Damn, it must have taken a real effort to keep to something like that from just falling out by itself."

Can't you just see Kerry running around, with his hand over his arm-not to apply pressure, but ,to keep the miniscule metal splinter from flying out !

[dougd]

I read in the Boston Herald about a week ago that the "shrapnel" in Kerry's leg measures about 2mm by 2mm. I don't know what their source was except to say that it was measured from x-rays.

I've been wondering what kind of shell is only 2 mm thick at best.