Kerry has shrapnel in left thigh from Vietnam War injury

AP ^ | 4/24/4 | NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

[SF Republican]

John Kerry has a piece of shrapnel in his left thigh from an injury he suffered in the Vietnam War, his doctor said Friday during a review of 36 pages of the Democratic presidential candidate's military medical records.

[steveegg]

> Kerry's three Purple Hearts and show that he suffered from
> respiratory ailments, a skin rash and a minor urinary tract
> infection during his four years in the Navy

SKIN RASH? PURPLE HEART? SERIOUSLY

Smoking (both legal and illegal cigarettes) and over-enthusiastic liberty will do that to a guy :-)

And what about 4 years in the navy - that almost certainly confirms he was a member of the US Navy while he protested against this country and coordinated with the North Vietnamese Communists in France!

Two possible explanations:

• "Hey, it was the '60s. Get over it."
• "Hey, we're the media. We don't have to get it right."

[Destro]

In another document, then Ensign Kerry asks for a transfer to swiftboat command after a stint on the USS Gridley. "I consider the opportunity to serve in Vietnam an extremely important part of being in the armed forces and believe that my request is in the best interests of the Navy," Kerry wrote.

What disgusts me is we can beat Kerry on the issues but because some here feel an inferiority complex with the lack of a war record of their candidate they pathologically assault the war record of the other candidate.

[kilowhskey]

How can you make such a ridiculous assertion? I have friends who were in the Air Force on Okinawa. Did they not serve? I have other friends who defended Philadelphia at surrounding Nike missle bases. Did they not serve? How about the grunts in Germany defending the Fulda Gap. Did they not serve? While you ponder your reply, why don't you show us a copy of your DD214? I thought so. YOU DID NOT SERVE!

[Destro]

No problem questioning Kerry's record - but you don't seem to question Bush's limited service or Cheney's lack of one?? That is why this issue is stupid for Republicans to focus on.

[Conservababe]

Kerry is running on his war record. He brings it up and he is getting response. If Kerry was to shut his mouth of it, it would not be an issue.

[rwfromkansas]

"Doyle noted that if the shrapnel had hit Kerry in the eye, it could have blinded him."

Probably would have cut off his weiner also if it hit down there.

So what? It didn't hit him in the eye; that is not pertinent.

[Destro]

So counter Kerry by highlighting the superiority of Bush's war record -- oh wait we can't - so we go negative because we have no positive to highlight.

[The Green Goblin]

With that said - trust but verify in mind - is this a conservative website or a lefty one? Are we making fun of a soldier's service? Not post service record - but during his service? Is not the Republican party the party of duty and honor? Should we not uphold that creed even of the Democrats do not? Salute Kerry's war record and pick apart his Senatorial record. This is beneath us.

This forum is filled with people who have no class and no honor. Were you under the impression that these people had better morals than the Democrats? Think again; this thread clearly demonstrates that all of them will sh!t on Viet Nam veterans when it serves their crass political purposes.

[Conservababe]

Look, dude, Bush was trained as a pilot. Do you think that was cheap for the military? He was in more of a possible position to be called up for Nam than the whiner Kerry who asked for a deferrement to study in France, and was denied.

You want heroes, talk to Bush.

[Reactionary]

"What disgusts me is we can beat Kerry on the issues but because some here feel an inferiority complex with the lack of a war record of their candidate they pathologically assault the war record of the other candidate."

Liberals started this. They not only said that Bush was AWOL, they demanded he release all of his records to prove that he actually fulfilled his duties in the National Guard.

Remember Bob Dole? They didn't care one whit about his injuries. They said that it didn't matter if one served in the miltary or bugged out as a "conscientious objector." They made fun of the fact that he had an injured arm - and Dole's injuries are obviously more serious than anything Kerry's had.

[Chad Fairbanks]

The proper authorities reviewd and awarded the purple hearts.

Actually, we don't know that. Can't find anything on his first one...

[Reactionary]

"Think again; this thread clearly demonstrates that all of them will sh!t on Viet Nam veterans when it serves their crass political purposes."

Funny, I think Kerry did quite a lot of "sh!tting" on Vietnam veterans all on his own. He not only called them murderers and rapists, he said that they killed civilians routinely.

If his "service" qualifies him for respect, I've yet to see any other aspect of his personality that deserves it.

[Chad Fairbanks]

At least he SERVED. Bush did not. I am not a Kerry fan, but this is ridiculous.

No, YOU are ridiculous - Bush served also. In fact, I'm not certain who was more in danger - Kerry in the Swifts, or Bush in the flying coffins...

Get over yourself.

[Destro]

So they started the mud and we will wallow in it. I joined the Republican party because it is not the Democratic party. I guess I was wrong. The Republicans are just the other side of the same coin. When I get the time I will file an independent party affiliation. Conservative but independent. I will let you all become Clintonian Republicans.

[Conservababe]

This forum is filled with people who have no class and no honor. Were you under the impression that these people had better morals than the Democrats? Think again; this thread clearly demonstrates that all of them will sh!t on Viet Nam veterans when it serves their crass political purposes.

My brother served a full year in Nam. How dare you to tell me that I spit on vets for political reasons. I think Kerry is a political hack that got a good deal because of his connections. And I loathe him for it, dude. And I don't think he should be our President because he brings up his patriotic duty to his country in the same breath as he ignores his trashing his band of brothers when he came home.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

YOU got it baby. The rest are not worth responding to.

[The Green Goblin]

If his "service" qualifies him for respect, I've yet to see any other aspect of his personality that deserves it.

In a few years, people around here will probably be mocking the wounds and service of soldiers serving in the present war, when those soldiers have politcal views which difer from those of the peanut gallery.

[steveegg]

> "Hey GI, you got money?"

You be # onnne

And once she got to know the most-(in)famous Vietnam Vet,...

"You be # ten."

[Destro]

Yup.

[The Green Goblin]

My brother served a full year in Nam. How dare you to tell me that I spit on vets for political reasons.

By mocking the injuries of a veteran who received them in the service of his country, you show yourself to be a woman of dishonor, who places crass political opportunism above nobility,wisdom and prudence.