Kerry Purple Heart Doc Speaks Out

National Review Online ^ | May 04, 2004 | Byron York

[rwfok]

Some critics of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry have questioned the circumstances surrounding the first of three Purple Hearts Kerry won in Vietnam. Those critics, among them some of Kerry's fellow veterans, have suggested that a wound suffered by Kerry in December 1968 may have made him technically eligible for a Purple Heart but was not severe enough to warrant serious consideration, even for a decoration that was handed out by the thousands. Whatever the case, Kerry was awarded the Purple Heart, and, along with two others he won later, it allowed him to request to leave Vietnam before his tour of duty was finished.

Kerry was treated for the wound at a medical facility in Cam Ranh Bay. The doctor who treated Kerry, Louis Letson, is today a retired general practitioner in Alabama. Letson says he remembers his brief encounter with Kerry 35 years ago because "some of his crewmen related that Lt. Kerry had told them that he would be the next JFK from Massachusetts." Letson says that last year, as the Democratic campaign began to heat up, he told friends that he remembered treating one of the candidates many years ago. In response to their questions, Letson says, he wrote down his recollections of the time. (Letson says he has had no contacts with anyone from the Bush campaign or the Republican party.) What follows is Letson's memory, as he wrote it.

I have a very clear memory of an incident which occurred while I was the Medical Officer at Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay. John Kerry was a (jg), the OinC or skipper of a Swift boat, newly arrived in Vietnam. On the night of December 2, he was on patrol north of Cam Ranh, up near Nha Trang area. The next day he came to sick bay, the medical facility, for treatment of a wound that had occurred that night.

The story he told was different from what his crewmen had to say about that night. According to Kerry, they had been engaged in a fire fight, receiving small arms fire from on shore. He said that his injury resulted from this enemy action.

Some of his crew confided that they did not receive any fire from shore, but that Kerry had fired a mortar round at close range to some rocks on shore. The crewman thought that the injury was caused by a fragment ricocheting from that mortar round when it struck the rocks.

That seemed to fit the injury which I treated.

What I saw was 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.

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.

Not [sic] other injuries were reported and I do not recall that there was any reported damage to the boat.

[cricket]

"Some of his crew confided that they did not receive any fire from shore, but that Kerry had fired a mortar round at close range to some rocks on shore. The crewman thought that the injury was caused by a fragment ricocheting from that mortar round when it struck the rocks."

. . .this has a 'ring' of truth to it; vs the rather hollow; contradictions Kerry has offered.

But what amazes me, are those men who are supporting Kerry. I am wondering, are they disabled in any way; ie post traumatic stress syndrome and maybe they have not had a real job since this war. . .and now are receiving some attention and a check or two; for their help?

. . .or what?

[stylin19a]

...but that Kerry had fired a mortar round at close range to some rocks on shore. The crewman thought that the injury was caused by a fragment ricocheting from that mortar round when it struck the rocks.

if true, how goofy is Kerry ?

[netmilsmom]

Kerry will hold on until the convention when he quits and Hillary will save the day.

At that point my plan is to pitch a tent in 4mycountry's yard and secede from the Union.

Anybody with me?

[patriciamary]

Why are Kerry and Bush TIED?????

[Polybius]

It should be kept in mind that what is most important is not that Kerry got himself a Purple Heart that he did not deserve. (Purple Hearts require injury from an encounter with the enemy and "requires" the attention of a medical officer. This injury was seen by a medical officer but "required" nothing but minor First Aid.)

What is most important is that Kerry used such a bogus Purple Heart to bug out of his combat tour after only 4 months.

And, yet, the Kerry has the gall to accuse Bush of being "AWOL".

[Happy2BMe]

Here's one for ya mister . .

"Some of his crew confided that they did not receive any fire from shore, but that Kerry had fired a mortar round at close range to some rocks on shore. The crewman thought that the injury was caused by a fragment ricocheting from that mortar round when it struck the rocks."

[tiamat]

If it's true, it's damning of John Effin'

[Saundra Duffy]

That is soooo funny. Kerry is a hypocrite and full of B.S.

[swarthyguy]

Hold my chardonnay?

[small voice in the wilderness]

Goofier than most, but not as goofy as gore, staring down the barrel of his rifle. There must be some kind of stooge-god that protects the boneheads of this world. If for nothing else than the laughs they bring us.

[scott7278]

"The Truth Emerges" ping!

[bray]

Old Yaaaaawn Blood & Guts Kerry's got some splainin to do!! Release the records MR AWOL!!!

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Yaelle]

"some of his crewmen related that Lt. Kerry had told them that he would be the next JFK from Massachusetts."

Hey, a theory is bubbling to the surface here. Most likely, we can rule out as a good candidate for the Presidency anyone who plans on becoming President in his preteens. Certainly, those who brag about it should be eliminated immediately. Clinton and Kerry certainly fit the mold.

[nutmeg]

How about an all-encompassing moniker: Kerrytastrophe.

Ooo, I like that! ;-)

[Yaelle]

But will this ever see the light of day re national media???

[Lancey Howard]

Kerry's a fraud BUMP

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The wound was covered with a bandaid.

Just....damn.

[not2worry]

I haven't seen it posted anywhere, but did Kerry recently get a Purple Heart from his Botox surgeon?

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

[sauropod]

resource ping.

[Free Trapper]

Kerry's "Band-Aid Brothers".

The perfect term-you'll go down in FReeper history,AA. :)