"I am reasonably sure we didn't have an M-79," Zaladonis said. "I didn't see one. I don't remember it."
Runyon says the only weapons the trio had were an M-60 machine gun, two M-16 combat rifles, and, possibly, a .45 caliber pistol. Is he 100 percent sure there wasn't an M-79 grenade launcher in the boat?
"I wouldn't say 100 percent, but I know 100 percent certain that we didn't shoot them," replies Runyon. He does remember Kerry having trouble with his M-16. "His gun jammed or he ran out of ammunition -- I don't know which -- but he bent down to pick up the other M-16," he says.
Zaladonis, who was manning the machine gun, recalls Kerry telling him to redirect his fire to another area. "If we got return fire, I am not sure," he said. But he adds that there's one thing he does know: "I know that John got hurt." And not by shrapnel from a grenade launcher."
So here's another chink in the armor. No schrapnel from a grenade launcher, no sure return fire, but "John got hurt".
From what? How did "John get hurt"? Did he get a metal splinter from something on the boat?? What??
Inquiring minds...
Dr Letson said the schrapnel was not from a bullit but was the type that was consistent with a grenade.
But I guess that amount of research would amount to actually reading the book or listening to interviews.