SwiftVets.com

[MiltonThrasher]

Found in a NY Times article on-line about Kerry's health:

A group of veterans has challenged the validity of the three Purple Hearts that Mr. Kerry received for wounds he suffered while serving on Swift boats in the Vietnam war. These critics suggested that the shrapnel that hit him in one mission was rice, not metal.

However, CT scan X-rays taken at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston document that two pieces of metal shrapnel are embedded deep in Mr. Kerry's left thigh, next to the femur, said Dr. Gerald J. Doyle, Mr. Kerry's personal physician in Boston who reviewed the X-rays at the request of this reporter, who is a physician. Doctors treating the wound in 1969 decided to leave the shrapnel in place. "One piece of shrapnel is about the size of a bullet, the other a bit smaller," Dr. Doyle said.

Mr. Kerry said, "I can't tell you I really feel it," but "it's back in here somewhere," as he slapped his thigh.
_________________
I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.

[gocars]

If he's got shrapnel anywhere it's between his ears and it impairs his ability to think properly.

gocars
101st Airborne
'Nam 67-70
U.S. Army Rangers Lead the Way!

[MiltonThrasher]

It might have been possible for someone to substitute another's
X-ray for Kerry's leg.

Would Kerry be willing to have another X-Ray taken?
_________________
I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.

[wshhml]

Seems as if it's only the word of his physician. Believe it when you see it.

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

There's a really good discussion of this, including a couple of doctors, here:
http://www2.swiftvets.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11628
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[rbshirley]

[zinfella]

I know it's impolite, to answer a question with a question, but at times, there is no alternative, for some of us. SO, in response to the topic, "Can the NY Times be trusted with this shrapnel story?", I ask, "are you serious?" I wouldn't trust the NY times with my garbage, much less an item of importance.

_________________
No whiners!

[Cali-HeyGirl]

[DevilDon]

Just a few observations:

Wouldn't a foreign object of irregular shape cause severe "shock damage" if it was traveling fast enough to reach the femur? We're talking damage to muscle here, not alot of fat in the thigh right? Would one be able to walk around with this damage? I'm thinking about 2,000 or 3,000 fps at least to penetrate this depth, probably more if the fragment were 2 mm in size, not enough kinetic energy, ESPECIALLY considering the fragment was not a bullet and would not have been aerodynamic much less tissue-penetrative.

I ran a medical transcription office, this is the office that types up the reports on medical reports for a year and I have NEVER seen reference to a wound, fragment, object or incision described as compared to an everyday object, i.e. paperclip, doorknob, missle head or submarine bow. The reference to a bullet-sized object is so vague, even knowing the relation of caliber to inches or mm doesn't convey any knowing reference to fact. (Further, how many people DO know the reference?) In today's medical malpractice environment, I'm stunned a physician might refer to a foreign object in this way.

And finally - the original NY Times report says that Mr. Kerry allowed viewing of this medical records a full 30 minutes and then pointed out that it was 10 minutes more than President Bush authorized for the viewing of his medical files. This is simply insane, Kerry was the recipient of three Purple Hearts. Does this suggest that President Bush was being "secretive" while John Kerry was being forthcoming? I would think it would take an additional time just to go over the wounds John Kerry recieved. I have one question for Mr. Kerry: When will you sign your Form 180? I'm still waiting sir.

That's the rallying cry for me. When will John Kerry sign his Form 180 and shut the SwiftVets up?

[redhawk34]

I got hit in the butt with a piece of mortar frag, about 1cmx5mx5mm (it's on my keyring) in early '69. Entered at the right side, travelled about 4", ending up near the midline by the tailbone, just under the skin, and was surgically removed at Bn. aid.
I was returned to base camp on two weeks of "light duty", although I voluntarily returned to my boat in a few days.
There is no way the Docs would have left in a frag "the size of a bullet" and immediately returned Kerry to full duty.
Redhawk

[Hondo]

zinfella:

Of course you should trust the NYT with your garbage.
The garbage will feel at home there, next to its kin.
_________________
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse."
-- John Stuart Mill

[BigAl533]

[Co-Van]

Would the amount of shrapnel claimed by Kerry set off metal detectors during routine airport security screens? (On the other hand, perhaps his excellency doesn't have to lower himself to being screened by peasants. A habitual Kerry "Do you know who I am?" response may enable him to bypass such inconveniences.)

[zinfella]

[MiltonThrasher]

The photos of Kerry during his testimony to the Fullbright Commission
show him with a long protruding lower jaw that seemed larger than his jaw is now.

Is it possible that Kerry is so vain that he does not want it
known that he had cosmetic surgery? Some have suggested that he
had it done by VA doctors and this might be in his records. That may
be why he won't release his records with a Form 180.
_________________
I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.