John Kerry: War wounds

[scottcsmith]

Right-wingers have latched onto Kerry's military record and have made a lot of noise about how quickly he returned to active duty after being wounded in action. Apparently the right-wing have never heard of, nor seen, a movie made by the Department of Defense and the Walter Reed hospital in 1967, called "Army medicine in Vietnam." (Presumably all services used the information from this movie). The 27-minute film was only for medical personnel.

In one gruesome segment, a soldier is shown with a huge gash on his cheek; the wound itself is quite deep. But, the movie tells us, thanks to advances in battlefield treatment, the soldier will be back on the front lines in a week.

Right-wingers have said much about Kerry's wounds and how quickly he returned to active duty. Given the existence of the DOD movie, and the fact that military doctors and corpsmen on the ground would have been trained with the advances in battlefield medicine and treatment, the fact that Kerry returned to duty after a day or two does not mean his wounds were superficial. If a soldier with a huge, deep gash on his cheek can return to the front lines in a week, then it would make sense that Kerry was able to return to duty so quickly after being treated for his wounds. That was the whole point of "Army Medicine in Vietnam." Tend to the wounds and get the injured soldier/sailor/airman/marine back to the front lines as quickly as possible.

I'm not sure if any copies of this movie remain in circulation, but I think it would be something the media would be interested in seeing, and hopefully in doing so, will end the wild speculation about Kerry's injuries.

[girl gone mad]

1. I think Kerry...

has himself stated that he was lucky and his injuries weren't bad. "Walking wounded", IIRC.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. I'd love to see the RW take this line of attack

It would demoralize their base, and disgust everyone else.

[sangh0]

3. Kerry ran into the line of fire to save a man's life

If the worst injury he received in VN was diaper rash, he would still be a genuine hero for risking his life (several times) in order to protect and save his colleagues lives.

Kerry also traveled to CentCom to complain to the generals about the "free-fire zones" and how they led to the death of innocent Vietnamese civilians.

[blm]

6. Rassman said Kerry was injured from the bomb that hit his boat.

He said Kerry pulled him out of the river while wounded himself.

I trust Rassman's version of events. When your life is on the line, you tend to remember that moment more clearly as it is etched in your brain forever.

[sangh0]

8. I trust Rassman too, but even if you don't

there's no doubt that Kerry's actions were courageous

[Raven]

4. This kind of stuff makes me jump with joy!

If this is all they have on Kerry, that's wonderful..."Bring it on." I figure that every time one of the right wing groups tries to take on Kerry's military record, they just draw attention to the fact that he served...with honor...and the other guy was AWOL. I hope they keep harping on this.

[sangh0]

5. Yep...Bring it on!

It will only draw attention to Bush* execreble record of military service and policy.

Just like attacking Kerry based on who donates to his campaign will draw attention to Bush* enthrallment to special interests.

Just like attacking Kerry as a "Taxachussetts liberal" will draw attention to Bush* right-wing extremism.

etc

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Actually

Kerry can launch a two-pronged counterattack when labelled a liberal - not only can he attack Bush for right wing extremism, but,

When did record-setting deficits become a conservative value?

A lot of conservatives are very upset by the Bush deficit.

[Peachhead22]

9. Bring it on!

I'm hoping and praying the Bushies take this tack even just once. The worst wound Shrub recieved during the Vietnam war was a few million dead braincells, and that was totally self inflicted. The "Kerry wasn't injured that bad" would open up a can of worms (and whoopa&&) the rwn definitely do not want opened.

If Kerry (or anyone) got no more than jungle rot in a war zone it's infinitely worse than anything Shrub endured.

"While Kerry and Clark were getting shot in Vietnam, Bush was getting bombed in Texas."

[yolatengo]

10. mon dieu!

How irrational ARE these people?!

Kerry, ACTUALLY GETTING SHOT is a big, fat, 'French' p*ssy,
but Their Hero, Duhbya, flying a plane 'that could like, gosh,
blow up in midair' a half a dozen times, then SKIPPING OUT
ON 9 MONTHS OF SERVICE, is to be admired?

:wtf:

Can't they show some HONOR and attack Kerry on the ISSUES
and be proud that he risked his life, fought in combat,
VOLUNTEERED to serve his country? No, because on the issues,
especially veteran's issues, THEY LOSE.

Why do they hate America so much that they can attack a man
for not being wounded ENOUGH to satisfy them? I guess
Kerry should have DIED of his wounds and B*sh should be
handed another 4 years to f*ck veterans 6 ways to Sunday
because NOTHING is more important than the President
having an "R" next to his name.

The Party of Lovers Of The Military in action.

Bigby

[huckleberry]

11. check out this attack on Kerry's war record

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry

http://www.usvetdsp.com/jf_kerry.htm

[sangh0]

12. Are you proud of the GOP?

Because that's who's behind Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry

[Native]

13. If you do a search on the site, you'll see it consistently

linked to sources like NewsMax, The Washington Times, and freerepublic.com. That's your sign!

[oasis]

14. Bring it on and give Chimpy his pink slip.