No One Has Accused Him of Lying About This One

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has scrounged up a veteran who confirms John Kerry received an actual booboo in Vietnam.

"Lt. Kerry said, 'I'm going to pop a flare, and when I do, I want that engine started,' " Runyon said. But the outboard would not crank. Meanwhile, the sampan's crew steered it to the riverbank, and people started running on the shore. Runyon said shooting broke out.

Somehow, Kerry's weapon stopped firing. Runyon thinks he ran out of ammunition. He said Kerry bent down to pick up another gun and got hit in the arm.

But, the Swiftboat Vets have not challenged Kerry's story about that wound.