An analysis of fatal and non-fatal head wounds incurred during combat in Vietnam by U.S. forces.

Analysis of data obtained from U.S. military personnel who received either a lethal or non-lethal brain or head wound in Vietnam indicate that: 1. Bullets caused more fatal brain wounds that did fragments. 2. Most bullet wounds were received at close range, 40.9 m average. Most fatal fragment wounds to the brain occurred at a very close range, 2.9 m average. 3. Clinically significant intracranial blood clots occurred in only 7% of all fatal brain wounds. Only one man with a non fatal brain wound had an associated clot, 3.3%. 4. Helmets offered no protection against bullets but gave significant protection against fragments. 5. Men who sustained either fetal or non fatal brain wounds became immediately militarily non effective.