Another possibility is a worry that their own medals, which were awarded based on kerry's recommendations, could be subjected to scrunity if kerry's service gets discredited to any significant extent. To me, that would be a pretty strong incentive to stick with the boss's story.
Bob gets the grand prize, an all paid vacation for three (must include your sife' mom, or your girlfriend's) on board the 94 boat!
Thank you Bob, for hitting that nail, squarely!!!!!!