Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief (John Lehman)

Sun Times ^ | August 28, 2004 | Thomas Lipscomb

[Grampa Dave]

Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief

August 28, 2004

BY THOMAS LIPSCOMB

Former Navy Secretary John Lehman has no idea where a Silver Star citation displayed on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign Web site came from, he said Friday. The citation appears over Lehman's signature.

"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.

The additional language varied from the two previous citations, signed first by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then Adm. John Hyland, which themselves differ. The new material added in the Lehman citation reads in part: "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself...."

Asked how the citation could have been executed over his signature without his knowledge, Lehman said: "I have no idea. I can only imagine they were signed by an autopen." The autopen is a device often used in the routine execution of executive documents in government.

Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.

Thomas Lipscomb is chairman of the Center for the Digital Future in New York

[nikos1121]

Anyone see O' Neill on Bill Maher last night? Please email me.

Nick

[tutstar]

Maybe some of us ought to visit the site regularly so we can download this stuff and make a running thread of them. Seems there was something else on his site recently that was bogus, besides him. LOL

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Thank you.

[ken5050]

Great post...thanks..I had't heard about the PH3 license plate? Do you have any licnks to info about it, or a pic..regards..

[tgslTakoma]

Maybe John Effin' Kerry found a bum sleeping in the shrubbery around Union Station, who said he was John Lehman, to sign the citation?

[Wu]

Well you must admit that John can certainly take a licking. The question is for how much longer before he steps down and nominates Hillary to replace him.

[Grampa Dave]

"My guess is because Kerry was a senator, various Dept of Defense officials (even Republicans) just changed the citations each time at his request, or didn't question his version of the language."

A long time buddy and friend of moi Kerry, Wade R. Sanders, was asst Secretary of the Navy under the Clintoon. Now doesn't that make it interesting re your comments above.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Let us not forget it was a Freeper (wish I had the URL to that thread) who started it all when he and others pursued the phony V for valor on the skeery's silver star.

I read the thread at the time, but never grasped the import of what the Freeper was revealing.

I now watch that reporter from the Sun Times acting like it was all him who made the connection. (at least it is now out in the MWDP)

I think the MWDP are constant monitors of FR, or, other Freepers like me have a folder of MWDP and we email to them what we believe to be revelant.

There is one truth, FR & Jim Robinson Rock the boat and the vote.

[SandRat]

so now to be member of the DEMOC you need to have skilled in forgery on your application?

[Mike Fieschko]

John Kerry was by then a powerful Senator

anyone have documentation for this statement?

I was quoting SkyPilot. Lehman was SecNav 1981 to 1987, I believe, and Kerry wasn't in the Senate until 1984. Unless all Senators are 'powerful Senators', a first term Senator ought not necessarily be called powerful.

Kerry bio here and here, with dates he held political office, practiced law, etc.

[MizSterious]

"...they recite virtually the same language as the original citations."

Not "virtually." The Lehman document is a little more flowery in its praise. Read the last comments, posted above. It looks like whoever typed this up was asked to make it look even more impressive--this is a little more impressive, but just a little.

[TheRightGuy]

I know nothing of the Suntimes.

It is the lesser of Chcago's two major dailies. It has mostly been regarded as a liberal rag but lately has had its occasional conservative moments, ever more so as the Tribune steadily continues to descend into the depths of leftist propaganda.

[pepperhead]

You're correct ... MSM is a acronym that has only recently evolved at FR.

Who do we have to blame for this?

[Let's Roll]

Guessing for innoculation. He knows better than anyone that his medals/citations etc. are shakey. Trying to hide behind Sec Navy and muddy the waters as best he can.

Or a nutjob who can never receive enough accolades?

[Blue Eyes]

Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.

I thought it said "senior adviser Michael Moore</>". Had to read it twice!

[Polybius]

Main Stream Media

.....and "Mainstream Media" means:

"Those folks who just discover today the issues we have been discussing on FreeRepublic for months."

[kabar]

On Fox and Friends, Lehman said "... Kerry had applied for replacement citations that he had received ... they had become lost or misplaced .. that is not unusual it goes to the Naval board of corrections .. for Naval records to verify and then new citations are issued ... and the Secretary of the Navy signs them .. although the signing itself is delegated to the VCNR ... it was handled in a routine fashion"

What I want to learn is whether Kerry requested replacement medals as well as citations.

[RobFromGa]

there was a big discussion of this citation several months back on FR and why it was reissued at that time.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

For the most thorough (and inciteful) analysis of the ongoing Kerry Krash, I heartily recommend this conservative blog to all my fellow FReepers:

Captain's Quarters

These guys have been on top of the story since (literally) Day One. I check 'em out daily, and always find something I haven't seen anywhere else (including here). :)