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

[mwl1]

I sense a Toricelli switcheroo brewing.

Nope, the RATS are stuck with this dud. Ballots are already being printed in many states, and it would be too late for any replacement. GOP controls the state legislature in more than half the states.

[BobS]

Maybe, he had a paramour on the "inside" that got the document for him.

This looks like forgery to me. Love interest or not.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Press looked like someone had just died.

Oh wonderful, I hate that SOB**@@!

[Cboldt]

That still doesn't explain it as far as one remaining unchanged and the other not. I find it odd that we have to come up with all kinds of theories to explain these clear discrepancies.

It may be that the boilerplate langauge for the Silver Star citation had more extensive revision thatn the boilerplate language for the Bronze. That still makes the difference administrative in nature.

As for needing to come up with all sorts of reasons, well, there you go. I think most of the posters on this thread are reading way too much into what POSSIBLY (I don't know for sure) has a very simple administrative explanation. Kerry asked for replacement citations, btween the original and the request, the boilerplate language changed, and the new-improved SOP issues auto-pen signed citation letters, instead of incurring the cost of making an accurate reproduction of the original.

Finally, I agree. We won't know until we have the SOP in the Lehman-signed timeframe, and perhaps the request letters from Kerry, for the replacements.

[festus]

;...aren't even answering MSM inquiries ....

I think I was out camping one weekend and when I came back this MSM acronym had sprung up. MSM = ___ ____ Media .

I've been ignoring it for a while now but can't stand it anymore. Can someone fill in the other two blanks for Rip Van Winkle.

Thanks.

[Polybius]

Bogus?

That particular image you posted is bogus.

The Silver Star citation signed by SECNAV John Lehman DOES NOT include the language "The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized."

We need to ensure that only Kerry is involved in the falsification of his service record.

[mwl1]

Looks like Brinkley bailed

PLEASE 'SPLAIN

[been_lurking]

it's boilerplate language. The descriptions of Kerry's action "in battle" are the same.

The language of a military citation is very precise and is taken very seriously as the citation makes its way through numerous reviews. To describe this language as "boilerplate" tells me that you have no experience in this matter.

A military citation, especially for a Silver Star, is not treated quite the same as a corporate Letter of Appreciation from the HR Director.

This rewritten citation is completely out of the norm, yet you want to see it as a simple administrative "sanfu". That is your right, but among those who know, it makes you look ignorant.

[rwfromkansas]

bump to print

[mwl1]

Main Stream Media

[Nov3]

I believe the additional laudatory langauge represents standard boilerplate language for citations issued in that timeframe, and is not "special" or "unique" to Kerry's citation.

That is interesting. I hope it isn't the case as Lehman is baffled by it. However my memory is far from perfect but, I believe Lehman has waffled on this a couple of times. The changed separation date on his DD-215 intrigues me however.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think the point is....Kerry had an obsession with continually burnishing these award languages....to suit his political goals.
There seems to be a pattern!!

[Callahan]

There's plenty of blood in the water, but it's blood-type (D), so the media sharks are either slow or unwilling to catch on. Unlike most Freepers, I do believe the MSM will turn on Kerry if the underground keeps hammering this issue. Eventually, they will not be able to resist the opportunity to exert their power and bring down a pompous pol--it happened with Clinton (at least until impeachment) and it can happen with Kerry.

[Chode]

and the hits... just keep right on coming!!!

[NormsRevenge]

"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.

now wait a minute... lol ..

[Cboldt]

Excuse me - but are you saying that you see NO DIFFERENCE in these two citations????

I see the diffrences you cited. I believe that is standard boilerplate for ALL Silver Star citation letters prepared in the Lehman timeframe. The boilerplate language for the Silver Star citation letter was different in an earlier timeframe.

You are certainly free to make more of it, and I will too, but only upon more evidence that we have now.

[w1andsodidwe]

I have saved both. Interesting!!! I just heard on FOX that there is nothing to the Swift Vets claims and that Kerry has not been hurt by it. Lala land East, i guess.

[eno_]

"The combat distinguishing device" refers to the "V," for valor, right? Why would John Lehman participate in this lily-gilding exercise so many years after the fact? Who authored the language in this document?

Oh man oh man this is big and tasty!

[greyfoxx39]

Bump for later read

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Hyland: CINCPAC probably edited the Zumwalt Silver Star citation to make it fit on to one page and to clean it up a bit to fit the existing format. ADM Hyland was CINCPAC 30 Nov 1967 - 05 Dec 1970

The Incredibly Shrinking Silver Star Citation:

The "editing to fit the page" between the Zumwalt and Hyland Silver Star versions reduced the times taken under fire from 4 to 2, the enemy KIA from 11 to 0 and Kerry's chase and personal kill of the VC teen is gone. In short, it really isn't much of a heroic military citation anymore, containing only just a few remaining generalities. Fits better with a pacifist image however. Sounds like they may have been having problems confirming the supporting reports even then but didn't want to take the medal away.