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Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief (John Lehman)
Sun Times ^ | August 28, 2004 | Thomas Lipscomb

Posted on 08/28/2004 7:30:49 AM PDT by 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


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ch866; citation; citations; flushthejohns; hyland; johnfabricatorkerry; johnkerry; johnlehman; kerry; kerrylies; kerrymedals; kerryphoneymedals; kerrysnamtypewriter; ktv; lehman; lurch; medals; militaryrecord; sbv; silverstar; zumwalt
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To: Mo1

Mo1...recall that Kerry's own campaign people got him confused with Bob Kerrey on the Intelegence Committee.

And maybe they have been sloppy knowing that the media was there to protect him.

They didn't factor in Free Republic researchers, Blogs, FoxNews and investigative reporters like Thomas Lipscomb.


441 posted on 08/28/2004 10:15:14 AM PDT by JulieRNR21 (One good term deserves another! Take W-04....Across America!)
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To: Grampa Dave

Well done, Grampa. Each time his 'citation' is rewritten the language gets ever more floral. I'm not all that thrilled with the way Lehman has handled himself on the commission, but these rewrites have sKerry's tone in the words...


442 posted on 08/28/2004 10:15:16 AM PDT by meema
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To: Grampa Dave
Albeit I'd love it to be an issue I think it's a non issue.....

Awards and decorations were routinely signed by SecDef and CINC's etc as the awards and the wording is written at the lowest level. In some cases by the individuals immediate supervisor. At base admin and command levels (for awards that merit promotion points and retirement pay increase ) is the text proof read and edited and then the award is rubber stamped and approved.

Stay Safe Dave !

443 posted on 08/28/2004 10:15:43 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: Mo1
TIn hat on: Or they knew they were fake....were going to leak it to the press in October, and then make "W" look bad as the leaker....ALA WIlson fiasco.
444 posted on 08/28/2004 10:15:57 AM PDT by hoosiermama (NAM Vet's Revenge.......It's about time.)
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To: kabar
Kerry was offshore on the Gridley in the combat area March 1968 to May 1968. He would be eligible for the Tet Counteroffensive (30 JAN 68- 1 APR 68)and Counteroffensive Phase (2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968).

I stand corrected. He actually does legitimately deserve 4 campaign stars.

Kerry's time on the Gridley cruise overlapped those two campaign periods.

His Swift boat time also overlapped two campaign periods, Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VI (2 Nov 68 - 22 Feb 69) and Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 Feb 69 - 8 Jun 69).

445 posted on 08/28/2004 10:17:52 AM PDT by Bob
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To: ken5050

It's still there.


446 posted on 08/28/2004 10:18:10 AM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: cyncooper; Grampa Dave
I have a theory....

The Rear Admiral who just stepped forward and said he was on the Boston Whaler with Kerry.......and who didn't file a after action report....because of no action.

Here is my theory......what if one was filed.....by Kerry.

I think that is why he is hiding his records.

447 posted on 08/28/2004 10:20:10 AM PDT by Dog ( formerly known as VC-- - - - - - Combat Dog.)
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To: katnip
Kerrys senior campaign advisor is on with Tony Snow now saying that every one of kerrys military records is on their website LOL.

They've been saying that for months but it still isn't true.

448 posted on 08/28/2004 10:20:12 AM PDT by Bob
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To: Just mythoughts

placemark


449 posted on 08/28/2004 10:20:28 AM PDT by Maigrey (For the record I wouldn't vote for John Kerry if he were the last man on earth. - Notpolcorewrkd)
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To: Dog

That after action report would not be in his personal records. It would be archived with Swift Boat records at the National Archives.


450 posted on 08/28/2004 10:23:02 AM PDT by Wu
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To: Bob

Tony kept asking him, "But what about the medical records?
Mike Meehan says they released them to the press and that every document has been made public.

Tony kept countering the claim but let the guy have the last word.


451 posted on 08/28/2004 10:24:04 AM PDT by katnip
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To: ScottFromSpokane
Officials approve either the draft or original with their initials on the document. Then Personnel put it through the autopen.
452 posted on 08/28/2004 10:24:16 AM PDT by dila813
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To: Wu

If it still exists that is....


453 posted on 08/28/2004 10:24:32 AM PDT by Wu
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To: norton

Terry Kerry will not allow it.
She is close to the crown and she will not be deterred.


454 posted on 08/28/2004 10:24:47 AM PDT by mabelkitty (Zealous Troll Hunter - and you know who you are - you've been warned.)
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To: Rebelbase

It is a federal crime to alter documents, and it is against the UMCJ.


455 posted on 08/28/2004 10:24:58 AM PDT by dila813
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To: Mo1
"The thing I don't get is HOW could the Kerry people believe they would not get caught if this was a fake 'silver star' or whatever?"

The same way they gave sKerry credit for being on committees that Senator Kerrey actually was on. They don't know or check what they are doing.

Among all of them - they know little or nothing about the military because they have always had a low opinion of our country and our military.

456 posted on 08/28/2004 10:26:13 AM PDT by LADY J
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To: ken5050

While most of the time a Senator would be looking for "Face Time" he would more than likely would not if trying to cover a lie told to the media. He had said that he threw someone else's medals over the fence, even if he was telling the truth and his got misplaced it would have not looked to good. Remember if this took place right before or soon after he was elected the first time he would not have been on a do not touch list for the media.


457 posted on 08/28/2004 10:26:21 AM PDT by Kadric
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To: tdadams
Not a complete forgery. Adding to text to official documents doesn't happen unless the official initials the altered document.

For citations, this is very rare, because they want to make the document appear good. Adding this citation, would have required a entirely new document.

This smells very bad.
458 posted on 08/28/2004 10:28:04 AM PDT by dila813
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To: BlueNgold

Back in July you said:

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1122563/posts?page=649#649

To: moondoggie
Old news, give it up.
This is a losing battle, save your energy.

The signature of Sec Lehman appears on the battle valor decoration, not on the award itself. It is an update - a records clarification - which happens all the time. There is nothing odd, or inappropriate in this case.

649 posted on 07/19/2004 8:16:53 AM PDT by BlueNgold (Feed the Tree .....)




I thought you'd be interested to see what Lehman had to say about the issue.


459 posted on 08/28/2004 10:29:09 AM PDT by cyncooper
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To: 7.62 x 51mm

both the weekend guys are effeminate.


460 posted on 08/28/2004 10:29:51 AM PDT by altura (Didn't think it possible but the dems did it. --found someone worse than Clinton or Gore.)
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