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

[Reactionary]

"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."

My. It appears the Viet Cong's favorite liberal congressman has a fake silver star to go along with his status as "war hero."

Kerry's "patriotism" obviously consists of being a fake and a fraud who fights for the other side.

[pollywog]

"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.

" CALLING RUSH and HANNITY".....!!!! Interview PLEASE!!!!!!

[Cboldt]

The only conclusion is that Kerry padded the citation and got some Navy underling to get is signed via autopen.

If you would take the time to read the two citations, and compare them, you would know that the Lehman-autopen-signed citation contains no padding.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[sharktrager]

The theory I have heard was that it had to be done to replace the lost medal.

Perhaps he lost it somewhere on the other side of the Capital Hill fence?

[ScottFromSpokane]

The citations signed by Lehman are most likely "replacement citations," provided at Kerry's request, after a review of the relevant military records indicated that Kerry was entitled to the citation. Requests for replacement medals and citations are routine, and can occur due to loss in fire, loss due to neglect, etc.

Everything I've heard indicates that replacement citations are simply copied from the original in the files, and are not newly signed.

In any case, the Lehman citation was the third given for the same decoration, with different language from the other two, which I understand is quite unusual.

[nothingnew]

MainStreamMedia

FMCDH(BITS)

[pepperhead]

Won't be long till everyone here starts typing using stuff like this.

WOT,H8,THT!,LFT,THX, 2L8, 4, 8, SUM, SUP, 2NITE, WAN2 and NXT.

[I still care]

"Let's watch and see how they spin out of this. Of course with the MSM on their side, you may never see this anyplace else."

I can't believe it is even getting this notice. Remember how the media covered for Clinton over the chinese campaign donation scandal? Sandy Berger?

And here they are, digging over papers from 30 years ago. It reminds of Monica. Poring over interesting but less relevant stuff, while giving these people a total pass over the really bad and dangerous things they do.

Years from now, like "just about sex" Monica, the demos will say Kerry lost over "just about some 30 year old paperwork". And no one will remember anything else.

[tdadams]

Big WOW! Is anything about Kerry real, I wonder?

Has anyone checked to see if he actually has an office in the U.S. Senate? You never know with people like this.

[SkyPilot]

"Your Medal of Honor Certificate will be done in just a minute Senator. Do you still want the Nobel Peace Prize as well?"

[mystery-ak]

Hmmmmmm...I just saw Lehman the other morning(I think Fox & Friends) say that he signed the papers authorizing the replacement medals/ribbons for Kerry...which were *lost*....(someone should look on the WH lawn)

[Question_Assumptions]

That's funny, because John Lehman was on Fox and Friends last week and said that his signature is on those documents because Kerry asked for replacements, since he had lost the originals.

[Desparado]

It's also a crime (TREASON) to get out of a combat zone under any false pretenses. I.E. everything Kerry did to get himself shipped out of Viet Nam before his tour was up.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

An early Kerry document was recently discovered:

[eno_]

I would think it's just the opposite. Routine and unimportant correspondence is signed with an autopen. Official documents and commendations would have to be signed personally.

Yup. A Silver Star is a big deal. Getting the Secretary of the Navy's signature on a citation is a Big Freakin' Deal. Having the Secretary of the Navy's signature turn out to be unauthorized... is PRICELESS.

To add to the mystery: Why forge (or unauthorizedly autopen) the SecDef's signature, when numerous lower ranks could have performed this purportedly routine (but actually rather unusual) act?

This is truly something that makes you go "Hmmmmmmm..."

[doug from upland]

I have a feeling we are again going to hear about Kansas City, Nov. 12-15, 1971.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

It is almost time to dance in the isles!

[TomGuy]

Now why would Kerry get his signature on any Vietnam era doc?

FR speculation was that it was to get a replacement medal for one of those he threw away back in 1971.

But, you know, ribbons and medals, they were interchangeable back then. But he didn't throw HIS away; he threw some belonging to another guy, and he only threw his ribbons, because he left his medals at home.

[Kerry has told so many different versions of his embellished stories that he doesn't know what the truth is.]

[Grampa Dave]

One might wonder if John Lehman even was in office when this was signed.

Wade R. Sanders, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Clinton, is a long time buddy of moi Kerri.

What if someone reactivated Lehman's auto pen during Sanders's time at the Pentagon to approve Kerry's medals?