When folks call the new Kerry langauage "boilerplate" I think they mean that that is the type of language you find in every Silver Star citation. The citation never says "LT(jg)Mitty just kinda went through the motions on that mission but we were alloted a quota of medals by higher command and its his turn to get one" even if that is the case. By the way, I'm not saying that the Navy either did or does pass out medals like that. The modren Army though...
Please read post # 255 - written by someone who has written military citations - have you?
This episode is very likely going to lead to a serious Congressional investigation of the military's practice of awarding medals. Every medal ever awarded in modern times is going to possibly have to come under scrutiny.
IMHO, that could be a good thing. I have heard a lot of rumors about these matters over the years.