So does this mean Lehman wouldn't have signed it anyway? Okay, color me confused. Did Jean give himself this citation, or was it fraudulently signed off on?
First, he WAS awarded a Silver Star (with citation)---without going into the merits. The qustion is why there are 3 versions and especially why the last was issued in Lehman's term.
Speculation is:
1)Vanity: He wanted the more adulatory language and the SecNavy's signature for the frames on his walls.
2) He really did throw his medals away in 1971, lied about it, then needed replacements.
3) The language in the original citation (Zumwalt version) was longer and very specific about the action that day. If Kerry had exaggerated his role in reports to Zumwalt, he may have wanted the language "toned down" (Hyland version) to be less specific---and less traceable. But that doesn't account for why he'd need the Lehman version.
Clear as mud, huh?
The "V" the other post mentioned
not belonging with a Silver Star,
is a seperate issue from whether Lehman signed the 3rd Citation.
B/c, no "V" appears on the 3 SS
Citations(nor should it; "V" does
not go with a SS). Kerry's website
mistakenly LISTS such an award in
his line-up of claimed awards tho.
The wording of the 3rd Citation,
supposedly over Lehman's name, is
changed to puff up Kerry's deeds,
from what the 1 & 2 versions say.
This was meant to be an identical
copy to replace a "lost" one, but
it isn't. Lehman says he did take
part in a replacement(copy) for
Kerry, but he knows NOTHING of
this changed, puffed-up wording