I was reviewing Kerry's DD214 on his website and I noticed something that indicated to me that these documents have definitely been altered and/or revised. We all recall the flap about his silver star and the request for an investigation by Judicial Watch. On the second page of his DD214, in box 24, all of his decorations are listed INCLUDING a Silver Star with a Combat "V"! There is no such thing as a Silver Star with a Combat "V" as the Navy does not add a Combat V to Silver Stars. Prior to 1974, a Combat V was added to the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal only. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Valor_device Now, if this is an award that does not even exist, then this cannot be an unaltered original copy of his DD214.
See http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD214.pdf, page 2, box 24.
Additionally, there is a DD215 posted on his site, which is a correction to his DD214, dated 03/12/2001. See http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/DD-215_Correction.pdf This form "corrects" his DD214 by deleting his Vietnam Service Medal and adds a Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars. I am not 100% sure of this but wouldn't 4 bronze stars on a service medal indicate 4 combat tours of duty? Kerry only had one or maybe two, if his first tour on the Gridley was considered combat.
It is likely that by 03/12/2001, Kerry had decided to run for the presidency in 2004. If this DD215 was filed to falsely inflate his decorations, it is a clear indication that he habitually and routinely alters his military record for political purposes. The point to my longwinded and somewhat redundant post is that if Kerry's habitually alteres these documents, it is very easy to assume that a less than honorable discharge could have been "revised" to an honorable discharge and nobody could prove otherwise without Kerry signing a form 180.
Interesting, that bit. I was in the Army so perhaps not the same rules but bronze "Campaign stars" were added to the Vietnam Service Medal based on declared "Campaigns" that one participated in; Tet counter offensive etc. I had four originally, earned over a period of just over twelve months, and later a fifth campaign was declared during the period I was there. I seriously doubt you could participate in four campaigns in four months. That, I would think, could easily be checked on line though (And then, Kerry was in the Navy)