So, why was that 2000 (I thought 2001) Honorable Discharge request made by Kerry? If he already had an HD from the 1970s, why would he put in a request in 2000/2001?
That was not an "Honorable Discharge request". That was a DD-215 to "correct" his prior DD-214.
The "correction" was to add campaign stars to his Vietnam Service Medal for a total of four. Later Navy statements have said he was only entitled to two.
Interestingly, the "Silver Star with Combat V" was not corrected in the 12 March 2001 DD-215.