[kabar]

All we need now is an explanation why John Lehman (SECNAV 1981-87) signed his Bronze and Silver Star citations at least 12 years after Kerry left Vietnam. The most logical explanation is that Kerry indeed did throw away his medals and sought replacements.

[cyncooper]

The most logical explanation is that Kerry indeed did throw away his medals and sought replacements.

I was just thinking about this and I agree. Which points to Kerry's lack of forthrightness to simply explain all of this coherently and honestly.

Apparently he does not want to completely renounce his VVAW affiliation, while at the same time he wishes to claim the title "hero".

And I must say, his denouncing of GWB this morning is beyond repellent.

[BillF]

why John Lehman (SECNAV 1981-87) signed his Bronze and Silver Star citations at least 12 years after Kerry left Vietnam. The most logical explanation is that Kerry indeed did throw away his medals and sought replacements.

What is the relationship between the medal and the citation? If the citation is a piece of paper, isn't Kerry likely to maintain that he threw away his ribbons, but not his medals, per his GMA appearance (and in conflict with his earlier statements)? Beyond that, then he'll claim that the citations were lost or eaten by his dog and he had the citations replaced in the 80s?

In other words, the citation is a certificate of paper different from the medal? If that's so, the paper would not have been thrown over the fence? So he just claims it was lost later?

Regardless of how he tries to nuance his explanations, this just reminds people that he threw away some medals and/or ribbons that correspond to the medals. Most people are appalled by that.

If the previously big 3 networks run this story on their newscasts tonight, just the reminder of him throwing away medals (ribbons, whatever he wants to say) makes it harder for him to play the Viet Nam war hero ploy.