Perhaps the mine would count for the Bronze Star - the enemy put it there and it fired.
Other men were in the water, no Bronze Stars for them. Many of the veternas who were there assert that there was NO enemy fire, other than the mine (or mines).
The Purple Heart is not without dispute, but jimminy, if Kerry didn't set the record straight regarding enemy fire, when he becaame aware of the submission of a request for a Bronze Star, and then used that Bronze Star to advance his personal political fortune, it speaks volumes to his character. He has none.