your speculation sounds right to me. should be followed up.
It just seems to me that in the 5 or 6 years the Swift Boat Division was in existence there must have been thousands of after action reports filed. Are all of these only available if the signatories of each report signs off on releasing them? That doesn't make much sense to me. If any are available to researchers, all should be available. Correct?
What if some author decided to do a history of the division in Viet Nam? Would he have to ask for permission to see the reports from each surviving person who authored one or would he have unfettered access to all reports to be able to write a complete history.
If these reports are available through a FOIA request might this be the next shoe to drop on Kerry.