The timeline of the paperwork for the first PH coming in 3rd, very late, is extremely suspicious. It all seemed to reach a crescendo, with his medals and last two PHs all coming in just a few weeks. Then the paperwork for PH 1 "somehow" is approved, and he's gone. There's a real story there, perhaps Kerry himself finally managed to shove it through. Remember, unlike 99% of SwiftBoat officers, he not only brought his own 8mm movie camera, he brought a TYPEWRITER, his own typewriter, that is.
In the 1960s, way pre-computer, the Navy ran on triplicated forms for typewriters. You found the appropriate form, typed the info in the appropriate boxes, and then had it signed and approved and sent up the line.
There are some mysterious forms signed by a mysterious officer who used only initials, "KJW" or some such. My hunch is that in the free-wheeling Swiftboat community, sometimes this mystery initial man (non-existant) was used to sign and forward exagerated or falsified after action reports. In those days, when the Navy was eager to tout Brown Water Navy heroics, the higher ups were not too picky about determining the source of certain paperwork. A sampan with one small family becomes 5 dead VC, etc. Nobody checks.....
I think Kerry forged his own PH citation, for wound #1, which was submitted much later, out of chronological order.
Before this mess is over, we may find out that moi Kerry was very creative with the Navy forms and his typewriter.
You're asking good questions. None of Kerry's citations should be taken for granted.