Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief (John Lehman)

Sun Times ^ | August 28, 2004 | Thomas Lipscomb

[Grampa Dave]

Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief

August 28, 2004

BY THOMAS LIPSCOMB

Former Navy Secretary John Lehman has no idea where a Silver Star citation displayed on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign Web site came from, he said Friday. The citation appears over Lehman's signature.

"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.

The additional language varied from the two previous citations, signed first by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then Adm. John Hyland, which themselves differ. The new material added in the Lehman citation reads in part: "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself...."

Asked how the citation could have been executed over his signature without his knowledge, Lehman said: "I have no idea. I can only imagine they were signed by an autopen." The autopen is a device often used in the routine execution of executive documents in government.

Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.

Thomas Lipscomb is chairman of the Center for the Digital Future in New York

[foreshadowed at waco]

One of the FNC military analysts--Cowen maybe?--said that he had to get copies of one of his citations--it was literally a copy--said that Kerry getting 3 differently worded citations over the years for the same medal is irregular. This Lehman signed one is apparently the 3rd write-up--each one has increasingly glowing language. It seems obvious that Kerry has been puffing up his resume on a steady basis over the years...what a creep.

[Cboldt]

Agree as I indicated, but why was the Lehman signed Bronze Star citation identical to Zumwalts and the last sentence on the Silver Star citation cahnged from the Hyland version? Rather odd, don't you think?

I don't know for a fact, but I think the differences are all administrative in nature. That is, boilerplate language evolution, administrative SOP in issuing replacement citation, etc.

As you (I think it was you) pointed out, the lie that Kerry is caught in here is that he never threw his medals away. He did, and he obtained replacements. That would be proven by revelation of all requests to the Navy, from Kerry, regarding replacement "anything." Probably one or two of the 94 unreleased pages.

[shezza]

Hmmmm...Bronze Star and Silver Star citations look identical to me, whereas the 9/11 report signature is different. Could have been autopen, then, for the Silver Star citation.

[Swiss]

I remember a guy in our unit a few years ago that faked a medal or two and also gave himself the rank of corporal. He was also nutty as a fruitcake and got out on a section 8 (or whatever it is called nowdays).

If Kerry did fake his own medals while Senator wouldn't that be an impeachble offence and shouldn't the House of Representives call up an Impeachment Procedure on him.

[McGruff]

[SkyPilot]

If you would take the time to read the two citations, and compare them, you would know that the Lehman-autopen-signed citation contains no padding.

Really? Then, how do you explain this:

”The additional language varied from the two previous citations, signed first by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then Adm. John Hyland, which themselves differ. The new material added in the Lehman citation reads in part: "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself...."

[Bob]

The citations signed by Lehman are most likely "replacement citations," provided at Kerry's request, after a review of the relevant military records indicated that Kerry was entitled to the citation. Requests for replacement medals and citations are routine, and can occur due to loss in fire, loss due to neglect, etc.

The routine procedure for replacement of a citation does not include re-issuing it. A lost or damaged citation is normally replaced with a certified copy of the original.

Issuing a new citation, especially with the original language modified, is way outside of standard operating procedures.

[kabar]

Yea, what's up, 3 citations? What's up with that? Is someone trying to rewrite history?

There were 3 citations for the Silver Star: Zumwalt's was the suggested citation, which is usually included on the award nomination form. I do find it odd that it is on Zumwalt's letterhead and not just on the award nomination form. The second citation by Hyland (CINCPAC) is the final one by the approving authority. The third citation signed by Lehman is for a replacement citation and perhaps replacmeent medals.

[been_lurking]

you will notice that Kerry amended his DD214 with a DD215. Among other things, Kerry burnishes his Vietnam Service medal by adding four bronze service stars to reflect various campaigns.

And, as has been stated earlier, Kerry was only eligible for two of those four Bronze service stars during his tour of duty.

He clearly was defrauding the system to embellish his service career to impress voters. The fact that he thought he could get away with all of this fraudulent "revision" says everything you need to know about both his character and his intelligence. He's just a liar who is too stupid to think he would ever get caught.

[Cboldt]

Why would anything, even "boilerplate" language, be changed in the replacement citation?

Eveolution of administrative procedures. A diploma from my HS, issued today, looks a=nd reads different from a diploma issued when I graduated. Nothing bizzare about that.

There is something very "smelly" here, but apparently you have become accustomed to the odor.

Ummm, no. I am protecting my own credibility by not jumping to conclusions.

[CT]

I better go get a copy of my local paper - the Oregonian - and see if they are COVERING this!

No,wait. I'll go turn on the TV. Maybe See-BS and NBC are breaking this with a bulleting.

Darn. Guess I'll just have to watch it on my new, FreepTV. Or read about it in a half-million blogs covering it in detail.

[garyhope]

Also see "SLIMES".

[woofie]

Do we know for sure that Kerry was in Viet Nam?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

TRANSCRIPT: 8/26/04
Steve Gardner, Foregunner, PCF44:
http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg

"I spent more time on John Kerry's boat than any other crewmember.

John Kerry hasn't been honest - he has been deceitful.

John Kerry claims that he spent Christmas, in 1968, in Cambodia.

And that is catagorically a lie. Not in December. Not in January.

We were never in Cambodia on a secret mission. Ever."

Ramsey Clark to Join Panel for Saddam’s Defense

arabnews press release 25 August 2004

NOTE :
Ramsey Clark is pictured below with Kerry and
Vietnam phony vet Al Hubbard
Who was head of the
Vietnam Veterans Against the War movement.


Al Hubbard Sgt., 22 Troop Carrier Squadron Aug. ’65-June ’66
- Al Hubbard, proven fraud who never set foot in Viet Nam.
The only Vietnamese he ever met was
when he was collaborating with the North Vietnamese in Paris
on the American Communist Party's nickel.

John Kerry's explanation:
"He (Hubbard) simply exaggarated his particular position.
But nobody knew it at the time. And those things happen."

NEW:
FReeper smith288 has an online version of
Kerry's "The New Soldier"
You can read it without downloading pdf files!
CLICK HERE

The New Soldier, (46 pages)
By John Kerry
and Vietnam Veterans
Against the War
PART I (pdf file)
PART II (pdf file)
PART III (pdf file)

Kerry hopes everyone
in the USA gets this book!

NEW:
“Without question,
we were held captive longer
because of the anti-war people,
the Kerrys, the Fondas and Haydens,
the names we knew over there -
they encouraged the enemy to hang on.”
Excerpt from “Stolen Honor” website
- Leo Thorsness
Former Vietnam POW
CLICK HERE

Jane Fonda tells the student audience at the Michigan State University in 1969;
"I would think that if you understood what communism was, you would hope,
you would pray on your knees, that we would someday become communist."

Joe Moore, Can Tho Airfield 550th Signal Company

Copy and paste the links to everyone you know.

Send this url for the Steve Gardner video

http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg

Send this url for the online version

http://ejsmithweb.com/fr/newsoldier/

Send this url for the Stolen Honor website

http://www.stolenhonor.com/

Print this out (46 pages) and disribute it,
especially to the liberals you know.

http://nomayo.mu.nu/archives/New%20Soldier%20Inro.pdf

http://nomayo.mu.nu/archives/New%20Soldier.pdf

http://nomayo.mu.nu/archives/New%20Soldier%20Epilogue.pdf

[Salvey]

I sense a Toricelli switcheroo brewing.

[Cboldt]

Reread the article. This isn't a replacement citation. There is added strong language praising Kerry.

I agree that it is not a reproduction of the original citation. I believe the additional laudatory langauge represents standard boilerplate language for citations issued in that timeframe, and is not "special" or "unique" to Kerry's citation.

[kabar]

I don't know for a fact, but I think the differences are all administrative in nature. That is, boilerplate language evolution, administrative SOP in issuing replacement citation, etc.

That still doesn't explain it as far as one remaining unchanged and the other not. I find it odd that we have to come up with all kinds of theories to explain these clear discrepancies. Kerry needs to release all of his records. We need to see a copy of his request for replacement citations and perhaps medals. The facts are there. We shouldn't have to guess at the reasons.

[mwl1]

Second consecutive story by Lipscomb in as many days.

Neither this reporter nor his paper are conservative. This may have some legs.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

The DUllards over at you-know-where are in complete, hands clasped to ears, eyes squeezed shut, "la-la-la-la-I-can't-HEEEEEAAAAAAR-you" denial over this latest bombshell.

Sweeeeeeeeeet. :)

[Cboldt]

If Kerry did fake his own medals while Senator wouldn't that be an impeachble offence and shouldn't the House of Representives call up an Impeachment Procedure on him.

There are records from 1968 and 1969 regarding the awards. Kerry is in the Senate, they can remove him from the Senate. Legistalors are not "impeached" by Congress, only Executives and Judges are.