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

[pepperhead]

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

That clears up some of my questions. This whole thing smells funny.

[Momto2]

Please read post # 255 - written by someone who has written military citations - have you?

[7.62 x 51mm]

Who was the reporter? L Dhue-Dhue or the effeminate black guy on weekends?

[mabelkitty]

Look like forgeries to me.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

Kerry caught in yet another crime, forgery and or conspiracy to commit forgery. Let's see the worm turn on this intell. Kerry should be in the Chongo Casa(Monkey House.)May the chips fall where they may.

[sweetliberty]

Kerry's incessant chest thumping is going to be his undoing.

[M-cubed]

The question is for how much longer before he steps down and nominates Hillary to replace him."<<<<.....Careful there! I was flamed big time for saying that a few weeks ago!!

[tdadams]

A Vietnam fisherman said he was on a river checking his fish weir when he noticed a man bobbing by in the current. The fisherman said the man's name was Rassman and that he had been waiting 35 years for Kerry to come back and pick him up

Sounds vaguely similar to the story of another Massachussets Senator, even to the very same year.

[ken5050]

FyI..please see my #338 this thread..your comments on my thesis are welcome..

[w1andsodidwe]

It was some babe on Neil's Saturday morning show, but nobody disputed what she said.

[RS]

"I've written here several time that I have no doubt that the Swifties already have kerry's complete file..."

The October Surprise ?

Cool, maybe one of them can play it like that old Walter Mathau movie " Hopscotch "

Make him suffer for a month, then go for the kill...

[Wu]

I ain't afraid. I've had my a_s burned before.

[Travis McGee]

Good rant. Thanks.

[sweetliberty]

"But Brinkley said this week the papers are the property of the senator and in his full control."

And let me guess....he promises to release them right after he's elected.

[dixiechick2000]

Great find, Gramps!

I haven't read the thread, yet, but I am wondering
why he felt the need to have his citations updated
so many times.

He didn't need to have the medals reissued. IIRC,
they could be bought at the Navy Exchange when my
husband was in the Navy. Now, they can be bought
online, if one wants to avoid the crowds at the
Exchange. ;o)

Here's just one online store.

http://www.navyadvancement.com/navy-store/military-medals-ribbons.php?military-medals-ribbons

Here's the page that contains medals. He could have
purchased the Bronze Star and the Silver Star here.
I wonder why he didn't buy a Navy Cross while he was
at it?

http://www.soldiercity.com/product_list.asp?dept=347&last=276&page=1

[Bob]

My comment was meant to make fun of the notion that [according to Kerry] his 4 months on the swift boats is all that mattered.

Sorry, I missed the humor. Neeeeeed coffee. :=)

[kabar]

I think most of the posters on this thread are reading way too much into what POSSIBLY (I don't know for sure) has a very simple administrative explanation.

I believe the posters are raising legitimate questions. I understand your desire to be cautious because we don't have all the facts, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you have to think it is a duck, especially with Kerry's history on his medals. You may think the other posters are reading too much into it, but you are doing the same thing only on the opposite side. You are playing the devil's advocate saying that there must be a reasonable explanation for all of this. The burden of proof is on you as well.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent rant.

[WHBates]

I don't know but I would think that the DD214 itself may also come into question? Is the one displayed on the web site a reissue? If a DD214 is reissued for some reason is it given a new number or a extension to the number?

[AuntB]

I wondered what Lehman would say about this. Interesting.