Posted on 08/28/2004 7:30:49 AM PDT by 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
Sure. It's all lies! Lies! There are no questions about the Silver Star! No! Never!
Hey, welcome to Free Republic.
My 12 year old and his friend yell "Liar" every time they see his ugly mug on T.V.
Kerry dumped 10 lbs. of socks and underwear in order to take his typewriter along in his 90 lb. limited bag duffle bag when he went to war! (I read this in an exerpt from one of the Swiftees...sorry, don't remember which one.)
Is Botox Johnny handy with Photoshop?
My guess is they didn't know or didn't bother to check it all out before releasing the documents
Numerous posts before yours made
side by side comparisons clearly
showing puffed up language has
been added to the Lehman-signed,
3rd Citation. If Kerry's site has
the real deal, and isn't hiding
something, then I don't get your
post.
The changed lang. has been shown
on this thread. Repeatedly.
If there was a simple administrative explanation for "all this", it would have been released already.
You can easily deduce that something is rotten by working back from Hehman's staement. He basically said that he knows nothing about the reissuance of Kerry's medals. Thiis has to be true. There is NO way in the world that a SECNAV would not attempt to milk for PR purposes a medal cermemony, even paperwork, involving a sitting US Senator..
"Kerry dumped 10 lbs. of socks and underwear in order to take his typewriter along in his 90 lb. limited bag duffle bag when he went to war!"
LOL! I was just thinking about that.
Time magazine...Eleanor Clift.
Someone should photoshop Kerry's ugly head into that photo.LOL! I saved the pic, Grampa. I'll send ya the URL when it's done.
wow...
just the kind of morons we can trust with the ship of state...
too stupid for public office.
kerry may end up losing his senate seat over this stuff.
surely he knows that he is now vulnerable, or is he too stupid to figure that out too?
There was a story last week that Kerry was planning on campaigning next week. This violates the gentlemens' rule of presidential campaigns which states that during the other party's convention, you take a vacation and keep a low profile. Bush did during the DNC. If Kerry doesn't, it will just be one more piece of evidence as to what a jerk he is.
As I said, back in April I distinctly recalled a Freeper noticing this and raising this very question so I just Googled "Free Republic + Silver Star + Lehman" and found it. Note the thread title refers to the "Bronze", but it's the Lehman issue that was noticed and raised:
Kerry Bronze Star Certificate signature questioned. Investigation warranted?
Posted on 04/22/2004 10:49:24 AM PDT by moondoggie
How come the paperwork on Kerry's Bronze Star Award is signed by John Lehman, Sec. of the Navy????
In addition, the date Lehman (supposedly) signed it is not on the document.
Did Kerry not get the award when Chaffee was Secretary of the Navy? If not, why not?
Did Kerry get the award 15 years late?
Or is the paperwork a "sham" and somebody made a big booboo?
I'll post the document as soon as I find it again. Maybe somebody here has it bookmarked? And, if there's already been a thread on this that I missed....please direct me to the proper thread.
Thanks!
~snip~
He is counting on the media to discredit his accusers.
So you are saying that this line, "his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service," was replaced "By his brave action, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the US Naval Service," as part of the evolution of language?
I'm not going to argue about that because I don't know, though it seems suspect to apply retroactively. And remember, Democrats are extending this language (bravery, bold initiative and unwavering devotion) to characterize his lying testimony before the Senate. I think the addition of this language would have specfic value to a man trying to frame that entire period of his life as one of patriot, not traitor.
Normally you wouldn't get anything changed, you would just get a 'official reproduction' made from the artwork on file. I think this is the point Lehman is trying to make.
The original citation is probably stored as artwork, not just a copy. Old printing techniques did it this way. They would take a blank piece of parchment and shoot the old artwork onto that. It would likely include the original signature. If the artwork wasn't available then you just make a reproduction copy of a real 'old' version and sign it with the original signature with an autopen.
As an example there are plenty of reproduction copies of various US founding documents. These are made to high standards so the reproduction copies can be used for display. I have a reproduced US Constitution, suitable for framing, as an example.
Most people would want a historically accurate reproduction of medal citations, rather than just a rewritten copy with the same words. Someone knows exactly what the procedures and policies are, so it would not be too hard to get to the bottom of this.
You are right, something smells funny here. Especially since the actual citation words were rewritten, not the boilerplate. Someone was trying to beef up their historical record ... IMHO.
Yikes, This is a blockbuster.
One theory I heard was that Kerry wanted to 'upgrade' his citation either because he's a vain little twit or because then it would be unthinkable to even question it...or both.
The first citation being from what, a two-star admiral... the next being to a higher ranking one... and finally the Secretary of the navy himself.
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