there was a big discussion of this citation several months back on FR and why it was reissued at that time.
You are correct. I have been raising it for months. I have sent my comments to the media, my Congressional reps, and the SBVFT. It looks like this issue is gaining some traction. I think there is a big story here. If Kerry asked for replacement medals, then he was lying just a few months ago on GMA. If he just asked for replacement citations, then it says something about Kerry's character and mental stablility.
The fact that the Silver Star citation signed by Lehman is not identical and that the Navy just didn't make him duplicate copies of the ones in his files raises some important questions. Obviously the originals exist in his files since we have copies of them. Kerry could have just requested citations signed by the Secretrary of the Navy, which confirms the SBVFT allegations against Kerry that he manufactured his awards.