[Cboldt]

If someone loses their awards, or if the serviceman's record book is destroyed for some reason, a copy of the original document is retrieved from archive and stamped "certified true copy" and signed by an official. A brand-spanking new copy is not generated, nor is the opportunity taken to embellish up the original citation.

I've been looking for "the manual" on this, but so far come up empty handed. Senators may get "special favors," too -- not that it's right. As for embellishment, the language that describes Kerry's action that day is unchanged. The laudatory language (sentence or two) at the conclusion of the Lehman-signed Silver Star citation letter is similar to many other Silver Star citation letters prepared for Vietnam era veterans.

http://www.securenet.net/3rdbn5th/valor.htm <-- Real heros

[Timeout]

If someone loses their awards, or if the serviceman's record book is destroyed for some reason, a copy of the original document is retrieved

But he didn't lose them. Kerry's website posted them, so he still has the earlier versions. Maybe he reported them lost, but....well, another lie.

Note: Just to be accurate, Kerry's website posted two citations for the Bronze and two for the Silver. They did NOT post the earliest known Silver citation...the one signed by Zumwalt. We found that one at findlaw.com. And its language is significantly different from the two versions posted by Kerry.