They look in chronological order to me... what am I missing?
----------------------------------------------------------- PURPLE HEART #1 www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Purple_Heart_1_Citation.pdf Confirmation Letter - not a Citation. Date (stamp) 28 Feb 1969 From: Commander US Naval Support Activity, Saigon Purple Heart Medal, Ribbon, Lapel Pin Injuries: 2 Dec 1968 "A certificate of this award will be forwarded directly to you by Chief of Naval Personnel" /s/ (stamp) Donald A. Still, Chief Staff Officer ----------------------------------------------------------- PURPLE HEART #2 www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Purple_Heart_2_Citation.pdf Confirmation Letter - not a Citation. Date (stamp) 5 March 1969 Injuries: 20 Feb 1969 ..."Gold Star in lieu of second Purple Heart..." /s/ (stamp) Donald A. Still, Chief Staff Officer ----------------------------------------------------------- PURPLE HEART #3 www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Purple_Heart_3_Citation.pdf Confirmation Letter - not a Citation. Date (stamp) 17 April 1969 Injuries 13 March 1969 ..."Gold Star in lieu of a third Purple Heart..." /s/ (stamp) Donald A. Still, Chief Staff Officer
Those aren't award citations. All three of his Purple Heart award citations are at: http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/militaryrecords_1.pdf
on pages 2, 4, and 6.
What you are looking at is a document he got before the citations which appear to have the correct dates. He had to request the actual citations later. It's the citations that are incorrect. Perhaps not his fault, but it is a personal responsiblity to have your records corrected.
PURPLE HEART #3
Confirmation Letter - not a Citation.
Date (stamp) 17 April 1969
Injuries 13 March 1969
..."Gold Star in lieu of a third Purple Heart..."
/s/ (stamp) Donald A. Still, Chief Staff Officer
He was already back in the US of A. on 17 April. Did he get his ticket to the real world before he got his medal? Then we know he got kicked out.