Kerry's first PH for the "Skimmer" incident was not earned. The commander of the skimmer where Kerry nicked himself with a grenade launcher did not recommend Kerry for the PH because there was no hostile fire during the mission. Kerry's commanding officer ashore also refused Kerry's request for a PH. These officers were surprised to later learn that Kerry had received a HP after they were transfered to other duties.
Kerry, not some spokesperson, needs to stand up on public TV and explain exactly how he got this first PH.
Another stranger-than-strange event in the Kerry record (and the deeper you dig, the stranger it gets).
The PH was approved on Feb. 28, 1969 by a Donald Still, chief staff officer for the U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) in Saigon (now deceased). This is very strange, since U.S. Naval Support Activity was the logistics (not combat) command for South Vietnam. NSA handled the contruction and supply of nearly all naval bases in the Mekong Delta, including Cat Lo and Sa Dec, where Kerry was stationed.
http://www.mrfa.org/saigon_b.htm
But as mentioned, Still was essentially a Saigon logistics officer, and how Kerrys application for a PH came to his attention is a complete and utter mystery. Kerry was at no time under the command of Naval Support Activity Saigon.
One can only speculate that Kerry somehow located a "friendly ear" with a command position.