Look...here's the situation...had he just needed to get copies for approved medals, he could have gotten copies from his archived personnel record. No new signatures. Just a duplicate of the original (well, maybe the certificate...MAYBE, but certainly not the citation). The only possible explanation I can see is that the medals were not approved by the appropriate approval authority (i.e., SECNAV for the Silver Star and SECNAV or CNO for the Bronze Star). In fact, Judicial Watch has filed a supplemental investigation request because of this irregularity: http://www.judicialwatch.org/archive/2004/secnavkerryltr.pdf
Wouldn't it be a hoot if Kerry hadn't officially been awarded those medals listed on his DD 214 when he threw them away?
Kerry was awarded the medals. The released records prove it. The Silver Star was approved by Hyland, CINCPAC. I am positive Zumwalt, COMNAVSFOR Vietnam was the final approving authority for the Bronze Star. I believe he got replacement medals and administrative procedures required that the Secretary of the Navy sign off on them.