You get a DD214 every time you are discharged. The one Kerry showed on the web site had a V for valor on the silver star, which is not awarded. The silver star is always for valor. It is a good bet the DD214 he is displaying is a forgery.
It should be easy to obtain any DD214 he was issued under the freedom of information act. To falsify an award or to claim an honorable discharge when it is less than honorable is a serious "faux paus" to use the French term that Kerry, the French looking candidate, would be more comfortable with.
"V for valor on the silver star, which is not awarded"
I would agree with you but I went through the separation process and my DD214 was typed up by a civilian clerk who knew little if anything about awards and more particularly their parameters. My clerk wanted to record a "Sea Sevice Deployment" ribbon though my deployments predated the ribbon's establishment. The individual also wanted to record an "E" ribbon though my service on that ship predated the ribbon's establishment. So, unless JFKerry was pumping his separation clerk to include the "V", I credit it to lack of knowledge on the part of the clerk. The clerk's name is on the form and should some want to check they might be able. Best hurry though as I suspect the individual is well into old age. So what do you call a document which contains false information but was produced by appropriate authority?
Okay - somebody has to ask. Has anybody ever checked the font on the discharge that was posted on the John Kerry website? Just to "trust but verify"?