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I pointed this out a few days ago and several times since. If you notice, both Zumwalt and Lehman signed the same citation. If you check Kerry's DD-214, it is noted that he was awarded the Bronze Star. I assume what happened is that Kerry never received the medal. More than likely, he realized it when he was running for the Senate and initiated a request to receive it. Hence Lehman signed it so he could get the medal again, which is odd since it was not necessary to do that. Maybe that was one of the medals he threw away

Another issue: Kerry must have requested an amendment to his DD214. The amendment (DD215), among other things deletes the Vietnam Service Medal and replaces it with the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars. The date of this amendment is March 12, 2001!!!

What I glean from these two examples is that Kerry is caught in a time warp. He is totally obsessed with Vietnam and his decorations. I can't imagine anyone going back and amending their record that way. What could possibly be the purpose? This is sick. I would also add his recreating and filming his "battles" while being assigned to Vietnam and the Vietnam shrine he keeps in his home. It is all a case of image building, but what I find bizarre is the fact that he believes that he really is a "highly decorated war hero."

Vietnam Service Medal
Devices
A. Bronze stars
Bronze stars are authorized for participation in the the 29 campaigns specified for the Vietnam War. A silver star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars.

The following are the only active campaigns during Kerry's 2 short tours of duty.

- Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase III (Army, Navy, USCG): June 1, 1967 to January 29, 1968

- Vietnam Air/Ground (USAF): January 22 to July 7, 1968

- Tet Counteroffensive (Army, Navy, USCG): January 30 to April 1, 1968

- Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III (USAF): April 1 to October 31, 1968

- Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV (Army, Navy, USCG): April 2 to June 30, 1968

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV (USAF): November 1, 1968 to February 22, 1969

- Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI (Army, Navy, USCG): Nov 2, 1968 to Feb 22, 1969

- Tet 1969 Counteroffensive (Army, USAF, USCG): February 23 to June 8, 1969

I don't know how many months the Gridley was in the South China sea during Kerry's 5 months aboard 'tween 12/67-06/68.

Anybody know when the Gridley was in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia ?

- Does Kerry rightfully get to wear the 4 Bonze Stars on the Vietnam Service Medal ?