[Owen]

Whoa. You mean the award is on his separation papers dated prior to Lehman being SecNav?

Awards are often delayed, but if it appears on a document dated before Lehman authorized it, then there are significant problems.

[Robert A Cook PE]

It's worse than that: His discharge papers (1970-vintage) have been modified with new paperwork giving him MORE HONORS and Vietnam mentions in the year 2000!

[kabar]

There are no dates on the citations, but Kerry received the medals contemporaneously with his service. There are pictures with him getting it pinned on--at least the Silver Star. Lehman's signature on the award more than a dozen years later is indeed suspicious. I don't know the regulations on who must approve the awarding of the Silver and Bronze Stars, but I find it hard to believe that SecNav must approve them. Maybe it is required for replacement awards since the original commanders are no longer around, i.e., Hyland and Zumwalt.