I can believe that he never received it.
I was awarded a Commendation Medal ( I believe, for reporting to duty twice in succession in an unintoxicated state) for a period of time which ended in June. The certificate is signed over 90 days later. The certificate itself is boilerplate with a stamped signature for the Secretary of the Army.
My guess is that I could request a replacement certificate if this one was lost and that the replacement would be signed by whoever signs them now.
As for the "medal", all I got was the certificate. If I want the medal, I can buy one through any of several sources. There may be a process whereby I can request the medal from the Army and they will send it.
bluecollarman also said: "The amendment (DD215), among other things deletes the Vietnam Service Medal and replaces it with the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars."
Recently I became curious as to what awards I was entitled to wear. I believe that the "bronze stars" referred to here are indications of the various "campaigns" during which one served. The dates which constitute particular campaigns are a matter of public record. I doubt that a person could be "in-country" for only four months and be entitled to four such bronze "devices". Kerry's people may be counting on the confusion with the "Bronze Star" medal, which is a separate thing.
This latter item probably deserves more attention than the post-dated certificate.
Since Freeper "deport" posted Kerry's service timeline, I decided to look up the VietNam campaigns. What I found, including relevant dates for Kerry is shown below:
Kerry's service in the Tonkin Gulf seems to have qualified him for two campaign stars, since Kerry spent at least one day in VietNam during each of two campaigns.
For Kerry's later service, it may be the case that Naval river operations entitled Navy personnel to be included in the Army campaign.
Thus it would appear quite legitimate that Kerry is entitled to wear the VietNam Service Medal with four bronze star devices. That he would request an amendment to his DD214 to reflect the campaign dates seems a waste of tax dollars to me.
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Start Campaign - Tet Counteroffensive (Army, Navy, USCG): January 30 to April 1, 1968
February 9, 1968 – [USS Gridley] spends time in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam,
End Campaign - Tet Counteroffensive (Army, Navy, USCG): January 30 to April 1, 1968
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Start Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV (Army, Navy, USCG): April 2 to June 30, 1968
May 27, 1968 – USS Gridley sets sail for the US
End Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV (Army, Navy, USCG): April 2 to June 30, 1968
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Start Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V (Army, Navy, USCG): July 1 to November 1, 1968
End Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V (Army, Navy, USCG): July 1 to November 1, 1968
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Start Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI (Army, Navy, USCG): Nov 2, 1968 to Feb 22, 1969
November 17, 1968 – ... Kerry reports for duty ... Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam.
End Campaign - Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI (Army, Navy, USCG): Nov 2, 1968 to Feb 22, 1969
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Start Campaign - Tet 1969 Counteroffensive (Army, USAF, USCG): February 23 to June 8, 1969
[Note: Source lists no Navy campaign between Feb 22, 1969 and Early April, 1969]
Early April, 1969 – Kerry departs Vietnam
End Campaign - Tet 1969 Counteroffensive (Army, USAF, USCG): February 23 to June 8, 1969