The only explanation that makes sense is that Kerry requested replacement medals or claimed that he never received them. I assume that since his records had been moved to the inactive records in St Louis, the only way he could receive the medals was for someone to dig up the old citations from his official personnel file. Perhaps, the regulations require that SecNav reissue them under his signature. It needs to be investigated. If Kerry was trying to pull a fast one, I doubt if he would provide both citations. There has to be an explanation.
I will reiterate that the only change in the wording of the citations signed by Lehman is the last sentence of the Silver Star citation. Otherwise they are identical.
What do you mean by the changes in wording only involve the last sentence? You just trying to say that Kerry did not have his honors exalted by Lehman, just a new medal or citation issued?