Kerry didn't get his Silver Star citation rewritten and enhanced and re-issued after the fact twice.
HE GOT THE SAME CITATION RE-WRITTEN and RE-ISSUED THREE TIMES!!!!
And each time, by an ever-higher step in the Navy brass!
First Issue: Silver Star, written under the authority of "Commander, United States Naval Forces Vietnam, signed "E. R. Zumwalt, Vice Admiral, USN". (Zumwalt WAS commander of Naval Forces in Vietnam while Kerry served there.) We have the original citation for the Silver Star for action 28 February, 1969. No "copy lost"; no "fire", no "replacement medal." I'm reading the original copy, it is clear, it has all the right words, but does indeed "damn with the faintest of praise.".
Second Issue: Silver Star, written under the authority of "Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, signed "John Hyland, Admiral, USN." (Hyland was commander, PACFLT long after Kerry left service. Kerry never served under him.) We have the original citation for the Silver Star for action 28 February, 1969. No "copy lost"; no "fire", no "replacement medal." I'm reading the original copy: it is now re-typed, is shorter with fewer details, but summarized things more enthusiastically. It is manually typed in italics font.
Third Issue: Silver Star, written under the authority of "The Secretary of the Navy, Washington, signed "John Lehman." (Lehman was Secretary of the Navy under Reagan, some 15 years after Kerry left service, but was active when Kerry was elected Senator from MA.) We have the original citation for the Silver Star for same action on 28 February, 1969. No "copy lost"; no "fire", no "replacement medal." I'm reading the original copy: it has re-typed yet again, and has continued to get more enthusiastic about Kerry's performance that day.
Separately, in March 2001, Kerry's official discharge papers (DDForm 214) are modified with a DD Form 215 awarding him more recognitions for service in Vietnam, and giving him 4 "new" Bronze "campaign ribbon decorations."