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Actually, Kerry has THREE different "official" versions of his Silver Star citation: One signed by Zumwalt (one star admiral in charge of the naval forces in Vietnam in 1972), one signed by Admiral Hyland (Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor who served in 1972-1973 time frame) and the last one by Sec. of Navy John Lehman (who was SecNAV between 1983 and 1988.)

So, since the citations themselves DO NOT get changed arbitrarily, and of course, Kerry threw his (or somebody's else's) MEDALS (not the citations!) over the WH fence ...

We have no idea why Kerry demanded his official citations be changed some 14 years after he left the service. Then again, we have no idea why John Kerry demanded his official discharge papers be changed some thirty YEARS after he left active duty. Other than to make John Kerry's Vietnam war record look more impressive, that is.

However, we do know that the change happened as soon as he (Kerry) became a Senator. As soon as Kerry had the power to demand a change in his old records - but while the Pentagon SHOULD HAVE been fighting the Cold War and the war in Afghanistan and the Soviet's spying in submarines and crypto-technology!

...the last one by Sec. of Navy John Lehman (who was SecNAV between 1983 and 1988.)

Please see my post #633. John Lehman who was Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration 5 Feb 1981 - 10 Apr 1987. ADM Zumwalt served as Commander, US Naval Forces Vietnam from Sep 1968-May 1970. ADM Hyland was CINCPAC 30 Nov 1967 - 05 Dec 1970.

We have no idea why Kerry demanded his official citations be changed some 14 years after he left the service.

I'm confused about two things, here. A) what did Kerry want amended? Did he change the date of his discharge? Was it '72, and he changed it to '70? Did he ask for that new medal with the four stars? It's on the form 215, correct?

And B) the Silver Star incident itself. I still don't get it. Was it policy to turn into the fire and beach these boats, or rather to run back to a safe distance and take ones chances with the weapon's range? And was the B-40 like a bazooka, that could be reloaded, or a one-shot weapon? They record being hit in the cabin. So one round was fired from the weapon. And some speak of 'twin-50' caliber machine guns. And others speak of 60. It was 50 caliber, correct, which if they hit anyone would not allow them to 'not miss a stride'?