I would add the Bronze Star to the mix, especially since it appears that Zumwalt was the approving authority. Hyland, CINCPAC, didn't even get involved. Slight correction: Lehman signed the citation. I have no idea whether the medal certificate was replaced, resigned, etc.
Kerry's second 120 day tour of duty in Vietnam only marginally qualify him for these stars, and his first 90 day tour of duty is only marginally qualified for claiming these stars that most vet's truly earned by actually serving in these theaters the whole time.
Unfortunately, those are the rules. It just depends on what dates the various campaigns are delineated. For the record, Kerry spent 82 days in the combat zone while on the USS Gridley, which was on plane guard duty in the Gulf of Tonkin.
I researched the letters and found that if you need replacement metals from the Navy, you had to fill out a form 180 and the SECNAV would have to sign it to replace to metals you threw, I mean the metals you lost. Kerry was gearing up for the 1884 Senate race and needed all his ducks in a row.