According to the swifties there was only one command detonated sub-surface mine. There was no hostile enemy fire from the river banks. There are conditions under which the Bronze Star is awarded, especially for a combat "v" distinguish device. If you take away enemy fire and just have Kerry picking up a man overboard, it is hard to use this as a justification for awarding a Bronze Star.
According to Unfit for Command, "Kerry's boat was on the right side of the river and the mine went off on the opposite side, under PCF 3. "According to Chenoweth, Odell, Pease, and Thurlow there was no other hostile fire and there were no other mines." "The boats had begun firing after the mine exploded, but they ceased after a short time when it was clear there was no return fire." "Chenoweth (who received no medal} picked up the PCF 3 crewmen thrown into the water." The PCF 3 was going around in circles with some dazed crewmen still on-board and Thurlow at some risk to himself tried to board it and fell into the water. It finally ran on to a sandbar and eventually the boat started to sink. "Indeed, several of the PCF sailors did not seek or receive Purple hearts.
So the guy {Chenoweth] who rescued three wounded crewmen from PCF 3 gets no medals and several of the crew from PCF don't get a Purple Heart. Yet Kerry who is on the opposite side of the river and runs away gets a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Is it any wonder the SBVFT are pissed? They didn't know the details until they read Brinkley's Tour of Duty to learn of Kerry's perfidy.
Thanks for filling in the blanks.
The version you present sounds plausible.
Quite different from Kerry's version (s) - also plausible, if one doesn't hear from O'Neill's group.