Whi is John Lehman?

Eddie's Mom · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2004, 05:23 PM

This is from Boortz's website...

JOHN LEHMAN? WHERE DID HE COME FROM?

Let's move on to another Vietnam mission involving John Kerry. This one was a February 1969 reconnaissance mission during which Kerry won his Silver Star. The citation for that Silver Star was signed by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. John Hyland, and it said of Kerry that "His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." That is pretty much the standard, rubber stamp, boilerplate citation language from the era.

But wait! Some years later, 1986, to be exact, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman wrote yet another citation for Kerry's Silver Star. That citation read "By his brave action, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." That, my friends, is not the standard boilerplate citation language.

What were the circumstances that led the Secretary of the Navy to essentially rewrite a rather routine Silver Star citation that from 16 years earlier? Could it have had anything to do with the fact that the recipient of that Silver Star was serving in his first term in the U.S. Senate? Was it the Defense Department's standard operating procedure to review the citations of medal winners who find their way into politics, or was a request made for a more glowing citation? The Kerry campaign says they don't have a clue. They didn't request the more glowing praise. Yeah ... that wouldn't be Kerry's style, would it?

Just know this. People who know say that they have NEVER heard of a situation like this happening in any other case. Only Kerry's. Interesting.

Mel · #2 (**permalink**) 08-22-2004, 04:55 AM

Yeah... Interesting. Why would they rewrite something like that? Maybe the request came from someone who has a teeny peenie complex??