Very late add to my comment below regarding the ease with which a determined liar can obtain an undeserved medal: It may well be that heavy research and documentation is required NOW to get a Silver Star, such was not the case in either Korea or Vietnam. In both "wars" the battle fields were confused and shifting, small battles took place all over, and nobody was too interested in checking anything. Admiral Lehman, the guy supporting the Kerry Silver Star, doesn't want to look like a fool, but he signed the documents without knowing jack shit, the stories could have been made up, and could have come from dead guys. Jury is still out.