No amount of heroism displayed in that raid can ever make up for the fact that there was such a tragically wrong result. Kerrey says he told his superiors that civilians were killed in the raid, conducted to capture a Viet Cong leader. It matters little. Someone lied about the 21 dead Viet Cong, one of the facts upon which the Army depended in awarding the medal. And if someone lied about that, every other facet is in doubt.
Memories are hazy.
But Kerrey knows at least one truth. He knows he doesn't deserve that medal. To his credit, Kerrey hasn't touted himself as a war hero. Others have, but a perusal of biographies and news clippings of Kerrey shows that even they said little about the Bronze Star. That, however, may be just because it is so overshadowed by the more prestigious Medal of Honor he was awarded.