Catherine: Your instincts are correct–a MFR (memorandum for record, commonly referred to as a CYA) is designed to put yourself on record that you have provided info, or advocated for, a position that was not accepted by your superior(s). It is usually only done with the issue is such as to burn you if the excrement flows downhill afterwards. And your observation about the last line is a dead giveaway– that would not have been written.