MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
G. Natasha Zoe 
101 EGGERT CROSSING ROAD
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648
609-530-6942
RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE (11 July 2002)


393 Middlesex County Residents Will Receive State’s Top Military Award July 18


Two special award ceremonies will be held on July 18 at the VFW Post 4699, Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, N.J. Col. John Dwyer, 42nd Infantry Division Support Command Commander, will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, to 393 Middlesex county residents who are combat veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Lebanon, Panama, Bosnia and Kosovo. The ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

An additional five Middlesex county residents who are combat veterans will receive the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal for their service in the military during the 10 a.m. ceremony and another five county residents will receive the MSM during the 1 p.m. ceremony.

Five members from one family, the Susan family, will receive the award during the 1 p.m. ceremony.

The N.J. Distinguished Service Medal was originally issued in 1858 for those who had distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia, but was infrequently used until re-authorized by Governor Kean in 1988.

After the Spanish American War, the Mexican Border Expedition and again after World War I, the State of New Jersey minted special medals for returning N.J. veterans to honor their service. After World War II, Korea, Vietnam and subsequent combat actions no such medal was available. The State of New Jersey was looking for an appropriate way to honor all of these returning combat veterans and acknowledge the debt the state owed them for their service. The N.J. DSM was then authorized for that purpose. It is New Jersey’s highest military award.

Since its re-authorization in 1988, more than 8,500 medals have been awarded to combat veterans from New Jersey.

In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Service Medal you must meet all the following criteria:

~ currently be a resident of New Jersey

~ have been a resident of New Jersey at the time you entered into military service

~ have been honorably discharged

~ have proof of having served in combat while on active duty during wartime.

Those recipients whose service was recognized by the award of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal or equivalent medal will receive a N.J. Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster.

The DSM can be awarded posthumously to the next-of-kin of a veteran who meets the criteria.

Anyone interested in applying for the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal should send a written request together with copies of all pertinent information, discharge document (e.g. DD Form 214), award citation, honorable discharge, etc. to:

NJDMAVA

ATTN: Distinguished Service Medal

P.O. Box 340

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340

Be sure to include full name, home address and daytime telephone number.

The New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal is being awarded to those combat veterans who were not residents of New Jersey when they entered the military service, but who are current residents of New Jersey and have resided in the state for the previous five years. All other qualifications are the same as for the DSM. To apply for the MSM, send the application to the same address as the DSM.

NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL LIST OF RECIPIENTS

VFW Post 4699, Sayreville, N.J.

July 18, 2002

LEGEND: (WAR ) CW=Civil War, I=World War I, II=World War II, K=Korea, V=Vietnam, L=Lebanon, G=Grenada, P=Panama, DSS=Desert Shield/Storm, S=Somalia, B=Bosnia, KSV=Kosovo, NCTS=No Combat Theater Service

10 a.m. ceremony

Rank

First Name

MI

Last Name

Posthumous

Branch

war

Remarks

City

Seaman 1st Class

Norman

W.

Aamland

Navy

II

New Brunswick

Technician 4th Grade

Frank

Abate

Posthumous

Army

II

Cluster

N. Brunswick

Sergeant

Joseph

Aiello

Army Air Corps

II

Iselin

Sergeant

Francis

Aleck

Army

V

Edison

Specialist Five

Peter

E.

Anderson

Army

V

Piscataway

Specialist Five

Peter

E.

Anderson

Army

V

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

Thomas

W.

Antal

Army

V

MSM

Monroe Twp.

Corporal

Joseph

Arciszewski

Army

II

S. River

Technical Sergeant

William

E.

Arends

Army

II

S. Plainfield

Staff Sergeant

Charles

A.

Baran

Army Air Corps

II

Edison

Technician 5th Grade

Louis

Barna

Army

II

Dunellen

Sergeant

David

J.

Bartkovich

Army

V

Metuchen

Corporal

Vincent

R.

Basilici

Army

II

Carteret

Corporal

Stanley

A.

Baum

Army

II

Cluster

Iselin

Specialist Four

Bradley

Bean

Army

V

Lawrence Harbor

Specialist Four

Robert

M.

Beiles

Army

V

Old Bridge

Specialist Four

Charles

P.

Bellanca

Army

V

Edison

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Robert

G.

Berg

Navy

K

East Brunswick

Petty Officer 1st Class

Joseph

J.

Bergen

Navy

II

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

Theodore

Bernstein

Posthumous

Army

II

Woodbridge

Staff Sergeant

John

A.

Bertucci

Army

II

Edison

Staff Sergeant

Leroy

E.

Bibbs

Army

DSS

Woodbridge

Seaman 1st Class

Joseph

J.

Bielak

Navy

II

Sayreville

Petty Officer 1st Class

Frank

H.

Blondin

Navy

II

Sayreville

2nd Lieutenant

Paul

W.

Bongard

Army

K

Colonia

Corporal

William

B.

Bongiovanni

Army

II

N. Brunswick

Seaman 1st Class

William

P.

Bordniak

Navy

II

N. Brunswick

Technician 5th Class

John

H.

Bott

Army

II

Cluster

Edison

Private 1st Class

Addison

R.

Bradford

Posthumous

Marine Corps

II

Milltown

Gunners Mate 3rd Class

Mitchell

A

Bradshaw

Navy

II

S. Plainfield

Specialist Four

Joseph

P.

Brady

Army

V

Old Bridge

Sergeant

John

T.

Brady

Air Force

V

Iselin

Ensign

Albert

J.

Brechka

Navy

II

Colonia

Specialist Four

Leonard

P.

Browa

Army

V

Old Bridge

Sergeant 1st Class

Robert

J.

Bruce

Army

KSV

Sayerville

Private

Walter

C.

Bucher

Army

II

Cluster

Iselin

Specialist Four

William

G.

Bunting

Army

V

Edison

Boilerman 2nd Class

John

C.

Burkhard

Navy

L

Piscataway

Corporal

John

J.

Butfiloski

Army

II

Cluster

S. Plainfield

Electricians Mate 3rd Class

John

J.

Butterfield

Navy

II

Edison

Corporal

David

J.

Callahan

Posthumous

Army Air Corps

II

East Brunswick

Corporal

Joseph

Cammarata

Posthumous

Army

II

Cluster

S. Plainfield

Gunners Mate 3rd Class

Peter

D.

Campbell

Navy

II

East Brunswick

Petty Officer 1st Class

Robert

T.

Campbell

Navy

II

Cluster

East Brunswick

Petty Officer 1st Class

Louis

E.

Carlucci

Navy

II

N. Brunswick

Chief Petty Officer

John

J.

Carroll

Navy

II

Edison

Technician 4th Grade

Daniel

J.

Carroll

Army

II

Middlesex

Corporal

James

L.

Carter

Marine Corps

V

Edison

Technician 4th Grade

Frank

B.

Casale

Army

II

Monroe Twp.

Master Sergeant

Stephen

Cherepon

Marine Corps

II

Carteret

Specialist Four

John

J.

Chrzan

Army

V

New Brunswick

Corporal

Guisseppi

Cillis

Marine Corps

K

Piscataway

Corporal

James

Ciszewski

Marine Corps

V

Fords

Technician 5th Grade

Angelo

Clericuzio

Army

II

Colonia

Private 1st Class

Louis

S.

Colasurdo

Army

V

Edison

Private

Luther

F.

Collins

Posthumous

Army

II

Piscataway

Sergeant

Fabio

A.

Cologna

Marine Corps

DSS

Metuchen

Specialist Four

Andrew

L.

Comba

Army

V

Middlesex

Private

James

E.

Conover

Army

II

Cranbury

Sergeant

John

A.

Cook

Air Force

V

Milltown

Gunnery Sergeant

Francis

H.

Cooper

Marine Corps

V

Edison

Specialist Five

Ralph

Corno

Army

V

MSM

Edison

Staff Sergeant

James

Corodemus

Army

II

Old Bridge

Technician 5th Grade

Christopher

C.

Cosimano

Army

II

Edison

Sergeant

Jack

G.

Costa

Air Force

V

Middlesex

Specialist Five

Edward

Costello

Army

V

Edison

Private 1st Class

John

L.

Craig

Army

II

Cluster

Monroe Twp

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Frank

M.

Csanyi

Navy

II

Edison

Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class

Steve

J.

Cserr

Navy

II

Hopelawn

Technician 4th Grade

Fred

F.

Curcio

Army

II

Cluster

Edison

Sergeant 1st Class

Edward

V.

Curley

Army

K

East Brunswick

Boatswain Mate 2nd Class

Steve

Czemeris

Navy

II

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

Joseph

A.

D'Onofrio

Army

II

Middlesex

Specialist Four

Edward

J.

Dalley

Army

V

Edison

Seaman 2nd Class

Randall

Dammers

Navy

II

Monmouth Junction

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Richard

L.

Davis

Navy

V

Dunellen

Specialist Five

Vincent

C.

DeBono

Army

V

Metuchen

Private

Mario

A.

DeCarolis

Army

II

MSM

Old Bridge

Gunners Mate 3rd Class

Michael

A.

DeCola

Navy

II

S. Plainfield

Sergeant

David

J.

Delair

Marine Corps

DSS

S. Plainfield

Technician 5th Grade

Joseph

J.

DePre

Army

II

Parlin

Technician 5th Grade

John

J.

DeVico

Army

II

S. Plainfield

Corporal

William

H.

Devlin

Army

II

N. Brunswick

Specialist Five

Hugh Perry

Dewitt

Army

V

Piscataway

Staff Sergeant

Ben

Diggs

Army

V

Cranbury

Specialist Five

Vincent

J.

Dima

Army

V

Edison

1st Sergeant

Daniel

R.

Donovan

Posthumous

Army

II

Carteret

Sergeant

Howard

W.

Drake

Army

II

Cliffwood

Lieutenant Colonel

Stanley

Drawl

Army

B

Sayreville

Corporal

Abe

J.

Dubrowsky

Army

K

Cluster

Monroe Township

Private 1st Class

William

A.

Dunston

Army

V

Rahway

Signalman 3rd Class

Joseph

M.

Egan

Navy

II

Perth Amboy

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Richard

V.

Ehlert

Navy

II

Milltown

Private 1st Class

George

A.

Ellis

Army

II

Edison

Sergeant

Robert

A.

Ellmyer

Air Force

V

Edison

Corporal

Edward

B.

Entwisle

Army

K

Edison

Airman 1st Class

James

E.

Erb

Air Force

K

East Brunswick

Specialist Four

Raymond

D.

Estrada

Army

DSS

Perth Amboy

Corporal

William

E.

Evans

Marine Corps

K

Avenel

Corporal

Richard

F.

Faderwick

Army

II

Edison

Private 1st Class

Anthony

V.

Farina

Army

K

MSM

Piscataway

Corporal

Joseph

A.

Federico

Army Air Corps

II

Colonia

Specialist Four

Francis

T.

Fee

Army

V

S. Amboy

Corporal

John

Fitzell

Army

II

Jamesburg

Sergeant

Michael

T.

Fitzsimmons

Army

V

Colonia

1st Lieutenant

Edward

J.

Foley

Marine Corps

V

Piscataway

Sergeant

Benjamin

J.

Franko

Army

II

Cluster

Metuchen

Staff Sergeant

Milton

D.

Frant

Army

II

Highland Park

Private 1st Class

John

A.

French

Army

V

Highland

Corporal

Nathan

Friedman

Army

II

Edison

Lieutenant Colonel

Henry

E.

Gabler

Army

V

Princeton

Corporal

Vincent

Galvano

Army

II

Avenel

Specialist Four

Shawn

M.

Ganley

Army

DSS

Sayreville

Staff Sergeant

George

R.

Gasparik

Army

II

Sayreville

Fireman 2nd Class

Zulin

George

Navy

II

S. Amboy

Technician 5th Grade

Joseph

C.

Georgianni

Army

II

N. Brunswick

Sergeant

Howard

R.

Gerhartz

Army

II

N. Brunswick

Private 1st Class

Andrew

P.

Gervasi

Army

V

Monroe Twp.

Corporal

Emilio

P.

Giammarco

Army

II

Middlesex

Captain

Wayne

E.

Girardet

Navy

V

Cranbury

Staff Sergeant

Joseph

Glenn

Army

II

Parlin

Private 1st Class

Steve

Glowacki

Army

K

Piscataway

Staff Sergeant

Nathan

Goldberg

Army Air Corps

II

Monroe Twp.

Sergeant

William

P.

Gooding

Posthumous

Army

V

Cluster

Highland

Specialist Four

Thomas

J.

Gorman

Army

V

S. Amboy

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Elwood

Gray

Navy

II

Metuchen

Radioman 3rd Class

Seymour

Greenfeder

Posthumous

Navy

II

Colonia

Technical Sergeant

Victor

C.

Grieco

Army

II

S. Amboy

Specialist Four

Calvin

P.

Gross

Army

V

S. Plainfield

Lance Corporal

Eric

J.

Grossman

Marine Corps

DSS

Old Bridge

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Edward

A.

Grzankowski

Navy

II

Sayreville

Sergeant

Samuel

Gudis

Army

II

Monroe Twp.

Sergeant

Douglass

Gush

Army

V

Spotswood

Machinist Mate 3rd Class

Martin

E.

Gutowski

Navy

V

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

John

Haley

Posthumous

Army

II

Port Reading

Technician 5th Grade

James

L.

Hawke

Army

II

Colonia

Private

Joseph

D.

Helmstetter

Army

II

Edison

Staff Sergeant

George

F.

Henne

Army

II

Piscataway

Staff Sergeant

John

J.

Hennessey

Army Air Corps

II

Cluster

N. Brunswick

Corporal

Kevin

J.

Henry

Marine Corps

V

Cluster

Cranbury

Corporal

Allen

F.

Herman

Marine Corps

V

Edison

Staff Sergeant

Edward

H

Herrmann

Air Force

V

Edison

Specialist Four

Thomas

J.

Herzog

Army

V

S. Plainfield

Private 1st Class

Robert

H.

Higgins

Army

II

Piscataway

Corporal

Joseph

T.

Holton

Army

II

S. Amboy

Specialist Four

Allan

J.

Homan

Army

V

S. Amboy

1st Lieutenant

Herbert

V.

Hood

Army

K

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

John

W.

Hopta

Army

II

Perth Amboy

Machinist Mate 2nd Class

Peter

Hummel

Navy

V

Edison

Specialist Four

Eugene

R.

Hutmaker

Army

V

Monmouth Junction

Seaman

Joan

E.

Ivan

Navy

DSS

S. River

Lance Corporal

Albert

J.

Iwanski

Marine Corps

V

Monroe Twp

Staff Sergeant

Stanley

P.

Jackson

Army Air Corps

II

Piscataway

Corporal

Harry

E.

Jacobs

Army

K

Cluster

Middlesex

Technician 4th Grade

Walter

Jakowlew

Army

II

Middlesex

Sergeant

John

Jaros

Posthumous

Army

II

Menlo Park

Chief Petty Officer

Paul

Jaskowski

Navy

II

Highland Park

Lieutenant Junior Grade

Martin

D.

Jessen

Navy

II

Metuchen

Sergeant 1st Class

James

H.

Johns

Army

V

Parlin

Sergeant 1st Class

John

P

Johnson

Marine Corps

V

Monroe Twp

Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class

Bruce

Johnson

Navy

V

Helmetta

Private

Thomas

P.

Julian

Army

K

N. Brunswick

Specialist Four

Paul

F.

Kabara

Army

V

Sayreville

Corporal

Michael

S.

Kafka

Marine Corps

V

Highland Park

Technical Sergeant

Jacob

H.

Katz

Army

II

Monroe Twp.

Corporal

Wayne

R.

Keans

Marine Corps

V

Monroe Twp.

Technician 3rd Grade

Stephen

E.

Kecskes

Army

II

Cluster

Old Bridge

Corporal

Lewis

W.

Kime

Army Air Corps

II

Matawan

Staff Sergeant

Douglas

King

Army

II

Edison

1st Lieutenant

Charles

M.

King

Army

V

East Brunswick

Corporal

William

C.

King

Marine Corps

V

Perth Amboy

Sergeant

Richard

H.

Klimkiewicz

Army

V

Cluster

Piscataway

Seaman 1st Class

Oscar

M.

Komick

Navy

II

S. Amboy

Corporal

John

S.

Komosinski

Posthumous

Army

II

Cluster

S. Amboy

Technician 5th Class

George

Kopik

Posthumous

Army

II

Edison

Ships Cook 2nd Class

Albert

G.

Kortbawi

Navy

II

N. Brunswick

Lieutenant Colonel

Ernest

M.

Kosa

Army

K

Cluster

Sparta

Corporal

Michael

F.

Kostevicki

Marine Corps

V

Milltown

Technician 5th Grade

Peter

Kovalski

Army

II

Metuchen

Staff Sergeant

James

J.

Kover

Army

II

Metuchen

Corporal

Steve

Kozar

Marine Corps

II

Cluster

Woodbridge

Private

Bernard

P.

Kozma

Army

II

Milltown

Staff Sergeant

Sigmund

L.

Kulessa

Army

II

East Brunswick

Private 1st Class

Lewis

F.

Kunz

Army

II

Laurence Harbor

Sergeant 1st Class

Anthony

L.

Kwiatek

Posthumous

Army

K

Piscataway

Seaman 1st Class

Charles

M.

La Fleur

Navy

II

Piscataway

Private 1st Class

Richard

F.

Lang

Army

V

Middlesex

Private 1st Class

Richard

F.

Lang

Army

V

Cluster

Middlesex

Captain

Carl

G

Langbert

Army

V

East Brunswick

Airman 1st Class

Francis

L.

LaPenta

Air Force

K

Iselin

Specialist Five

Pasquale

LaRocca

Army

V

MSM

Piscataway

Specialist Four

Alfred

F.

Leaman

Army

V

Laurence Harbor

Sergeant

John

R

Leary

Air Force

V

N. Brunswick

Quartermaster 3rd Class

Edwin

A.

Leeman

Navy

II

East Brunswick

Specialist Four

Russell

J.

Lehman

Army

V

Hopelawn

Private 1st Class

Albert

J.

Leschinski

Army

II

Matawan

Technician 4th Grade

David

D.

Liebowitz

Army

II

Monroe Twp.

Staff Sergeant

Patsy

LiSanti

Army

II

Cluster

Iselin

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Joseph

M.

Lobo

Coast Guard

II

Monroe Twp.

Corporal

Stuart

G.

Long

Marine Corps

V

Cranbury

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Alphonse

J.

Longuillo

Navy

K

Milltown

Petty Officer 1st Class

Willard

G.

Lowe

Navy

II

Middlesex

Sergeant

Michael

J.

Lucas

Army

II

Edison

Captain

Louis

J

Luczu

Army

V

East Brunswick

Specialist Five

Thomas

L.

Lukowski

Army

V

East Brunswick

Metalsmith 3rd Class

Nels

W.

Luthman

Navy

II

Piscataway

 



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