133 Ocean County
Residents Will Receive State’s Top Military Award September
23
Two
special award ceremonies will be held on September 23 at the Toms River Elks
Lodge, 600 Washington Street, Toms River, N.J. Brig. Gen. Eugene Chojnacki,
Assistant Adjutant General – Air, New Jersey Army National Guard, will present
the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award,
to 133 Ocean county residents who are combat veterans of World War II, Korea,
Vietnam, Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission, Persian Gulf and Kosovo. The ceremonies
will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
An
additional 26 Ocean county residents who are combat veterans will receive
the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal for their service in the military
during the 11 a.m. ceremony and another 25 county residents will receive
the MSM 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 10,000 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, e-mail or telephone call,
requesting an application form to the following –
Mail
NJDMAVA
ATTN: Distinguished Service Medal
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340
Be
sure to include full name, home address and a daytime phone number
e-mail: robert.wimberly@njdmava.state.nj.us
Phone: 1-800-624-0508, Press 7.
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,
the application process is the same as the DSM.
NEW
JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL LIST OF RECIPIENTS
Toms River Elks Lodge, Toms River, N.J.
September 23, 2003
LEGEND: (WAR
) CW=Civil War, I=World War I, II=World War II, K=Korea, BP=Bay of Pigs,
V=Vietnam, LC=Lebanon Crisis (1958), LPM=Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission (1982-1987),
G=Grenada, P=Panama (Operation Just Cause), DSS=Desert Shield/Storm, S=Somalia
(Operation Restore Hope), B=Bosnia (Operation Joint Forge), DOM=Dominican
Republic, KSV=Kosovo (Operation Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard), H=Haiti (Operation
Uphold Democracy), OEF=Afghanistan & Iraq (Operation Enduring Freedom),
OIF=Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom), NCTS=No Combat Theater Service
11 a.m. ceremony
|
Award
|
Rank
|
Last Name
|
First Name
|
MI
|
Posthumous
|
Branch
|
war
|
City
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Albano
|
Dominick
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Manchester
|
|
MSM
|
Machinist
Mate 3rd Class
|
Albert
|
Bertram
|
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Amoscato
|
Anthony
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Andersen
|
Andrew
|
H.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman 1st
Class
|
Applegate
|
Willis
|
I.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Barany
|
Joseph
|
L.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Jackson
|
|
MSM
|
Radioman
2nd Class
|
Baratz
|
Jerry
|
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Barnitt
|
Richard
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Manahawkin
|
|
DSM
|
Petty Officer
3rd Class
|
Barth
|
Emil
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Begyn
|
Allan
|
W.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Gunners
Mate 3rd Class
|
Bennet
|
Wilton
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Little Egg
Harbor
|
|
MSM
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Bentham
|
John
|
W.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Bertitu
|
Julius
|
C.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Lanoka Harbor
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Bishop
|
Howard
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Technical
Sergeant
|
Blunt
|
Henry
|
M.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Burdge
|
Anthony
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Cafiero
|
Stephen
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
High Bar
Harbor
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Campanelli
|
Vito
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Brick
|
|
MSM
|
Seaman 1st
Class
|
Camuto
|
Joseph
|
A.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Specialist
Five
|
Capozzoli
|
Michael
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Manahawkin
|
|
DSM
|
Radioman
1st Class
|
Carmelitano
|
James
|
C.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Mantoloking
|
|
DSM
|
Quartermaster
1st Class
|
Carney
|
Joseph
|
P.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM
|
Petty Officer
3rd Class
|
Casey
|
Thomas
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Little Egg
Harbor
|
|
DSM w/C
|
2nd Lieutenant
|
Casino
|
Joseph
|
V.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Cicalese
|
Antonio
|
T.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Technical
Sergeant
|
Cilento
|
Louis
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Technical
Sergeant
|
Clifford
|
Colin
|
J.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Little Egg
Harbor
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Conoshenti
|
Thomas
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Conway
|
Frank
|
K.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
MSM
|
Signalman
1st Class
|
Cummings
|
Robert
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Manahawkin
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Darcy
|
Lawrence
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Point Pleasant
|
|
MSM
|
Boatswain's
Mate 2nd Class
|
DaSilva
|
John
|
R.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Flight Officer
|
D'Autorio
|
Edward
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
DeLuca
|
John
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman 1st
Class
|
Depetris
|
Glennon
|
L.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Devaney
|
Joseph
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
|
DiMatteo
|
Leonard
|
R.
|
|
Navy
|
LPM
|
Tuckerton
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Donato
|
Anton
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Whiting
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Druther
|
Robert
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Dyker
|
Edward
|
A.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
II
|
Brick
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Specialist
Four
|
Ellison
|
Harry
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Chief Petty
Officer
|
Fellows
|
William
|
A.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Corporal
|
Fellrath
|
Frank
|
W.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
K
|
Manahawkin
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Felton
|
James
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bayville
|
|
DSM
|
Gunners
Mate 3rd Class
|
Felton
|
Richard
|
S.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Manahawkin
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Ficeto
|
Geraldo
|
S.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Florida
|
Paul
|
S.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Ford
|
Alan
|
S.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
V
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Fredericksen
|
John
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Friedrich
|
Martin
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
New Egypt
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Gallagher
|
Edward
|
M.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Barnegat
|
|
MSM
|
Petty Officer
3rd Class
|
Gearheart
|
Robert
|
C.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Motor Machinist's
Mate 1st Class
|
Giesen
|
Joseph
|
W.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Giessel
|
James
|
A.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Gomen
|
Charles
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Goodale
|
Bernard
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Whiting
|
|
DSM
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Hartwick
|
John
|
V.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Point Pleasant
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Hayes
|
Edward
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Beachwood
|
|
DSM
|
Senior Airman
|
Hector
|
William
|
J.
|
|
Air Force
|
DSS
|
Brick
|
|
MSM
|
Fireman
|
Hess
|
Douglas
|
S.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Hibbert
|
Ernest
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Ocean
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Hodroski
|
Frank
|
S.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Jackson
|
|
MSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Hor
|
Kenneth
|
Y.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Class
|
Hotaling
|
William
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Barnegat
|
|
DSM
|
Technical
Sergeant
|
Iglio
|
John
|
D.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Quartermaster
2nd Class
|
Imeri
|
Arthur
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Manahawkin
|
|
DSM
|
Merchant
Marine
|
Janesko
|
Raymond
|
P.
|
|
Merchant
Marines
|
II
|
Brick
|
|
MSM
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Jenkins
|
Jay
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Johnson
|
Jamison
|
L.
|
|
Army
|
KSV
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Juliano
|
Angelo
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Manchester
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Juliano
|
John
|
N.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Kakascik
|
Anthony
|
T.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Forked River
|
|
DSM
|
Staff Sergeant
|
Kakascik
|
Francis
|
W.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Forked River
|
|
MSM
|
Petty Officer
1st Class
|
Kasper
|
Eugene
|
A.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Petty Officer
3rd Class
|
Kearns
|
David
|
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
|
Kelley
|
Eugene
|
M.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Kiaschko
|
Andreas
|
|
|
Marine Corps
|
V
|
Bayville
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Knoeringer
|
Joseph
|
T.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Ortley Beach
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Knudsen
|
Robert
|
W.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Brick
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Konkus
|
Martin
|
C.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
V
|
Point Pleasant
|
|
DSM
|
Carpenters
Mate 2nd Class
|
Korker
|
Frank
|
|
|
Coast Guard
|
II
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM
|
Aviation
Machinist Mate 2nd Class
|
Kroon
|
Richard
|
C.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
2nd Lieutenant
|
Kruthers
|
Albert
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Manchester
|
|
MSM
|
Motor Machinist
Mate 3rd Class
|
Levine
|
Henry
|
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Loehren
|
Walter
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
MSM
|
Signalman
2nd Class
|
LoGiudice
|
Charles
|
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
MacKintosh
|
William
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bayville
|
|
DSM
|
Petty Officer
1st Class
|
Mangels
|
Thomas
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
DSS
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Mannix
|
Edward
|
A.
|
Posthumous
|
Marine Corps
|
II
|
Little Egg
Harbor
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Marchlewski
|
Thomas
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Jackson
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Martin
|
George
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Point Pleasant
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Martin
|
William
|
R.
|
|
Marine Corps
|
K
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Masi
|
Raffaello
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lakewood
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Masincup
|
Paul
|
F.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
1 p.m. ceremony
|
Award
|
Rank
|
Last Name
|
First Name
|
MI
|
Posthumous
|
Branch
|
war
|
City
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Mazzola
|
Michele
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM w/C
|
Staff Sergeant
|
McCarthy
|
John
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Ocean
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
McGilloway
|
James
|
V.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Lakewood
|
|
MSM
|
Airman 1st
Class
|
McKelvey
|
Robert
|
G.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Lanoka Harbor
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Meister
|
Julius
|
S.
|
|
Air Force
|
V
|
Waretown
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman 1st
Class
|
Messina
|
Albert
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Tuckerton
|
|
DSM
|
Radioman
1st Class
|
Mondana
|
Saverio
|
S.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Moore
|
James
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Chief Warrant
Officer Three
|
Moore
|
William
|
L.
|
|
Coast Guard
|
V
|
Toms River
|
|
MSM
|
Petty Officer
3rd Class
|
Morgan
|
John
|
W.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Toms River
|
|
DSM
|
Aviation
Radioman 2nd Class
|
Morrison
|
James
|
L.
|
|
| | 