New Jersey Medals Honor Veterans

New Jersey has four medals, the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal, New Jersey Korean Service Medal and the New Jersey Vietnam Service Medal that are awarded to veterans in honor of their service to their country.

The New Jersey 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 NJ veterans to honor their service.

After WWII, 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 NJ DSM was then
authorized for that purpose. It is New Jersey's highest military award.

The New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to 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 Distinguished Service Medal.

The New Jersey Korean Service Medal is awarded to all New Jersey residents who were on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States in Korea, Japan, or the contiguous waters or airspace thereof on or after June 23, 1950 and on or before January 31, 1955, who have been given an honorable discharge for their service.

The New Jersey Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who served in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the contiguous waters or airspace thereof on or after December 31, 1960 and on or before May 7, 1975.

For more information or forms contact your local veterans service officer or go online to:

http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/index.html for a list of the medals and their eligibility requirements.

Those interested in applying for any of these medals should send a completed application together with copies of all pertinent information, discharge document award citation, honorable discharge, etc. to:

NJ Department of Military And Veterans Affairs
Attn: DVP-VBB
PO Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340

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

For more information call 609-530-6980.

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Abel New DCVA
Governor’s Letter
Vets Homes Update
NJ Medals Honor Veterans
Mental Health Hotline
Army Program For Vets
VA Reaches out to New Vets
Vets News You Can Use
One Shots
POW Expanded Benefits
VSO Listing
Front Page / General Info

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