SOMERSET, NJ - A special award ceremony will be held on November 27, 2001, at 10:30 a.m. at the Somerset National Guard Armory, 1060 Hamilton Street, Somerset, N.J. Brigadier General Robert V. Paschon, The Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey, will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, to 252 state residents who are combat veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf War, Somalia or Bosnia. 

In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Service Medal, recipients must currently be a resident of New Jersey and also have been a resident of the state at the time they entered into military service; have been honorably discharged; and, must have received at least the equivalent of the Air Medal, Purple Heart, or Bronze Star or 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 NJ 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.

The NJ  DSM 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. 

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

“The New Jersey veterans receiving the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal are a credit to our state and our nation.  Their sacrifice and their bravery in combat is truly deserving of New Jersey’s highest military award.  The award also serves as a great way to thank our veterans for their extraordinary achievements while our nation has been at war,” said Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco.

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 NJ 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 214 ), award citation, honorable discharge, etc. to: 

Rank	First Name	MI	Last Name	Posthumous	Branch	City	Cluster	Warr
Corporal	Febo	J.	Abbondante		Army Air Corps	Bound Brook		II
Sergeant	George	L.	Albertocki		Army	South Plainfield	cluster	II
Private First Class	Dominick		Alessi		Marine Corps	Whiting		II
Technician Fourth Grade	Frank	D.	Ambrose		Army	South Bound Brook		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Mario	J.	Amoroso		Navy	Raritan		II
Petty Officer First Class	Newton	W.	Apgar		Navy	Middlesex		II
Staff Sergeant	Carl	J.	Asszony		Air Force	Piscataway		K
Sergeant	John	R.	Backovsky		Marine Corps	Franklin Park	cluster	V
Petty Officer Third Class	Glenn	J.	Bakunas		Navy	Nechanic Station		V
Staff Sergeant	Anthony	C.	Barton		Army	Bound Brook		II
Staff Sergeant	William	J.	Bason		Army	North Brunswick		II
Sergeant	Edward	C.	Becht	posthumous	Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Petty Officer Second Class	James	W.	Berginger		Navy	Bernardsville		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Arthur	G.	Besta		Army	Green Brook		II
Petty Officer First Class	Frederick	M.	Beyer	posthumous	Navy	Middlesex		II
Private First Class	Zigmond		Biernacki		Army	South River	cluster	II
Sergeant	Thomas	A.	Bittle		Army	Neshanic Station		V
Sergeant	Ernest	W.	Blunt		Air Force	Milltown		II
Specialist Three	James	T.	Bock		Army	Warren		K
Private First Class	John	A.	Boll		Army	Piscataway		K
Staff Sergeant	Aaron	H.	Bornstein		Army	Jamesburg	cluster	II
Private First Class	Frank	X.	Bourke		Army	Martinsville		II
Specialist Four	Raymond	A.	Brereton		Army	Watchung	cluster	V
Private First Class	Robert	L.	Brown		Army	Branchburg		II
Second Lieutenant	Frank	J.	Bubb		Army	Basking Ridge		K
Corporal	Herbert	J.	Buhl		Army	Raritan		K
Petty Officer Second Class	Leroy	G.	Burke		Navy	East Brunswick		II
Seaman Apprentice	John	J.	Burke		Navy	Kendall Park		K
Sergeant	Timothy	F.	Burns		Army	Manville	cluster	V
Sergeant	Samuel		Cambletto		Army	Martinsville		II
Sergeant	Maurice	D.	Campanell		Army	Branchburg		V
Petty Officer Third Class	Michael	S.	Campanella		Navy	Bound Brook		II
Private	William	F.	Caswell		Army	Manville		K
Technician Fifth Grade	Guido	M.	Celentano		Army	South Plainfield		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Guido	M.	Celentano		Army	South Plainfield		II
Staff Sergeant	Tony		Celletto		Army	Bound Brook		II
Staff Sergeant	Francis	R.	Cerillo		Air Force	Monroe Twp.	cluster	II
Technician Fifth Grade	George	F.	Chandler		Army	Bridgewater		II
Technician Third Grade	Rosario		Ciurleo		Army	Somerville		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Howard	R.	Clark		Navy	Morgan		II
Specialist Five	Robert	L.	Clary		Army	Somerset		V
Sergeant	John	B.	Cockburn	posthumous	Army	South Plainfield		II
Sergeant	Boris		Cohen		Army	Monroe Twp.		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Thomas	J.	Collins		Navy	Manville		II
Technical Sergeant	Francis	H.	Colontone		Army	Basking Ridge		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Edward	F.	Connelly		Army	Piscataway	cluster	II
Petty Officer Third Class	Leroy	W.	Cornwell		Navy	North Plainfield		II
Technical Sergeant	Anthony	W.	Corsini		Army	Middlesex	cluster	II
Corporal	Joseph	A.	Cortese		Marine Corps	Warren		II
Private First Class	John	F.	Craig		Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Fireman	Paul		Crivello		Navy	Middlesex		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Daniel		Csontos		Navy	South Bound Brook		II
Corporal	Francis	P.	Cuccia		Marine Corps	South Plainfield		K
Technician Fifth Grade	Carmen	J.	Cuccolo		Army	Milltown		II
Specialist Four	John	H.	Culbertson		Army	Piscataway		K
Corporal	George	W.	Davis	posthumous	Army	Somerset	cluster	K
Petty Officer First Class	Carl	E.	Delin		Navy	Raritan		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Dominic	D.	Demico		Navy	South Plainfield		K
Petty Officer First Class	John	S.	Dendis		Navy	Piscataway		II
Corporal	Raymond	B.	DiGibattista		Army	Warren		K
Petty Officer First Class	Francis	W.	Dohn	posthumous	Navy	Spotswood		II
Private First Class	Adam	T.	Domanski		Army	Middlesex		II
Private First Class	Alan	J.	Doremus		Army	Manville		K
Private First Class	Vito	A.	Dorio	posthumous	Army	East Brunswick		II
Corporal	Edward	D.	Dragon		Army Air Corps	Dunellen		II
Petty Officer First Class	James	E.	Duffy		Navy	No. Plainfield		II
Private First Class	Anthony	E.	Dzergoski	posthumous	Army	South River		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Harry	N.	Epple		Navy	Basking Ridge		II
Captain	Albert	T.	Farese		Army	Bernardsville	cluster	II
Petty Officer First Class	Fiorenzo		Fedullo		Navy	Monroe Twp		II
Sergeant	John		Fedyna		Army	Manville	cluster	II
Private First Class	Robert	S.	Feldman		Army	Somerville		II
Private First Class	Robert	S.	Feldman		Army	North Plainfield	cluster	II
Private First Class	Patsy	C.	Fiorentino		Army	Bound Brook		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Walter	P.	Fitzsimmons		Navy	North Plainfield		II
Technician Third Grade	William	L.	Flomerfelt		Army	Middlesex		II
Corporal	Frank	N.	Fortuna		Army	Raritan		K
Petty Officer Third Class	George	F.	Frana		Navy	Hillsborough		II
Petty Officer Third Class	John	J.	Frankosky		Navy	East Brunswick		II
Private First Class	Frank	G.	Franzinger		Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Technician Fourth Grade	Frank		Fucsko		Army	Spotswood	cluster	II
Specialist Four	George	W.	Furs		Army	Spotswood		V
Specialist Four	Jack		Giameo		Army	Jackson	cluster	V
Petty Officer First Class	John	R.	Giarrusso		Navy	Hillsborough		II
Staff Sergeant	James	P.	Gillespie	posthumous	Army	Branchburg	cluster	V
First Lieutenant	Marvin	B.	Glaser		Army	Monroe Twp.		K
Corporal	John	S.	Gorbe		Army	Bridgewater		K
Petty Officer Third Class	Charles	W.	Gotsch		Navy	Highland Lakes		II
Sergeant	Richard	H.	Griffith		Army	No. Plainfield		K
Master Sergeant	Adam		Haggerty		Army	South Plainfield		II
Corporal	Frederick	J.	Hague		Marine Corps	Helmetta		V
Petty Officer Third Class	John	P.	Haller		Navy	Middlesex Boro		II
Sergeant	Hellal		Hanania		Army	Middlesex	cluster	II
Specialist Four	Robert	C.	Harabin		Army	South Bound Brook		V
Petty Officer Second Class	Frank	J.	Harry		Navy	New Brunswick		II
Staff Sergeant	Robert	E.	Henne		Army Air Corps	North Plainfield		II
Captain	Howard	C.	Henry		Army Air Corps	Monroe Twp.	cluster	II
Petty Officer Second Class	Ernest	C.	Hicks		Navy	Basking Ridge		II
Staff Sergeant	William	J.	Hill		Marine Corps	Raritan		K
Petty Officer Third Class	Joseph	A.	Huddock		Navy	Milleville		II
Private First Class	George	J.	Husjoke		Army	South Plainfield		II
Private First Class	Ciro	C.	Incao		Army	Manville		K
Corporal	William	E.	Jackson		Army	East Brunswick	cluster	II
Sergeant	Elmer	C.	Jagemann	posthumous	Army	Spotswood		K
Petty Officer Second Class	John	T.	Jaworski		Navy	Green Brook		II
Seaman First Class	Walter	W.	Jones		Navy	Manville		II
Technician Fourth Grade	Walter	J.	Kaladas		Army	South Bound Brook		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Steve		Kapsky		Navy	Raritan		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Nathan		Kastner		Navy	Somerset	cluster	II
Staff Sergeant	Samuel	M.	Kearton		Air Force	Bridgewater		V
Master Sergeant	Samuel		Kearton	posthumous	Army Air Corps	Bridgewater		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Eugene	J.	Kirby		Navy	South Plainfield		II
Specialist Four	William	S.	Kleeman		Army	Piscataway	cluster	V
Staff Sergeant	James	E.	Knoll		Army	Hillsborough	cluster	V
Technician Fifth Grade	August	H.	Koestner		Army	South Plainfield		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Charles		Koestner		Navy	South Plainfield		II
Corporal	Victor		Kolvites		Marine Corps	Belle Mead		II
Specialist Four	Ronald	J.	Kornacivich		Army	Dayton		V
Private First Class	John		Kotora		Army	Hillsborough		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Julius	J.	Kovacs		Navy	So. Bound Brook		K
Technician Fifth Grade	Vincent	J.	Kovell		Army	Somerville		II
Staff Sergeant	Ernest	A.	Kowalski		Army Air Corps	Neshanic Station		II
Technician Fourth Grade	John	R.	Koza		Army	Somerset		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Anthony	J.	Kozacko		Navy	Middlesex		II
Corporal	Joseph	W.	Kozlowski		Marine Corps	Bridgewater		K
Staff Sergeant	Leonard	P.	Krause		Air Force	Spotswood		K
Seaman	Arthur	J.	Krause		Navy	North Brunswick		V
Corporal	John		Kucharz	posthumous	Army	South Plainfield	cluster	II
Corporal	John		Lamaestra		Army	Raritan		K
Sergeant	George	R.	Layton		Army	Bedminster		K
Private First Class	Richard	J.	Lazicky		Army	East Millstone		K
Specialist Four	Peter	A.	Lewis		Army	Lyons		V
Technician Third Grade	Theron	A.	Linkroum		Army	Bridgewater		II
Corporal	Arthur	A.	Lombardo		Army	Highland Park		K
Specialist Four	Joseph		Lucash		Army	Somerville		V
Sergeant	Donald	R.	Luker		Army	Middlesex		V
Private First Class	Harold	C.	Mac Donald		Army Air Corps	Warren		II
Private First Class	Walter	L.	Macaulay		Army	Warren		K
Second Lieutenant	Thomas	F.	Mantell		Air Force	Watchung	cluster	II
Corporal	Walter	V.	Marnell	posthumous	Army	Somerville		II
Technician Fifth Grade	George	J.	Mason		Army	Somerville		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Richard	A.	Maulick		Navy	Warren		II
Specialist Four	Robert	A.	Mazza		Army	Martinsville		V
Private First Class	Alexander	P.	Mazzucco	posthumous	Army	Middlesex		II
Sergeant	Richard	J.	Mc Aleer		Air Force	Warren		II
Captain	Ronald	A.	Mc Cauley		Army	Neshanic Station	cluster	V
Corporal	Charles	L.	Melillo		Army	North Plainfield		K
Sergeant	Harold	G.	Melinek		Army	Basking Ridge		II
Specialist Four	Bernard	H.	Menth		Army	North Brunswick		V
Staff Sergeant	George		Mesko		Army	Helmetta		II
Specialist Four	Sarah	N.	Mess		Army	Somerville		S
Technical Sergeant	Robert	J.	Miller		Army Air Corps	Spotswood		II
Petty Officer First Class	Oliver		Miller		Navy	Hillsbourgh		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Frederick		Millet		Army	S. Bound Brook		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Christopher	H.	Morton		Navy	South Plainfield		V
Sergeant	Joel	D.	Nevins		Marine Corps	Metuchen		V
Corporal	Leslie	L.	Niles		Army	Somerville		K
Petty Officer Second Class	Charles	J.	Noll		Navy	Manville	cluster	V
Seaman	Dennis		O'Connell		Navy	Far Hills		V
Seaman	John	P.	O'Leary		Navy	South River		V
Petty Officer Second Class	Daniel	J.	Olson		Navy	South Plainfield		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Ladislaus	E.	Omert	posthumous	Navy	Piscataway		II
Technician Fifth Class	Howard	K.	Osborne		Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Private First Class	Julian	M.	Oszeyczik		Army	Piscataway	cluster	II
Petty Officer Third Class	LeRoy	F.	Oughton		Navy	Milltown		V
Staff Sergeant	Gerard	A.	Pascale		Marine Corps	Bridgewater		II
Airman First Class	James	H.	Pasch		Air Force	Green Brook		K
Technician Fifth Grade	Toreno	P.	Paulino		Army	Middlesex		II
Private First Class	Peter	P.	Pawlowski		Marine Corps	Milltown		II
Specialist Five	Raymond		Pelesko		Army	Somerset		V
Sergeant	Salvatore	C.	Perone		Army	Middlesex		II
Petty Officer Second Class	William	L.	Pfeifer		Navy	New Brunswick		II
Sergeant First Class	George	H.	Pierce		Army	Hillsborough	cluster	K
Technician Fifth Grade	Andrew		Pieros		Army	Raritan		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Elmer	W.	Pierson		Army	Spotswood		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Domenic	J.	Pirone		Navy	Hillsborough		II
Private First Class	Alphonse	J.	Pisaniello	posthumous	Army	South Plainfield		II
Private First Class	Theodore		Popovich		Army	Cranford	cluster	II
Technician Fifth Grade	Anthony	M.	Pranzatelli		Army	Bridgewater		II
Technician Fourth Grade	Thomas	J.	Pranzatelli		Army	Martinsville		II
Corporal	Joseph	J.	Procacci		Army	Middlesex		K
Technician Fourth Grade	Edward	J.	Prusek		Army	Hillsborough	cluster	II
Sergeant	William	K.	Randolph		Army	Somerset		II
Sergeant	Daniel	J.	Ravaschiere		Army	Lincroft		II
Corporal	Albert	C.	Ravenswaay		Army	Somerville		K
Petty Officer Third Class	Samuel	P.	Razzano		Navy	South Bound Brook		II
Technical Sergeant	Michael	J.	Rejtmar	posthumous	Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Petty Officer Third Class	Arthur	L.	Richards		Navy	Somerville		K
Private First Class	Walter		Richardson		Army	Somerset		V
Private First Class	Harold	I.	Risner		Army	Spotswood		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Vincent	A.	Romano		Navy	Bound Brook		II
Technician Fourth Grade	Abraham		Rosen		Army	Bridgewater	cluster	II
Technical Sergeant	Richard	N.	Roth		Army	Somerset	cluster	II
Sergeant	Timothy	J.	Rudolph		Army	Somerset		DSS
Private First Class	Domenico	F.	Ruggerio		Army	Basking Ridge	cluster	II
Petty Officer Second Class	Walter	J.	Rutkowski		Navy	Middlesex		II
Captain	Ralph	A.	Santasiero		Air Force	Raritan	cluster	II
Petty Officer Second Class	Joseph	J.	Savare		Navy	Bridgewater		K
Private First Class	William		Savarin		Army	Monroe Twp.		II
Seaman	Anthony		Scheuermann	posthumous	Navy	Cranford		I
Captain	Frederick	C.	Schmelz		Army	Somerville	cluster	II
Technical Sergeant	Herbert	C.	Schoch		Army	North Plainfield		II
Petty Officer First Class	Charles		Schwartz		Navy	Middlesex		II
Corporal	Parry	B.	Scott		Army	Somerset	cluster	K
Technician Fifth Grade	Arthur	W.	Sears	posthumous	Army	East Brunswick		II
Staff Sergeant	Bernard		Senders		Army	Bridgewater		II
Staff Sergeant	Bernard		Senders		Army	Bridgewater		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Norman	G.	Shamy		Navy	Highland Park		K
Petty Officer Third Class	Leslie	M.	Siess		Navy	Kendall Park		II
Corporal	William		Sixt		Army	Raritan		K
Sergeant	William	C.	Slater		Air Force	Bridgewater		V
Sergeant	George	F.	Smith		Air Force	Hillsborough		V
Private First Class	Herbert		Smith		Army	North Plainfield		II
Petty Officer Second Class	James	P.	Sorace		Navy	Bridgewater		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Norman	D.	Spagnolo		Army	Bernardsville		II
Specialist Four	Gary	A.	Spratt		Army	Somerville	Cluster	V
Petty Officer Third Class	Steven	E.	Sramek		Navy	Bridgewater		II
Corporal	Richard	E.	Stranzenbach		Army	South Plainfield		K
Private First Class	Albert		Szabo		Army	Green Brook	Cluster	II
First Lieutenant	Joseph	L.	Tammaro		Air Force	Green Brook	Cluster	II
Sergeant	Earl	C.	Tapper		Air Force	Somerville		V
First Lieutenant	Canio	L.	Tarentino		Army Air Corps	Somerville	Cluster	II
Technician Fifth Grade	James	R.	Terry		Army	Monroe Twp.		II
Specialist Four	George	A.	Terry		Army	Neshanic Station		V
Technician Fifth Grade	David	L.	Thomas		Army	Hillsborough		II
Private First Class	Raymond	E.	Thompson	posthumous	Army	So. Bound Brook		II
Specialist Four	David	M.	Thompson		Army	No. Plainfield		V
Private First Class	Carmine	J.	Troiola		Army	Pluckemin		II
Corporal	Nicholas	J.	Troisi		Army	Hillsborough		K
Petty Officer First Class	Edward	A.	Trojanowski		Navy	South River		II
Petty Officer First Class	George		Tutek		Navy	Freehold		II
Corporal	Joseph	J.	Tverdak		Marine Corps	North Plainfield		II
Petty Officer Second Class	Frank	C.	Tymecki		Navy	S. Bound Brook		II
Technician Fifth Grade	Peter	P.	Tyska		Army	Middlesex		II
Private First Class	Ernest		Uveges		Army	North Brunswick		II
Petty Officer Second Class	John	W.	Vanderbeek		Navy	Bridgewater		II
Staff Sergeant	Paul	R.	Vanduren		Air Force	Monroe	Cluster	II
Corporal	Albert	C.	Vanravenswaay		Army	Somerville		K
(MM)	Donald	H.	Vansant		Merchant Marines	Bridgewater		II
Sergeant	Don	M.	Venitelli		Marine Corps	South Plainfield		K
(MM)	Richard	K.	Vincze		Merchant Marines	Bedminster		II
Sergeant	Paul	D.	Vitaliano		Army	Middlesex		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Anthony	G.	Vitello		Coast Guard	Monroe Twp.		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Greogory	J.	Vogt		Navy	South River		V
Technician Fifth Grade	Leonardo		Volpicella		Army	Kendall Park	Cluster	II
Corporal	Charles	R.	Walsh		Marine Corps	Bernardsville		II
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Henry	N.	Walsh		Navy	Manville		II
Corporal	Stanley		Wilkins		Marine Corps	Piscataway	Cluster	V
Petty Officer First Class	Gilbert	O.	Williams		Navy	Piscataway		II
Petty Officer Third Class	Harold	V.	Wilson		Navy	Piscataway		V
Airman	Edward	S.	Yeager		Navy	Piscataway		K
Private	Charles	V.	Young	posthumous	Army	Hillsborough	Cluster	CW