VINELAND, NJ - A special award ceremony will be held on December 21, 2001, at 11 a.m., at the Cumberland County College, Performing Arts Center, College Drive, Vineland, N.J.  Congressman Frank LoBiondo will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, to 143 state residents who are combat veterans of the World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Panama or the Persian Gulf War. 

One of the Distinguished Service Medal awards will be given posthumously to Corporal Horace M. Thorne.  A member of the U.S. Army during World War II, Thorne is also a recipient of the Medal of Honor.  He was killed in action near Grufflingen, Belgium on Dec. 21, 1944.

The NJ 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.

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	1st Name	MI	Last Name	Posthumous	Branch	City	Cluster	War
Corporal	Vincent	T.	Accardi		Army	Absecon		II
Corporal	Jack	L.	Adams		Marine Corps	Vineland		V
Technical Sergeant	Andrew	J.	Alexander		Army	Egg Harbor City		II
Seaman Apprentice	Charles		Arce		Navy	Brigantine		V
Technician 4th Grade	Arthur		Barbetto		Army	Egg Harbor		II
Corporal	William		Barilla		Army	Millville	Cluster	K
Staff Sergeant	Nunzio	G.	Basile		Army	Vineland		II
Specialist Four	Andy	J.	Betterell		Army	Bridgeton		V
Major	Frederica	G.	Betteridge		Army	Millville	Cluster	V
Specialist Five	Robert	W.	Bevan		Army	Galloway		V
Sergeant	Charles	M.	Bollinger		Marine Corps	Mamora	Cluster	V
Sergeant 1st Class	Enrico	D.	Bracaliello		Army	Vineland		K
Technician 4th Grade	Charles	T.	Bradley		Army	Wildwood Crest		II
Corporal	Gamaliel		Broadley		Marine Corps	Marmora		II
Sergeant	Ralph	J.	Campbell		Army Air Corps	Egg Harbor Twp.		II
Specialist Four	Joseph	J.	Carwell		Army	Marmora		V
Master Sergeant	Howard	G.	Chambers		Army	Eldora		II
Staff Sergeant	Richard	D.	Chappius		Marine Corps	Bridgeton		II
Lance Corporal	Richard	E.	Cipolla		Marine Corps	Absecon		V
Staff Sergeant	Charles	E.	Collins		Army	Northfield		II
Ship's Serviceman	William	J.	Conover		Navy	Somers Point		K
Corporal	Joseph	A.	Constantino		Army	Hammonton		K
Staff Sergeant	Warren	D.	Cook		Air Force	Cedarville		V
Staff Sergeant	James		Cox		Air Force	Millville		V
Staff Sergeant	Thomas	M	Crane		Army	Northfield	Cluster	II
Sergeant	Gabriel	F.	D'Ambrosio		Army	Egg Harbor City		II
Sergeant	Dewey	A.	Daneri		Army	Vineland		K
Sergeant	Russell	W.	DeCamp		Army	Bridgeton		V
Corporal	Leonard	J.	Desiderio		Army	Sea Isle City		K
1st Sergeant	Louis		DiBerardino		Army	Margate		II
Coxwain	Raymond	L.	Doughty	Posthumous	Navy	Bridgeton		II
Chief Machinist's Mate	Benjamin	L	Dungan		Coast Guard	Ocean City		II
Staff Sergeant	Louis	R.	Eichinger	Posthumous	Army	Mays Landing	Cluster	II
Private 1st Class	Garrett	H.	Eilenberg	Posthumous	Army	Millville	Cluster	II
Staff Sergeant	George	C.	English		Army	Pleasantville		II
Private 1st Class	William	N	Ferronto		Army	Dorothy		II
Captain	George	H.	Fowle		Army Air Corps	Northfield	Cluster	II
Corporal	Louis	J.	Frank		Army	Longport		K
Private 1st Class	Walter	G.	Fry		Army	Mays Landing		II
Lance Corporal	James	F.	Gale		Marine Corps	Northfield		V
Technician 5th Grade	Paul	S.	Gallena		Army	Absecon		II
Corporal	Gary	W.	Garrison		Marine Corps	Millville	Cluster	V
Technician 5th Grade	Franklin	H.	Gawlik	Posthumous	Army	Egg Harbor Twp		II
Private	William	H.	Gawlik	Posthumous	Army	Egg Harbor Twp		I
Petty Officer 1st Class	Joseph	H.	Gilmore		Navy	Longport		II
Staff Sergeant	Paul		Giunta	Posthumous	Marine Corps	Absecon	Cluster	II
Fireman 1st Class	Horace	M	Godown		Navy	Port Norris		II
Private 1st Class	Raymond	L.	Godown		Army	Millville	Cluster	I
Sergeant	John	R.	Gorman		Marine Corps	Pleasantville		V
Sergeant	John	L.	Graff		Army	Millville		II
Corporal	John	W.	Gressman	Posthumous	Marine Corps	Absecon		II
Petty Officer 3rd Class	William		Griffith		Navy	Cedarville		V
Warrant Officer One	Thomas	A.	Guenther	Posthumous	Army	Egg Harbor Twp	Cluster	V
Seaman 1st Class	Edward		Guerro		Navy	Linwood		II
Seaman Apprentice	Charles	R.	Gunter		Navy	Pleasantville		V
Sergeant	Kenneth		Hamann		Army	Cape May Court House		V
Lieutenant Commander	William	H.	Hanggeli		Navy	Egg Harbor		II
Petty Officer 3rd Class	Deon	D.	Henry		Navy	Vineland		DSS
Seaman 2nd Class	Maurice	E	Higbee		Navy	Bridgeton		II
Sergeant	Lee	A.	Hiles		Air Force	Somers Point		V
Seaman 2nd Class	Ralph	L.	Hill		Navy	Brigantine		II
Private 1st Class	William	T.	Hodson	Posthumous	Army	Somers Point		II
Specialist Four	Daniel	O.	Hooper		Army	Atlantic City		V
Seaman 1st Class	Bertram	H.	Horton		Navy	Northfield		II
Private	Thomas	R.	Hughes		Army	Absecon		II
Petty Officer 3rd Class	Harry	R.	Jackson		Navy	Mays Landing	Cluster	II
Corporal	Stephen	E.	Jansen		Marine Corps	Northfield		V
Specialist Four	Stephen	P.	Jones		Army	Atlantic		V
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Earl	I.	Kanter		Navy	Margate City		II
Private 1st Class	Martin	T.	Katok		Army	Northfield		II
Private 1st Class	William	L.	Kellerman		Army	Absecon		II
Airman	John	T.	Kerns		Navy	Egg Harbor Twp		V
Coxwain	George	W.	Kirlin		Navy	Absecon		II
Sergeant	William	D.	Kleinbord		Marine Corps	Bridgeton		V
Master Sergeant	Edward	D.	Knisel		Air Force	Absecon		V
Private 1st Class	Anthony		Kristorich		Army	Bridgeton		II
Specialist Five	Mark	E.	Lavinsky		Army	Ventnor		V
Coxwain	Paul	L.	Lera		Navy	Vineland		II
Sergeant	Michael	G.	Lipman		Army Air Corps	Vineland		II
Technician 5th Grade	Domenic	A.	Longo		Army	Hammonton		II
Sergeant	Biagio	E.	Maddalena		Marine Corps	Vineland	Cluster	II
Private 1st Class	John	F.	Mango		Marine Corps	Millville		II
Private 1st Class	Edmund	K.	Mawhinney	Posthumous	Army	Absecon		II
Private 1st Class	William	J.	Menschner	Posthumous	Army	Linwood		II
Private 1st Class	Charles	A.	Michel		Army	Mays Landing		II
Technician 4th Grade	Felix		Monfardini		Army	Vineland		II
Sergeant	Michael	F.	Mooney		Air Force	Atlantic City		V
Corporal	Guillermo		Narvaez		Marine Corps	Millville		V
Seaman 1st Class	Charles	R.	Newkirk		Navy	Brigantine		II
Sergeant	William	R.	Norcross		Army	Hammonton		II
Airman	Rene	T.	Nurse		Navy	Egg Harbor Twp.		V
Sergeant	Lewis	M.	Ostrander		Marine Corps	North Wildwood		V
Radioman 2nd Class	Thomas	A.	Pagano		Navy	Egg Harbor Twp.		II
Machinist Mate 3rd Class	Ronald	P.	Pagliaro		Navy	Egg Harbor		V
Seaman 1st Class	Michael		Palance		Navy	Margate		II
Sergeant	Charles	N.	Palermo		Marine Corps	Ocean City		II
Corporal	Wayne	R.	Parker		Marine Corps	Galloway		V
Private 1st Class	Earl	L.	Parker		Army	Northfield		II
Motor Machinist's Mate 1st Class	Milton	T.	Pepper	Posthumous	Navy	Dividing Creek		II
Private 1st Class	Clarence	J.	Peterson		Army	Hammonton		II
Petty Officer 2nd Class	Laurence	J.	Peterson		Navy	Mays Landing		K
Private	Ralph		Pierce		Army	Bridgeton		II
Specialist Four	Paul	D.	Rhenheimer		Army	Egg Harbor Twp.		V
Technician 4th Grade	James	L.	Rivell		Army	Marmora		II
Private 1st Class	Daniel	G.	Robertson	Posthumous	Army	Leeds Point		II
Coxwain	Peter	J.	Roccia		Navy	Vineland		II
Sergeant	George	H.	Rochelle		Army	Egg Harbor Twp.		II
Boilerman 2nd Class	James	B.	Rodan		Navy	Cape May		II
Specialist Four	Enrique		Rodriguez		Army	Woodbine		V
Private	Edward	R.	Rossetti		Army	Ventnor City		II
Seaman 1st Class	Edwin	P.	Schneider		Navy	Somers Point		II
Private 1st Class	Fred	W.	Schroer	Posthumous	Army	Egg Harbor City	Cluster	II
Technician 4th Grade	Frank	E.	Searfoss		Army	Egg Harbor Twp.		II
Private 1st Class	James	W.	Shaffer		Army	Bridgeton		II
Torpedoman's Mate 3rd Class	Stephen	E.	Sheckelton		Navy	Brigantine		II
Sergeant	Richard		Simmerman		Army	Millville		V
Specialist Four	Mitchell	W.	Somers		Army	Egg Harbor Twp		V
Coxwain	Thomas	E.	Sooy		Navy	Egg Harbor City		II
Sergeant	Dennis	J.	Sooy		Army	Bridgeton	Cluster	V
Petty Officer 3rd Class	Louis		Sorrentino		Navy	Smithville		II
Technician 4th Grade	David	B.	Sproul		Army	Egg Harbor Twp.		II
Staff Sergeant	Wesley	G.	Stadlmeir		Army	Absecon		II
Major	Ruffin	G.	Stamps	Posthumous	Army	Linwood		II
Technician 4th Grade	Albert		Stinger		Army	Villas		II
Sergeant	Allen	R.	Stuarts		Marine Corps	Somers Point		K
Corporal	Horace	M.	Thorne	Posthumous	Army		Cluster	II
Seaman 1st Class	Peter	J.	Tisa		Navy	Bridgeton		II
Technical Sergeant	Harold	M.	Twilley		Army	Millville	Cluster	II
Motor Machinist's Mate 1st Class	Philip	B.	Wagner		Navy	Northfield		II
Master Sergeant	Charles		Watson		Air Force	Egg Harbor Twp		V
Major	Grover	R.	Webber		Army	Ocean View		P
Specialist Five	Ronald		Weck		Army	Egg Harbor Twp.	Cluster	V
Chief Warrant Officer	Frederick	J.	Wennemer		Army	Ocean City		II
Sergeant	Lawrence	W.	Wescott		Army	Buena		II
Technician 3rd Grade	William	J.	Wheat	Posthumous	Army	Egg Harbor Twp		II
1st Lieutenant	Marian	G.	Wheat		Army	Egg Harbor Twp		II
Corporal	James	T.	Wilkins		Marine Corps	Pleasantville		V
Corporal	Herbert	R.	Williams		Army	Brigantine		II
Master Sergeant	Elton	B.	Wilson		Army	Port Republic		II
Sergeant 1st Class	Herbert		Wilson		Army	Vineland	Cluster	V
Staff Sergeant	Paul	A.	Wolcott		Army	Linwood		II
Seaman 1st Class	John	L.	Wolf		Navy	Brigantine		II
Technician 3rd Grade	Ralph	F.	Workmans		Army	Bridgeton		II