New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal

	MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS NEWS RELEASE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: G. Natasha Zoe, Public Affairs Officer 101 EGGERT CROSSING ROAD LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648 609-530-6942
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE (12 October 2001)

New Jersey Residents Receive State’s Top Military Award at Clifton

CLIFTON, NJ- October 16, at 7:00 p.m. Senator Norm Robertson and Assemblyman Gerry Zecker will co-host with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs an award ceremony, at Clifton High School, to present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, to 153 Passaic and Essex County residents who are combat veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf War, Somalia or Bosnia. Clifton High School is located at 333 Colfax Avenue in Clifton.

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, about 8000 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:

NJDMAVA
ATTN: CIO-GS-PA
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340
Be sure to include full name, home address and daytime telephone number.

LEGEND: (WAR ) I=World War I, II=World War II, K=Korea, V=Vietnam, DS=Desert Storm,

NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL
CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY
OCTOBER 16, 2001

October 16, 2001 7:00 p.m. ceremony

Rank	First	Last	Branch	City	Cluster	War	Posthumous
First Sergeant	Wesley	Ackerson	Army	Oak Ridge		World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	William	Anderson	Navy	Paterson		Vietnam War
Private First Class	Albert	Andrezzi	Army	Clifton	cluster	World War II
Private	George	Andrikanich	Army	Clifton		World War II
Sergeant	Feliciano	Arroyo	Army	Hawthorne		Desert Storm
Corporal	John	Artemik	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Petty Officer	Jack	Bandazian	Coast Guard	West Milford		World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	Joseph	Banghardt	Coast Guard	Totowa		World War II
Sergeant	Raymond	Barrett	Army	West Milford	cluster	Vietnam War
Sergeant	Raymond	Barwick	Marine Corps	Little Falls		Vietnam War
Private First Class	Joseph	Baskinger	Army	Haledon		Korean War
Sergeant	Edward	Benedict	Army	Totowa	cluster	Vietnam War
Private	George	Betts	Army	Wayne		World War II	posthumous
Petty Officer First Class	Thomas	Bommelyn	Navy	North Haledon		World War II	posthumous
Corporal	Robert	Bradley	Marine Corps	Clifton	cluster	Korean War
Sergeant	William	Buchanan	Army	West Paterson	cluster	World War II
Specialist Four	Anthony	Buscema	Army	West Paterson		Vietnam War
Specialist Four	Anthony	Buscema	Army	West Pateson		Vietnam War
Technician Fourth Grade	John	Cangro	Army	Totowa		World War II
Private	Raymond	Cantanzaro	Army	Wayne	cluster	World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	Walter	Chandler	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Private First Class	Constantine	Christakos	Army	Clifton		World War II
Technician Fourth Grade	John	Christensen	Army	Hawthorne		World War II
Private First Class	Martin	Christiano	Army	Clifton	cluster	World War II
Sergeant	Kenneth	Cobleigh	Marine Corps	Oak Ridge		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	William	Copelton	Army	Prospect Park		World War II
Private First Class	Ignazio	Corbo	Army	Hawthorne		World War II
Lance Corporal	Emil	Csejka	Marine Corps	West Paterson		Korean War
Petty Officer First Class	Vincent	Delgiudice	Coast Guard	Wayne		World War II
Private	Hugh	Devine	Army	Ringwood		Civil War	posthumous
Sergeant	William	Devine	Army	Pompton Plains		World War One	posthumous
Petty Officer Second Class	Jules	Deyden	Navy	Hawthorne		World War II
Corporal	Tice	DeYoung	Army	Hawthorne		Korean War
Petty Officer Second Class	John	Donahue	Navy	Wayne		World War II
Airman First Class	Roger	Edmonds	Air Force	Clifton		Vietnam War
Sergeant	James	Egyud	Air Force	Passaic		Vietnam War
Petty Officer Third Class	Joseph	Emmolo	Navy	West Patterson		Korean War
Technician Fourth Grade	Fred	Engelhardt	Army	Totowa		World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	William	Faasse	Navy	North Haledon		Vietnam War
Petty Officer Third Class	Basil	Faloom	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Specialist Four	Michael	Fett	Army	Clifton		Vietnam War
Staff Sergeant	John	Finley	Marine Corps	Clifton	cluster	Korean War
Petty Officer Second Class	Samuel	Foster	Navy	Wayne		World War II
Specialist Four	James	Frega	Army	West Paterson		Vietnam War
Sergeant	Angelo	Galizio	Army	Totowa		Korean War
Staff Sergeant	Silvio	Giannella	Army	Wayne		World War II
Private First Class	Alexander	Gilone	Army	North Haledon		World War II
Staff Sergeant	Daniel	Gotthelf	Army	Wayne	cluster	World War II	posthumous
Petty Officer Second Class	John	Greenip	Navy	North Haledon		World War II
Technician Fourth Grade	Gerard	Hageman	Army	Clifton		World War II	posthumous
Petty Officer Second Class	Theodore	Harsaghy	Navy	Clifton		Korean War
Corporal	Samuel	Held	Marine Corps	Hewitt		World War II
Private First Class	James	Hill	Army	Haledon		Korean War
Petty Officer Third Class	John	Hollenback	Navy	Clifton		Desert Storm
Petty Officer First Class	John	Holman	Navy	Paterson		World War II
Petty Officer First Class	George	Hopman	Navy	West Milford		World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	Charles	Housel	Navy	Clinton		World War II
Corporal	Michael	Howe	Marine Corps	Clifton	cluster	Vietnam War
Private First Class	Frederick	Jenny	Marine Corps	Pompton Lakes		World War II
Private First Class	Frederick	Jenny	Marine Corps	Pompton Lakes		World War II
Corporal	Leon	Klein	Army	Wayne		World War II
Specialist Four	Kenneth	Klepeis	Army	Little Falls		Vietnam War
Fireman	John	Koch	Navy	Wanaque	cluster	Vietnam War
Corporal	Louis	Kolek	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Petty Officer First Class	Andrew	Kostic	Navy	Wayne		Korean War
Technical Sergeant	Gilbert	Lahullier	Army Air Corps	Clifton	cluster	World War II	posthumous
Captain	Thaddeus	Lazas	Air Force	Clifton		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	Martin	Leogrande	Army	North Haledon	cluster	World War II	posthumous
Private First Class	Alberino	Leone	Army	Hawthorne		World War II
Technician Fifth Grade	Harry	Lewis	Army	North Haledon		World War II
Staff Sergeant	Valentin	Llaudaitis	Marine Corps	Clifton		Vietnam War
Staff Sergeant	Irving	Locker	Army	Passaic		World War II
Seaman	Robert	Luciano	Navy	Clifton		Korean War
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Mike	Lupichuk	Merchant Marine	Wayne		World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	William	Lydecker	Navy	Totowa		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	Thomas	Macfie	Army	Wayne		World War II
Private First Class	Vincent	Madonia	Army	Wayne		Korean War
Petty Officer First Class	Anthony	Maffia	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Petty Officer First Class	John	Magalla	Navy	Clifton		World War II
First Lieutenant	Joseph	Manno	Army	North Haledon	cluster	Korean War	posthumous
Private First Class	Anthony	Marino	Army	Paterson	cluster	World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	Thomas	Mc Guire	Navy	Clifton		Vietnam War
Private First Class	Charles	Meyers	Marine Corps	Wayne		World War II
Technician Fourth Grade	Edward	Milkowski	Army	Little Falls	cluster	World War II
Staff Sergeant	Lewis	Molnar	Marine Corps	Clifton		World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	August	Monte	Navy	Haledon		World War II
Private First Class	Gerald	Mount	Army	Old Ridge		World War II
Captain	John	Noble	Marine Corps	Wayne		Vietnam War
Petty Officer First Class	Ray	Nolan	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Private First Class	Charles	Norris	Marine Corps	Wayne		World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	William	Oakley	Navy	Passaic		World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	Joseph	Parkin	Navy	Paterson		World War II
Private First Class	Mario	Passaretti	Army	Bloomingdale		World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	Edward	Patrisso	Navy	Wayne		World War II
Captain	William	Peto	Army	Little Falls	cluster	World War II
Private First Class	John	Petrik	Army	Passaic		World War II
Corporal	Charles	Platner	Army	Oak Ridge		Korean War
Corporal	John	Pollina	Army	Totowa		Korean War
Corporal	John	Pollina	Army	Totowa		Korean War
Captain	Lloyd	Pontier	Army	N. Haledon	cluster	Vietnam War
Technician Fifth Class	Emil	Posluszny	Army	Wallington		World War II
Petty Officer First Class	Michael	Protz	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Sergeant	William	Quick	Air Force	Paterson		Vietnam War
Chief Petty Officer	Raymond	Quintavell	Navy	Hawthorne		World War II
Sergeant	Victor	Rafanello	Army	Wayne		World War II
Specialist Four	Jochem	Rainer	Army	Clifton		Vietnam War
Petty Officer Third Class	Frank	Rajeski	Navy	Pompton Lakes		World War II
Sergeant	Gilbert	Repetto	Army	Pompton Lakes	cluster	Korean War
Sergeant	Russell	Rhinesmith	Army	Pompton Lakes		World War II
Private	John	Riccardi	Army	Hawthorne	cluster	World War II	posthumous
Specialist Four	Jamie	Ricciardiello	Army	Totowa		Desert Storm
Corporal	William	Richmond	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Petty Officer Third Class	Erich	Richter	Navy	Hawthorne		World War II
Technician Fifth Grade	Gay	Rist	Army	Hawthorne		World War II
Private First Class	Louis	Ruffalo	Army	Little Falls		World War II
Specialist Four	Anthony	Rullo	Army	Paterson		Vietnam War
Staff Sergeant	Anthony	Santo	Army	Paterson	cluster	World War II
Staff Sergeant	Carl	Sarappo	Army	Totowa		World War II	posthumous
Private First Class	John	Sardinsky	Army Air Corps	Little Falls	cluster	World War II
Chief Petty Officer	Charles	Saunders	Navy	Paterson		World War II
Corporal	David	Schottanes	Marine Corps	North Haledon		Lebanon
Private First Class	Harry	Schwartz	Army	Wayne		World War II	posthumous
Corporal	Morton	Segal	Army	Wayne		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	William	Shaver	Army	Wayne	cluster	World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	Robert	Shine	Navy	Wayne		World War II
Petty Officer First Class	William	Smith	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Airman	Roger	Smith	Navy	Pompton Lakes		Vietnam War
Sergeant First Class	Emil	Soltis	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Petty Officer Second Class	John	Sowinski	Navy	Hewitt		World War II
Private First Class	Henry	Spohn	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	Walter	Stefanacci	Army	Clifton	cluster	World War II
Petty Officer Third Class	Joseph	Sudol	Navy	Passaic		Korean War
Sergeant First Class	John	Swan	Army	Clifton	cluster	Vietnam War
Private First Class	George	Tilton	Army	Passaic		World War II
Sergeant	Stanley	Tremble	Army	Passaic		Vietnam War
Technical Sergeant	Anthony	Turano	Army Air Corps	Paterson	cluster	World War II
Petty Officer Second Class	Walter	Turba	Navy	Clifton		World War II
Private First Class	Robert	Urban	Marine Corps	Hawthorne	cluster	Korean War
Private First Class	Joseph	Valvano	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Private First Class	William	VanDyk	Army	Hawthorne		World War II
Private First Class	Russell	VanNatta	Marine Corps	North Haledon	cluster	Korean War	posthumous
Petty Officer Second Class	Richard	Veenstra	Navy	Haledon		World War II	posthumous
Captain	Randall	Veenstra	Air Force	Hawthorne		Desert Storm
Sergeant	Robert	Washington	Army	Paterson		Vietnam War
Second Lieutenant	Maurice	Wasser	Army Air Corps	Clifton		World War II
Sergeant	George	Whren	Army	Passaic		Vietnam War
Specialist Four	Richard	Zedower	Army	Clifton		Vietnam War
Corporal	William	Zimmerman	Army	Clifton		Korean War
Technician Fifth Grade	Fred	Zollo	Army	North Haledon	cluster	World War II

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