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 8,500 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 together with copies of all pertinent information, discharge document (e.g. DD Form 214), award citation, honorable discharge, etc. to:

NJDMAVA
ATTN: Distinguished Service Medal
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340

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

Rank	First Name	MI	Last Name	Posthumous	Branch	war	Remarks	City
Technician 5th Grade	Martin	P.	Anderson		Army	II		Vineland
Sergeant	Frank	C.	Barnes		Marine Corps	K		Vineland
Specialist Four	Jay	A.	Bennett		Army	KSV		Millville
Sergeant	Charles	C.	Bennett		Marine Corps	V		Mauricetown
Technician 5th Grade	Ernest	M.	Bertino		Army	II		Vineland
Specialist Four	Andy	J.	Betterelli		Army	V		Bridgeton
Private 1st Class	Franklin	P.	Blizzaro		Army	II		Bridgeton
Sergeant	Roy	J.	Burlew		Army	V		Bridgeton
Private	George	D.	Bush	Posthumous	Army	I		Port Norris
Aviation Radioman 1st Class	Walter	R.	Campbell		Navy	II		Bridgeton
Seaman 1st Class	Frank	A.	Capece		Navy	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Claude	E.	Cheesman		Army	II		Millville
Hospitalman 2nd Class	James	R.	Clarke		Navy	V		Bridgeton
Private 1st Class	Vera	J.	Cole		Marine Corps	K		Vineland
Specialist Four	Arthur	P.	Corley		Army	V		Bridgeton
Private	Charles	R.	Davis		Army	II		Millville
Metalsmith 3rd Class	Henry	J.	DiMatteo		Navy	II		Vineland
Specialist Five	Anthony	V.	Diorio		Army	V		Bridgeton
Lance Corporal	Michael	W.	Dubrink		Marine Corps	V		Vineland
1st Sergeant	Leroy	E.	Durkin		Army	II		Bridgeton
Sergeant	Gary	W.	Fallows		Air Force	V		Millville
Staff Sergeant	Frank	S.	Ferrilli		Army	II		Millville
Technician 5th Grade	Joseph	A.	Franchetta	Posthumous	Army	II		Vineland
Technical Sergeant	Richard	D.	Garland		Air Force	V		Bridgeton
Corporal	Gerald	M.	Ghidiu		Marine Corps	V		Bridgeton
Private 1st Class	Myer		Goldstein		Army	II		Bridgeton
Sergeant	Lee	D.	Gray		Marine Corps	V		Vineland
Sergeant	Francis	T.	Grover		Army	K		Hopewell
Corporal	Boris		Gussew		Army	K		Vineland
Corporal	Thomas	P.	Hamidy		Army	II		Bridgeton
Sergeant	Roy	M.	Hindermyer		Army	V		Cedarville
Electricians Mate 3rd Class	Richard	H.	Hoffman		Navy	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	James	F.	Howard		Army	II		Bridgeton
Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class	Carl	H.	Hultgren		Navy	II		Vineland
Corporal	Jack	L.	Kaplan		Army	II		Vineland
Corporal	Wayne	L.	Kline		Marine Corps	V		Bridgeton
Captain	Arthur		Komorowski		Army	II		Vineland
1st Lieutenant	George	B.	Laury		Army Air Corps	II	Cluster	Elmer
Private 1st Class	Raymond	A.	Menzoni		Army	K		Vineland
Sergeant	Belford	C.	Miller		Army	V		Bridgeton
Corporal	Jerry	D.	Muse		Marine Corps	V		Millville
Corporal	Frank	J.	Poloff		Army	II		Bridgeton
Private	Carmen	P.	Poloff		Army	II		Fairton
Corporal	John	D.	Rose		Army	II		Bridgeton
Specialist Four	Robert	A.	Simpkins		Army	V		Millville
Corporal	Lit	N.	Soohoo	Posthumous	Marine Corps	V		Totowa
Petty Officer 2nd Class	Gary	R.	Stiles		Navy	V		Millville
Technician 3rd Grade	Edward	F.	Tomlin		Army	II		Dorchester
Private 1st Class	Howard	J.	Watson		Army	II		Millville
Seaman 1st Class	William	J.	Whildin	Posthumous	Coast Guard	II		Millville

Rank	First Name	MI	Last Name	Posthumous	Branch	war	Remarks	City
Private 1st Class	Rocco	J.	Bellatoni		Army	II	Cluster	Vineland
1st Lieutenant	Winfield	D.	Buzby		Army	II		Bridgeton
Private	Nicholas	J.	Cericola		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Anthony	J.	Chiappine		Army	II		Vineland
Captain	Louis		Chismar		Army	II	Cluster	Vineland
Private 1st Class	Anthony		Conte		Army	II		Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Frank		Czajkowski		Army	II		Vineland
Gunners Mate 1st Class	Joseph	F.	Ehrmann		Navy	II		Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Franklin	C.	Fenstemaker		Army	II		Vineland
Corporal	Frederick		Frazier		Army	II		Vineland
Sergeant	Benny	L.	Garofalo		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	John		Geise		Army	II		Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Angelo	D.	Giambatista		Army	II		Vineland
Private	William	J.	Gifford		Army	II		Vineland
Machinist Mate 3rd Class	Leonard	J.	Gilchrist		Navy	K		Vineland
Sergeant 1st Class	Frank		Giordano		Army	V	Cluster	Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Stuart	A.	Gray		Army	II		Vineland
Sergeant	Charles	L.	Halscheid		Army	II		Vineland
Machinist Mate 3rd Class	William	S.	Hoard		Navy	II		Vineland
Private	Edward	J.	Hogan		Army	II		Vineland
Sergeant	Oran	E.	Holt		Army	II		Vineland
Corporal	Samuel		Irvin		Army	II		Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Guiseppe		Iula		Army	II		Vineland
Technician 4th Grade	James	W.	Kersterson		Army	II		Vineland
Technician 4th Grade	Clifford	J.	Kiernen		Army	II		Vineland
Staff Sergeant	Charles	W.	Kramer		Air Force	V		Vineland
Technician 5th Grade	William	H.	Lovegrove		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Anthony	L.	Massari		Army	II		Vineland
Seaman	Rosario	J.	Massari		Merchant Marines	II		Buena
Corporal	Frank	N.	Massari		Army	K		Buena
Private 1st Class	Elmer	T.	Mazur		Army	II	Cluster	Vineland
Technician 5th Grade	Claude	W.	McAllister		Army	II		Shiloh
Electricians Mate 3rd Class	William	O.	McChesney		Navy	II		Bridgeton
Airman 2nd Class	Jeremiah	F.	McCredy		Air Force	K		Bridgeton
Private 1st Class	John	A.	Melchiorre		Army	II		Bridgeton
Sergeant	Robert		Mooney		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	William	J.	Nesi		Marine Corps	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Robert	F.	Nievus		Army	II		Vineland
Sergeant	William	J.	Oakley		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Jacob		Ostroff		Army	II		Vineland
Master Sergeant	John		Panchesine	Posthumous	Army	II		Vineland
Corporal	Angelo		Perrucci		Marine Corps	II	Cluster	Vineland
Technician 5th Grade	Dominic	J.	Petitto	Posthumous	Army	II		Vineland
Fireman 1st Class	Ralph	W.	Quigley		Navy	II		Bridgeton
Baker 2nd Class	Winfield	W.	Riley		Navy	II		Bridgeton
Disbursing Clerk 2nd Class	Donald	S.	Slomin		Navy	K		Vineland
Ensign	Harry	A.	Sperber		Navy	II		Vineland
Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class	Herbert	F	Trout		Navy	II		Bridgeton
Private	Vernon	R.	Williams		Army	II		Vineland
Private 1st Class	Justus	P.	Williamson		Army	II		Millville
	James	S.	Woodside		Navy	V		Bridgeton