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

LEGEND: (BRANCH) AAC=Army Air Corps, MM=Merchant Marines, USA=Army, USAF=Air Force, USCG=Coast Guard, USMC=Marine Corps, USN=Navy
 

Rank	First Name	MI	Last Name	Posthumous	Branch	war	Remarks	City	county
Sergeant	Americo		Beneziano		USMC	II	Cluster	West Orange	Essex
2nd Lieutenant	Leo	P.	Bertoldi	Posthumous	USA	II	Cluster	West Orange	Essex
Corporal	Pasquale	S.	Bilotti		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Technician 4th Grade	Nicholas		Boyanowski		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Sergeant	Stephen	E.	Brozyna		AAC	II	Cluster	West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Thomas	L.	Bruno	Posthumous	USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Technician 4th Grade	Anthony	J.	Ciamillo		USA	II		Maplewood	Essex
Radioman 2nd Class	Franklin	J.	Close		USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Corporal	Benjamin	B.	Cohrs		USA	K		Livingston	Essex
Corporal	Joseph	H.	Courtney		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Eugene	F.	Coyle		USMC	II		West Orange	Essex
Seaman 1st Class	Douglas	L.	Crum	Posthumous	USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Michael	J.	DeMeo	Posthumous	USA	K		West Orange	Essex
Technician 5th Grade	Rocco	C.	Donofrio	Posthumous	USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Herman		Fierro		USA	II		Roseland	Essex
Carpenters Mate 3rd Class	Jacob	J.	Galasso		USN	II		Toms River	Ocean
Private 1st Class	Romando		Giordano		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Staff Sergeant	Joseph	M.	Godby	Posthumous	USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Signalman 1st Class	James	M.	Grady		USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Specialist Five	Glen	E.	Grossman		USA	V		West Orange	Essex
Technician 4th Grade	Udo	G.	Heiman		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Staff Sergeant	Clifford	W.	Hoch	Posthumous	USA	II		Brick	Ocean
Technician 4th Grade	Julius		Hurewitz		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	James		Iatesta		USA	II	Cluster	West Orange	Essex
Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class	Thomas	A.	Intili		USN	II		Orange	Essex
Staff Sergeant	Raymond	W.	Koss		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Sergeant	Peter		Kuzik	Posthumous	USMC	II		Wharton	Essex
Machinist Mate 3rd Class	John	B.	McCambley	Posthumous	USN	K		Caldwell	Essex
Private 1st Class	Roland	J.	Monfet	Posthumous	USA	II	Cluster	West Orange	Essex
Corporal	John	D.	Pflug		USA	K		West Orange	Essex
Engineman 2nd Class	Henry	J.	Restorff		USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Technician 5th Grade	Lawrence	F.	Rooney	Posthumous	USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Herbert	W.	Ryan		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Sergeant	Leo		Sadoff		AAC	II	Cluster	Rockaway	Morris
Technician 5th Grade	James	A.	Salemme		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Sergeant	Sidney		Schiffman		USA	II		Cranbury	Monmouth
Specialist Four	Andrew	J.	Scioscia		USA	V		West Orange	Essex
Seaman 1st Class	Andrew		Scioscia	Posthumous	USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Private 1st Class	Alphose	V.	Sully		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Technician 4th Grade	Robert	S.	Temple		USA	II		West Orange	Essex
Radioman 1st Class	William	A.	Veith		USN	II		West Orange	Essex
Corporal	Ronald	A.	Weber	Posthumous	USA	K	Cluster	S. Plainfield	Somerset
Captain	Lester		Weissman		USA	K		West Orange	Essex
Boatswain Mate 3rd Class	Andrew	J.	Yantorn		USN	V		West Orange	Essex