A special awards ceremony will be held on April 10, at 11 a.m., at the National Guard Training Center, Building 35, Sea Girt, N.J. Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sullivan, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, New Jersey Army National Guard, will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state's top military award, to 150 Monmouth County residents who are combat veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War.

An additional 40 residents who are combat veterans will receive the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal for their service in the military.

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 10,000 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, e-mail or telephone call, requesting an application form to the following -
Mail
NJDMAVA
ATTN: Distinguished Service Medal
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340
Be sure to include full name, home address and a daytime phone number

e-mail: robert.wimberly@njdmava.state.nj.us

Phone: 1-800-624-0508, Press 7.

The New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal is being awarded to those combat veterans who were not residents of New Jersey when they entered the military service, but who are current residents of New Jersey and have resided in the state for the previous five years. All other qualifications are the same as for the DSM. To apply for the MSM, send the application to the same address as the DSM.

NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL LIST OF RECIPIENTS
National Guard Training Center, Building 35, Sea Girt, N.J.
April 10, 2003

LEGEND: (WAR ) CW=Civil War, I=World War I, II=World War II, K=Korea, V=Vietnam, LC=Lebanon Crisis (1958), LPM=Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission (1982-1987), G=Grenada, P=Panama (Operation Just Cause), DSS=Desert Shield/Storm, S=Somalia (Operation Restore Hope), B=Bosnia, KSV=Kosovo (Operation Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard), H=Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy), NCTS=No Combat Theater Service

award

Cluster

Rank

Last Name

First Name

MI

Posthumous

Branch

war

City

DSM

Apprentice Seaman

Ackerman

John

V.

Navy

II

Aberdeen

DSM

Technician 4th Grade

Adams

Edward

J.

Army Air Corps

II

Little Silver

DSM

Private 1st Class

Andelman

Merwin

L.

Army

II

Oceanport

DSM

Lieutenant

Ashkar

Michael

G.

Navy

V

Eatontown

DSM

Petty Officer 1st Class

Bailey

William

A.

Navy

V

Union Beach

DSM

Chief Motor Machinists Mate

Baksa

Edward

C.

Coast Guard

II

Hazlet

DSM

Specialist Four

Barry

Jeremiah

W.

Army

V

W. Keansburg

DSM

Specialist Four

Bellantoni

Nick

Army

V

Little Silver

DSM

Corporal

Bellini

Peter

Army

II

Atlantic Highlands

DSM

Sergeant

Berstel

Arnold

P.

Army

II

Brielle

DSM

Cluster

Private 1st Class

Bogart

Joseph

V.

Marine Corps

II

Red Bank

MSM

Airman 2nd Class

Bowell

Robert

Air Force

V

Ocean

MSM

Specialist Four

Brandon

Richard

P.

Army

V

Matawan

MSM

Seaman

Branigan

James

C.

Navy

V

Oakhurst

DSM

Sergeant

Brower

Arthur

B.

Air Force

V

Manasquan

DSM

Private

Buck

Elmer

C.

Army

II

Oceanport

DSM

Cluster

Captain

Burns

Carl

Army

V

Manalapan

MSM

Specialist Four

Burns

James

J.

Posthumous

Army

V

Spring Lake Heights

MSM

Corporal

Campbell

James

M.

Marine Corps

V

Eatontown

DSM

Corporal

Capozzi

Frank

A.

Army

K

Ocean Grove

DSM

Cluster

Lance Corporal

Cecala

Anthony

Marine Corps

V

Howell

DSM

Corporal

Chandler

James

H.

Army

II

Union Beach

DSM

Sergeant

Chapman

Andrew

J.

Army

K

Wall

DSM

Specialist Four

Chiorello

Kenneth

J.

Army

V

Cream Ridge

DSM

Seaman 1st Class

Ciampa

William

A.

Navy

II

Somerset

DSM

Seaman 1st Class

Connelly

Joseph

P.

Navy

II

Neptune

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Cranmer

Alfred

G.

Army

II

Freehold

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Cumiskey

Edward

C.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Sea Girt

DSM

Petty Officer

Cusanelli

Eugene

Navy

V

Middletown

DSM

Specialist Four

D'Alonzo

David

T.

Army

V

Springlake

MSM

Captain

Dalton

Susan

R.

Air Force

V

Howell

DSM

Specialist Four

Damon

Walter

R.

Army

V

Belmar

DSM

Private 1st Class

Davison

Kingsley

Posthumous

Army

II

Adelphia

DSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Davison

Milton

E.

Army

V

Belmar

DSM

Sergeant

Day

Stephen

J.

Marine Corps

V

Belmar

MSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

DellaCalce

William

J.

Navy

II

Morganville

MSM

Corporal

DeSantis

Frank

V.

Posthumous

Army

II

Englishtown

DSM

Sergeant

DeVito

Chester

E.

Marine Corps

V

Howell

MSM

Specialist Four

Di Orio

Ernest

J.

Army

V

Manalapan

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Dinkelberg

Philip

J.

Navy

II

Atlantic Highlands

MSM

Sergeant

Dispenza

Louis

J.

Marine Corps

K

Hazlet

DSM

Cluster

Private 1st Class

Dolahan

Robert

F.

Army

V

Wall

DSM

Corporal

Donaldson

Mark

E.

Marine Corps

V

Colts Neck

DSM

Cluster

Staff Sergeant

Dowling

Robert

B.

Army

II

Englishtown

DSM

Cluster

Technical Sergeant

Drahos

Edward

M.

Army

II

Long Beach

DSM

Cluster

Captain

Drummond

David

I.

Air Force

V

Manalapan

DSM

Seaman

DuBois

John

W.

Navy

V

Freehold

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Dunn

Edward

Army

V

Belford

DSM

Private 1st Class

Everhard Jr.

Casper

A.

Marine Corps

V

Aberdeen

DSM

Private 1st Class

Fallon

John

H.

Marine Corps

K

Union Beach

DSM

Private 1st Class

Ferrara

Francis

P.

Army

K

Hazlet

DSM

Cluster

Specialist Five

Ferrera

Joseph

P.

Army

V

Bridgewater

DSM

Quartermaster 2nd Class

Fitzpatrick

John

F.

Navy

II

Tinton Falls

DSM

Cluster

Specialist Four

Flanagan

Gary

C.

Army

V

Manasquan

MSM

Specialist Four

Flynn

William

J.

Army

V

Manalapan

DSM

Captain

Ford

Robert

E.

Army

V

Oakhurst

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Frake

Robert

J.

Marine Corps

V

Middletown

MSM

Specialist Four

Franco

Robert

L.

Army

V

Wall

MSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Franz

Stephen

J.

Navy

K

West Keansburg

DSM

Fireman 1st Class

Frisco

Paul

J.

Navy

II

Middletown

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Fromer

William

Army

II

Long Branch

DSM

Chief Petty Officer

Galacki

Julius

J.

Navy

II

Long Branch

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Gaul

Daniel

P.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Howell

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Gotthelf

Harold

J.

Navy

II

Hazlet

DSM

Sergeant

Guzzi

Samuel

A.

Army

II

Atlantic Highlands

DSM

Private 1st Class

Hance

Borden

L.

Army

II

Red Bank

DSM

Specialist Four

Hawarden

Ronald

I.

Army

V

Hazlet

DSM

Corporal

Hayes

Francis

B.

Army

II

Manasquan

DSM

Technician 4th Grade

Hein

Charles

Army

II

Howell

DSM

Seaman 2nd Class

Heinrich

Frederick

M.

Navy

II

Brielle

MSM

Chief Warrant Officer Four

Herbst

Adolf

Army

K

Eatontown

MSM

Staff Sergeant

Hill

Wilton

D.

Army

II

Freehold

DSM

Cluster

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Hoffman

Edward

T.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Long Branch

DSM

Cluster

Private 1st Class

Holt

Robert

M.

Army

V

Lincroft

DSM

Cluster

1st Lieutenant

Hopkins

Robert

J.

Army

V

West Allenhurst

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Hornig

David

G.

Army

V

Keansburg

DSM

Corporal

Howard

Ronald

D.

Marine Corps

V

Belford

DSM

Seaman

Hutson

Donald

R.

Navy

V

Hazlet

DSM

Sergeant

Iglesias

Anthony

J.

Air Force

V

Asbury

DSM

Cluster

Private 1st Class

Iorillo

Dale

A.

Army

II

Manalapan

MSM

Specialist Five

Johnsen

Arnold

E.

Army

V

Aberdeen

DSM

Cluster

Specialist Four

Keating

Martin

K.

Army

V

Red Bank

DSM

Technical Sergeant

Kellers

Robert

F.

Posthumous

Army

II

Wayside

MSM

Specialist Four

Kenny

Thomas

W.

Army

V

Middletown

DSM

Corporal

Kinney

Frank

P.

Army

K

Monmouth Junction

DSM

Sergeant

Kochon

Herbert

J.

Posthumous

Army

II

Atlantic Highlands

DSM

Lance Corporal

Kowalski

Ronald

E.

Marine Corps

V

Port Monmouth

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Kupisioski

Allan

N.

Marine Corps

V

Neptune

DSM

Fireman 1st Class

Kwik

Edward

A.

Navy

II

Highlands

DSM

Cluster

Technician 5th Grade

Landolfi

Anthony

J.

Army

II

Clarksburg

DSM

Cluster

Corporal

Lawlor

Martin

V.

Army

II

Port Monmouth

MSM

Sergeant

Leitch

Richard

M.

Marine Corps

V

Keansburg

DSM

Cluster

Captain

Levin

Simon

Army

V

Interlaken

MSM

Lance Corporal

Lewis

John

P.

Marine Corps

V

Middletown

DSM

Specialist Four

Lewis

Nicholas

W.

Army

K

Middletown

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Lonnay

William

J.

Posthumous

Army

II

Keyport

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Macauley Sr.

Donald

L.

Army

V

Freehold

DSM

Specialist Four

Maccia

Frank

G.

Army

V

Wall

DSM

Radioman 1st Class

Madden

Edward

G.

Navy

II

Avon-by-the-Sea

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Mancini

Wayne

A.

Navy

V

Wall

DSM

Corporal

Mandriota

Richard

G.

Marine Corps

V

Matawan

DSM

Petty Officer 1st Class

Mark

Harold

E.

Navy

II

Keansburg

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

McArthur

Richard

M.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Leonardo

MSM

Specialist Four

McCullough

Clark

D.

Army

V

Middletown

DSM

Cluster

Specialist Five

McElwee

Bernard

J.

Army

V

Lake Hiawatha

MSM

Specialist Four

McGilvery

Richard

E.

Posthumous

Army

V

Howell

MSM

Sergeant

McMahon

James

J.

Army

II

Hazlet

DSM

Lance Corporal

McMoran

Bruce

P.

Marine Corps

V

Tinton Falls

DSM

Cluster

Corporal

Miller

Robert

E.

Posthumous

Army

I

Howell

DSM

Cluster

Specialist Four

Minor

John

Army

V

Hazlet

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Moore

Harry

V.

Navy

II

Spring Lake

MSM

Sergeant

Moriarty

Dennis

W.

Marine Corps

V

Howell

DSM

Seaman 2nd Class

Moynahan

Francis

X.

Navy

II

Fair Haven

DSM

Sergeant

Murphy

James

T.

Posthumous

Army

K

Neptune

DSM

Corporal

Murphy

John

J.

Marine Corps

V

Manasquan

MSM

Corporal

Murphy

Thomas

J.

Army

II

Keansburg

MSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Nealand

James

E.

Navy

V

Matawan

MSM

Sergeant

Nelson

Charles

R.

Army

II

Red Bank

MSM

Specialist Five

Nelson

Gerald

C.

Army

V

Long Branch

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Noga

Joseph

J.

Navy

II

Eatontown

MSM

Machinist Mate 3rd Class

O'Flaherty

John

J.

Navy

II

Manasquan

DSM

Specialist Five

O'Kane

John

P.

Army

V

Neptune

MSM

Sergeant

O'Neill

John

E.

Army

V

Hazlet

DSM

Private 1st Class

Obuchowicz

Stanley

J.

Army

II

Morganville

DSM

Technical Sergeant

Olsen

Thomas

L.

Posthumous

Air Force

K

Manasquan

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Opatosky

David

Air Force

V

Hazlet

MSM

Major

Owens

William

W.

Army

V

Neptune

DSM

Airman 1st Class

Palmer

Norman

I.

Air Force

K

Elberon

DSM

Specialist Four

Pangborn

John

Army

V

Keyport

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Paone

Dominick

A.

Navy

II

Manasquan

DSM

Corporal

Pape

Frank

L.

Army

II

Navesink

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Pape

John

D.

Posthumous

Army

V

Navesink

DSM

Cluster

Private 1st Class

Parisi

Louis

J.

Marine Corps

II

Loch Arbour

MSM

2nd Lieutenant

Parker

Jesse

A.

Army

II

Spring Lake

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Parratt

Philip

E.

Navy

V

Oakhurst

DSM

Cluster

Major

Parratt

Stephen

W.

Army

K

West Allenhurst

DSM

Seaman 1st Class

Patterson

Paul

E.

Navy

II

Holmdel

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Pease

James

M.

Army

V

Ocean Township

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Peck

Irwin

Navy

II

Little Silver

DSM

Cluster

Staff Sergeant

Pedersen

Erik

Army

II

Keyport

MSM

Sergeant

Perry

Ronald

J.

Marine Corps

K

Neptune City

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Piasecki

Richard

L.

Army

V

Belmar

DSM

Seaman

Pruchnik

Robert

J.

Navy

V

Hazlet

DSM

Corporal

Quilty

Michael

P.

Marine Corps

V

Keansburg

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Reale

Dominic

W.

Army

II

Long Branch

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Reilly

Robert

D.

Coast Guard

DSS

Ocean Grove

DSM

Cluster

Private

Rice

John

A.

Army

II

Neptune City

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Roberts

John

J.

Posthumous

Army

II

Keyport

DSM

Private 1st Class

Rubino

Peter

F.

Army

II

West Long Branch

DSM

Corporal

Rusin

George

Marine Corps

K

Roselle Park

MSM

Sergeant

Russak

Stephen

M.

Army

K

Freehold

MSM

Sergeant

Russell

Ruth

A.

Army

V

Ocean

DSM

Seaman

Ryan

Henry

F.

Navy

V

Highlands

DSM

Sergeant

Sacewicz

Robert

S.

Air Force

V

Brielle

DSM

Sergeant

Saltalamacchia

Dominick

Army

V

Neptune

MSM

Specialist Five

Samarel

Marshall

F.

Army

V

Howell

DSM

Corporal

Sappah

George

C.

Army

II

Blairstown

DSM

Private 1st Class

Scalzo

William

G.

Army

II

Rumson

MSM

Specialist Four

Schretzlmeir

John

J.

Army

V

Manalapan

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Sergewich

Joseph

J.

Army

II

Shrewsbury

DSM

Sergeant

Shalloo

Daniel

Marine Corps

K

Brielle

DSM

Cluster

Sergeant

Sluscavage

Wayne

T.

Army

V

Red Bank

DSM

Specialist Four

Smeltzer

Richard

E.

Army

V

West Long Branch

DSM

Cluster

Captain

Smith

Clive

N.

Marine Corps

V

Rumson

DSM

Seaman 1st Class

Smith

Everett

F.

Navy

II

Sea Girt

MSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Smith

John

H.

Army

V

Neptune

DSM

Private 1st Class

Strandberg

Oscar

F.

Marine Corps

II

Middletown

DSM

Cluster

Captain

Stricker

John

E.

Army

II

Red Bank

DSM

Seaman

Switzer

Noel

M.

Navy

V

Ft Monmouth

DSM

Corporal

Tarrant

Brian

P.

Marine Corps

V

South Belmar

MSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Theriault

Theodore

A.

Army

V

Keyport

DSM

Seaman

Treux

Michael

R.

Coast Guard

V

Neptune

DSM

Sergeant

Turner

Joseph

B.

Air Force

V

Hazlet

DSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Vallio

John

P.

Army

V

Eatontown

DSM

Specialist Four

Venezia

Joseph

W.

Army

V

W. Keansburg

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Villa

Seth

Army Air Corps

II

Tinton Falls

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Walker

Donald

H.

Army

II

Farmingdale

DSM

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Walsh

Francis

E.

Navy

II

Spring Lake

DSM

Private

Washington

Alvin

J.

Army

V

Asbury Park

DSM

Cluster

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Weber

William

A.

Navy

V

Little Ferry

DSM

Specialist Five

Weirman

Alvin

F.

Army

V

Manasquan

MSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Welsh

Jay

E.

Army

V

Eatontown

DSM

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Wetzel

William

T.

Navy

II

Hazlet

DSM

Sergeant

White

Frank

C.

Marine Corps

K

Atlantic Highlands

DSM

Corporal

Whittom

Donald

J.

Army

II

Lincroft

DSM

Cluster

2nd Lieutenant

Wigdorwitz

Louis

T.

Army

II

West Long Branch

DSM

Cluster

1st Sergeant

Wilson

Sylvester

W.

Posthumous

Army

V

Ocean

DSM

Machinist Mate 2nd Class

Wladyka

Charles

M.

Navy

V

Belmar

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Wolf

William

Army

II

Fair Haven

MSM

Staff Sergeant

Zybort

Stanley

C.

Army

II

Little Silver