91
Somerset County Residents Will Receive State’s
Top Military Award October 22
A special
awards ceremony will be held on October 22, at 11 a.m., at the National
Guard Armory, 1060 Hamilton Street, Somerset, N.J. Brigadier General
William Marshall, Deputy State Area Command (STARC) Commander, New Jersey
Army National Guard, will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service
Medal, the state’s top military award, to 91 Somerset County residents
who are combat veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian
Gulf.
An additional 23 county 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
Somerset National Guard Armory, Somerset, N.J.
October 22, 2003
LEGEND: (WAR ) CW=Civil War, I=World War I, II=World War II, K=Korea,
BP=Bay of Pigs, 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 (Operation
Joint Forge), DOM=Dominican Republic, KSV=Kosovo (Operation Joint Endeavor/Joint
Guard), H=Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy), OEF=Afghanistan & Iraq
(Operation Enduring Freedom), OIF=Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom), NCTS=No
Combat Theater Service
|
Award
|
Rank
|
Last
Name
|
First
Name
|
MI
|
Posthumous
|
Branch
|
War
|
City
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Abate
|
Joseph
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Airman
1st Class
|
Arnold
|
Robert
|
E.
|
|
Air
Force
|
K
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Storekeeper
2nd Class
|
Bauder
|
William
|
D.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Bernotas
|
Thomas
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Four
|
Blair
|
James
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Brattlof
|
Arthur
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bedminster
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Burgos
|
Wilfredo
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Skillman
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Burns
|
Timothy
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Manville
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Butth
|
John
|
P.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Carrar
|
Leon
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Watchung
|
|
MSM
|
Airman
Apprentice
|
Carrino
|
William
|
L.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Chinni
|
Joseph
|
P.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Clancey
|
Peter
|
M.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
MSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Clohessey
|
Edward
|
H.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Sparta
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Cocivera
|
Frank
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Colalillo
|
Michael
|
N.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Cullinane
|
Michael
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Corporal
|
Davidson
|
Herbert
|
Z.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Debbie
|
Robert
|
E.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
N.
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
|
DeGroff
|
Henry
|
S.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Dentz
|
Franklin
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Private
|
DePaolo
|
Louis
|
V.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Airman
1st Class
|
Donofrio
|
John
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Electricians
Mate 3rd Class
|
Dunn
|
Joseph
|
R.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
|
Field
Cook
|
Erdman
|
Charles
|
R.
|
Posthumous
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Gunner's
Mate/Seaman 1st Class
|
Etzold
|
Robert
|
E.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Manville
|
|
DSM
|
Private
|
Fedorczyk
|
Frank
|
S.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Manville
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Fellman
|
Norman
|
D.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bedminster
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Fender
|
George
|
R.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Ferrara
|
Louis
|
G.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Captain
|
Festa
|
Carmine
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Filep
|
Jack
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Raritan
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Frank
|
Clifford
|
M.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Basking
Ridge
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Fratantuono
|
Louis
|
J.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Gallo
|
William
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Bernardsville
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
1st
Lieutenant
|
Gandenberger
|
George
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Geiger
|
John
|
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Airman
1st Class
|
Gilchrist
|
Andre
|
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Somerville
|
|
MSM
|
Private
|
Gilchrist
|
Hubert
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Giordano
|
John
|
H.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Glens
|
Charles
|
W.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Gove
|
Lawrence
|
A.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Technical
Sergeant
|
Granrath
|
Roman
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Bedminster
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Hawk
|
Paul
|
L.
|
Posthumous
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Bound
Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Hoffman
|
Edward
|
E.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
K
|
Dover
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Captain
|
Holtz
|
Albert
|
T.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Rocky
Hill
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
|
Honan
|
Lawrence
|
E.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Somerville
|
|
MSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Irolla
|
Ralph
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
DSM
|
Electricians
Mate 2nd Class
|
Jerolaman
|
Charles
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bernardsville
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Johnson
|
Robert
|
F
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
1st Class
|
Jones
|
Thomas
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Two
|
Juliussen
|
Charles
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Somerville
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Kark
|
Frank
|
J.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Millstone
|
|
MSM
|
1st
Lieutenant
|
Kasman
|
Walter
|
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Pluckemin
|
|
DSM
|
Electricians
Mate 2nd Class
|
Klim
|
Vincent
|
M.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Kovacs
|
Anna
|
J.
|
|
Womens
Army Air Corps
|
II
|
Clearwater
|
|
DSM
|
Electricians
Mate 3rd Class
|
Krautter
|
Henry
|
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Berkley
Heights
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Kropewnicki
|
John
|
F.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
|
Captain
|
Kucharz
|
Kenneth
|
M.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Bernardsville
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Labracio
|
Alfred
|
L.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Far
Hills
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Five
|
LaFleur
|
Eugene
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
South
Bound Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Private
|
LaRocco
|
William
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
South
Amboy
|
|
MSM
|
1st
Lieutenant
|
Lawson
|
Donald
|
B.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Lott
|
John
|
J.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Luongo
|
Joseph
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Basking
Ridge
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Lyons
|
William
|
J.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Sergeant
|
MacManus
|
Bruce
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Malko
|
Michael
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Hillsborough
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Manzella
|
Anthony
|
S.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Marino
|
Frank
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Somerset
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
McCarthy
|
Clyde
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
No.
Plainfield
|
|
MSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
McGuire
|
Charles
|
C.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
K
|
South
Bound Brook
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Mengak
|
John
|
M.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Raritan
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Captain
|
Miller
|
Robert
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Raritan
|
|
DSM
|
Private
|
Morings
|
Joe
|
C.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Murdock
|
Robert
|
|
|
Army
|
DSS
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Boatswain's
Mate 2nd Class
|
Nagel
|
Edward
|
B.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Fireman
2nd Class
|
Olkowski
|
Walter
|
E.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Palmer
|
George
|
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
MSM
|
Seaman
|
Paquet
|
Theodore
|
M.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Philhower
|
William
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Manville
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Pilla
|
Adam
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Manville
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Pollard
|
Richard
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Rand
|
Ellsworth
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
K
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Corporal
|
Reise
|
Earl
|
D.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Roberts
|
Harold
|
B.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
MSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Rosa
|
Arnold
|
|
|
Army
|
DSS
|
Bedminster
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Rosa
|
Carmen
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Rosenfeld
|
Stuart
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerset
|
|
MSM
|
Master
Sergeant
|
Russin
|
John
|
A.
|
|
Army
Air Corps
|
II
|
Raritan
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Sands
|
Leonard
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Sands
|
Leonard
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Kendall
Park
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Schubach
|
Alvin
|
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Five
|
Seibert
|
Larry
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
S.
Bound Brook
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Four
|
Sena
|
James
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Shortmeier
|
Harold
|
W.
|
|
Air
Force
|
K
|
Warren
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Siberine
|
Raymond
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Basking
Ridge
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Simko
|
Frank
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
South
Bound Brook
|
|
MSM
|
Major
|
Slugg
|
Peter
|
H.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Princeton
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Smith
|
Christopher
|
O.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Somerset
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Stanko
|
Michael
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Thomas
|
Lewis
|
C.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
North
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Voeste
|
Edward
|
L.
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Hillsborough
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Carpenters
Mate 1st Class
|
Vones
|
James
|
G.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Wasitowski
|
Edward
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Manville
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Wasitowski
|
Joseph
|
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Wester
|
Gilbert
|
H.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Wilczewski
|
Richard
|
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Winfield
|
Robert
|
N.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Branchburg
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Chief
Petty Officer
|
Wise
|
Joseph
|
P.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
V
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Wynn
|
Charles
|
M.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
K
|
Somerville
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Yacka
|
Anthony
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
N
Plainfield
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
1st
Lieutenant
|
Zarate
|
Richard
|
C.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bridgewater
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
1st
Lieutenant
|
Zingara
|
Vincent
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Warren
|
|
