84 Camden
County Residents Will Receive State’s Top Military Award March 27
A special awards ceremony will be held on March 27, at 11 a.m.,
at the Strawbridges Court, Echelon Mall, Burnt Mill Road, Voorhees,
N.J. Brig. Gen. Eugene
Chojnacki, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, New Jersey Air National
Guard, will present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal,
the state’s top military award, to 84 Camden County residents who
are combat veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon Crisis,
Grenada and the Persian Gulf War.
An
additional 29 residents who are combat veterans will receive the
New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal for their service in the military.
Two
of the DSMs will be presented to family members of men killed in
action in World War II – John McCaughey of Brooklawn and Samuel Stepanow
of Mount Ephraim. Stepanow’s
brother, Joseph, will also be receiving a DSM.
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
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
Strawbridges
Court, Echelon Mall Voorhees, N.J.
March
27, 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
|
Rank
|
Last
Name
|
First
Name
|
MI
|
Posthumous
|
Branch
|
war
|
City
|
|
MSM
|
Engineman
3rd Class
|
Antico
|
Daniel
|
D.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Oaklyn
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Auxer
|
George
|
W.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Pennsauken
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Baerga
|
Augustine
|
F.
|
|
Army
|
DSS
|
Atco
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Bartling
|
William
|
J.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Oaklyn
|
|
MSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Baumiester
|
William
|
J.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Turnersville
|
|
DSM
|
Private
|
Bensih
|
Francis
|
B.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Runnemede
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Bergeron
|
Harry
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Albion
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Bier
|
Jack
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Bresch
|
James
|
L.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Sicklerville
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Brudnicki
|
Joseph
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddonfield
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Campbell
|
Scott
|
D.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Sicklerville
|
|
MSM
|
Lieutenant
|
Chassels
|
Larry
|
W.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Gibbsboro
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Chinn
|
Douglas
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Camden
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Cipriano
|
Vincent
|
D.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Pennsauken
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Clifford
|
Norman
|
A.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Comfort
|
James
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Marlton
|
|
DSM
|
Fireman
2nd Class
|
Connelly
|
William
|
M.
|
Posthumous
|
Navy
|
II
|
Woodbury
|
|
MSM
|
Chief
Petty Officer
|
Conway
|
James
|
E.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Blackwood
|
|
MSM
|
Lieutenant
Colonel
|
Cook
|
George
|
N.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Cooney
|
Elliott
|
W.
|
|
Army
|
G
|
Winslow
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Copp
|
Joseph
|
M.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Blackwood
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Cornell
|
George
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Brooklawn
|
|
MSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Cremean
|
Michael
|
A.
|
|
Navy
|
LC
|
Barrington
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Daniels
|
Willie
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerdale
|
|
MSM
|
Lieutenant
Colonel
|
Derascavage
|
Joseph
|
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Sergeant
|
Devereaux
|
William
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Laurel
Springs
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
DiJulio
|
Joseph
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Laurel
Springs
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Dilks
|
Harold
|
J
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Electricians
Mate 2nd Class
|
Donegan
|
John
|
F.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Haddonfield
|
|
MSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Dorflinger
|
David
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Berlin
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Dube
|
Dennis
|
T.
|
Posthumous
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Deptford
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Eiser
|
Charles
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Errico
|
Michael
|
A.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Falkenstein
|
Michael
|
D.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Gloucester
City
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Four
|
Fallon
|
George
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Waterford
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Fallon
|
Kevin
|
R.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Farreny
|
Michael
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Foster
|
Albert
|
H.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Blackwood
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Frates
|
Joseph
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Somerdale
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Friend
|
Harry
|
A.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Erial
|
|
DSM
|
Lieutenant
Colonel
|
Getley
|
Edward
|
|
|
Air
Force
|
DSS
|
Somerdale
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Geyer
|
Richard
|
F.
|
|
Army
Air Corps
|
II
|
Runnemede
|
|
MSM
|
Seaman
1st Class
|
Grzybowski
|
Michael
|
H.
|
|
Navy
|
II
|
Gloucester
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Hahn
|
Ronald
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Somerdale
|
|
DSM
|
Seaman
|
Hall
|
Tyrone
|
H.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Winslow
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Hawthorne
|
Louise
|
B.
|
|
Army
|
DSS
|
Camden
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Heyn
|
Kenneth
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Collingswood
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Jablonowski
|
Henry
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Gloucester
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Johnson
|
Jesse
|
D.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Winslow
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Johnson
|
Rodney
|
C.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
West
Atco
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Levitt
|
Meyer
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Lockhart
|
Robert
|
B.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Lindenwold
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Longo
|
Gus
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Blackwood
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Luczkiewicz
|
Frank
|
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Barrington
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Lynch
|
Rodman
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
DSM
|
Lance
Corporal
|
McCarthy
|
Edward
|
J.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Somerdale
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
McCaughey
|
John
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Brooklawn
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
McCormack
|
Dennis
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Audubon
Park
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
McCoy
|
Charles
|
C.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Runnemede
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
McDowell
|
James
|
H.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Blackwood
|
|
MSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
McNamee
|
James
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Gloucester
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Meeker
|
Alvah
|
C.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddonfield
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Mehr
|
Leroy
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Barrington
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Miller
|
George
|
D.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
MSM
|
Lieutenant
|
Miller
|
William
|
R.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Turnersville
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Captain
|
Mink
|
John
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Westmont
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Mullen
|
James
|
F.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Bellmawr
|
|
MSM
|
Private
|
Murphy
|
Walter
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Clementon
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Naurath
|
Carl
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Pennsauken
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Nevins
|
John
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Nicholson
|
Ira
|
R.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Erial
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Nissenzone
|
Marvin
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Sicklerville
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Norwood
|
Robert
|
C.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Pine
Hill
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Private
1st Class
|
Orongzi
|
Vincent
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Lance
Corporal
|
Owens
|
Fordham
|
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Lindenwold
|
|
MSM
|
Private
|
Pastelnick
|
Max
|
L.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
MSM
|
Sergeant
|
Peterson
|
John
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Blackwood
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Poole
|
Charles
|
L.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Audubon
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Poponi
|
Nestore
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lindenwold
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Reilly
|
Richard
|
J.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
V
|
Winslow
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Riebel
|
William
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Berlin
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Riggio
|
Joseph
|
V.
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
K
|
Turnersville
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Rutter
|
Harry
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Westmont
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Sandell
|
Walter
|
G.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Haddon
Heights
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Santos
|
Luis
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
MSM
|
Corporal
|
Scoleri
|
Dante
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Bellmawr
|
|
MSM
|
Chief
Warrant Officer Two
|
Shaffer
|
Walter
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Oaklyn
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Shook
|
Eric
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
DSS
|
Clementon
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Silver
|
John
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Erial
|
|
DSM
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Sprigman
|
Clark
|
R.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Sicklerville
|
|
MSM
|
Master
Sergeant
|
Stead
|
Gilbert
|
E.
|
|
Army
|
K
|
Clementon
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Specialist
Four
|
Steinhagen
|
Paul
|
L.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Mt.
Ephraim
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Stepanow
|
Joseph
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Mt.
Ephraim
|
|
DSM
w/C
|
Staff
Sergeant
|
Stepanow
|
Samuel
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Mt.
Ephraim
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Stiles
|
Joseph
|
T.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Gloucester
|
|
DSM
|
Corporal
|
Stone
|
Harry
|
J.
|
|
Marine
Corps
|
II
|
Barrington
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Storino
|
Enrico
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Oaklyn
|
|
MSM
|
Commander
|
Sussman
|
Richard
|
M.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Sweeney
|
James
|
T.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Westville
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Taylor
|
Michael
|
J.
|
|
Navy
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
5th Grade
|
Tedesco
|
John
|
|
Posthumous
|
Army
|
II
|
Oaklyn
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Telling
|
Herbert
|
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Lindenwold
|
|
DSM
|
Technician
4th Grade
|
Thomas
|
Harry
|
J.
|
|
Army
|
II
|
Haddonfield
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Thompson
|
Dudley
|
|
|
Navy
|
K
|
Somerdale
|
|
MSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Unger
|
Wilmer
|
H.
|
|
Air
Force
|
II
|
Oaklyn
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Vincent
|
Joseph
|
H.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Bellmawr
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Vitarelli
|
Joseph
|
W.
|
|
Air
Force
|
V
|
Cherry
Hill
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class
|
Waddell
|
Matthew
|
R.
|
|
Navy
|
DSS
|
Mt.
Laurel
|
|
DSM
|
Specialist
Five
|
Ward
|
Thomas
|
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Barrington
|
|
DSM
|
Sergeant
|
Wilkinson
|
Frederick
|
P.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Blackwood
|
|
DSM
|
Private
1st Class
|
Woeppel
|
Leslie
|
A.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Clementon
|
|
DSM
|
Petty
Officer 2nd Class
|
Wyatt
|
Mark
|
|
|
Navy
|
DSS
|
Audubon
|
|
MSM
|
Specialist
Four
|
Yancey
|
Vincent
|
M.
|
|
Army
|
V
|
Pennsauken
|
|
