MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Staff Sgt. Barbara Harbison (609) 530-7088

or Lt. Col. Roberta Niedt at (609) 530-6939

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(18 March 2005)

.

164 Camden and Gloucester County Residents Will Receive State Military Awards March 31

Two special award ceremonies will be held on March 31, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the Cherry Hill Armory, Grove and Park Streets, Cherry Hill, N.J. During the 11 a.m. ceremony, 51 veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and Operation Iraqi Freedom will be presented with the state’s top military award, the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal. At the 1 p.m. ceremony, 50 veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom will also be presented with the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal.

An additional 33 residents of both counties who are combat veterans will receive the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal (NJMSM) for their service in the military in the morning ceremony while 30 county residents will receive the NJMSM in the afternoon ceremony.

The N.J. Distinguished Service Medal was originally issued in 1858 for those who distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia, but was used infrequently 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 30,000 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: Kathy Burek
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340

Be sure to include full name, home address and a daytime phone number

e-mail: patricia.richter@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

Cherry Hill Armory, Cherry Hill, N.J.
March 31, 2005

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

 

11 a.m. ceremony

Award

Rank

Last Name

First name

MI

Posthumous

Branch

war

City

county

MSM

Specialist Three

Alvarez

Jose

A.

 

Army

K

Blackwood

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Anthony

William

C.

 

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Arcari

Dominick

W.

Posthumous

Army

II

Gibbstown

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Ard

Robert

G.

 

Marine Corps

V

Franklinville

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Specialist Five

Arrera

Paul

G.

 

Army

V

Gloucester City

Camden

DSM

Specialist Four

Ashe

Daniel

C.

 

Army

OIF

Glassboro

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Athis

Franklin

T.

 

Marine Corps

K

Gibbstown

Gloucester

MSM

Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class

Augusto

Jose

 

 

Navy

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Machinist Mate 1st Class

Auwarter

Karl

W.

 

Navy

DSS

Sicklerville

Camden

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Bailey

Joseph

 

 

Army

II

Glassboro

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Baker

Glenn

L.

 

Army

V

Magnolia

Camden

MSM

Private

Bewley

William

C.

 

Army

K

Sicklerville

Camden

DSM

1st Sergeant

Blasé

Joseph

G.

 

Marine Corps

K

Pine Hill

Camden

DSM

Airman 1st Class

Blong

Thomas

 

 

Air Force

V

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM

Fire Controlman 3rd Class

Boden

Robert

S.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Thorofare

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Braker

William

C.

 

Army

K

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Seaman 1st Class

Buddendorf

William

C.

 

Navy

II

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM

Airman 1st Class

Campbell

Robert

A.

 

Air Force

V

Westville

Gloucester

MSM

Private 1st Class

Caranci

Philip

W.

 

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Private 1st Class

Carney

Joseph

J.

Posthumous

Army

K

Mantua

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Chew

Thomas

D.

Posthumous

Marine Corps

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Chinn

Douglas

 

 

Army

V

Camden

Camden

DSM w/C

Specialist Four

Ciano

Richard

 

 

Army

V

Glendora

Camden

MSM

Sergeant

Coble

John

S.

 

Army

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Cooney

Raymond

 

 

Army

K

Gloucester City

Camden

DSM

Private 1st Class

Crim

Robert

E.

 

Army

V

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant 1st Class

Czekala

Joseph

F.

 

Army

V

Blackwood

Camden

MSM

Technician 5th Class

Damiani

Vincent

J.

 

Army

II

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Davis

Johnny

 

 

Army

V

Thorofare

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Four

DeClerico

Eiore

N.

 

Army

V

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

DeGeorge

Carl

A.

 

Army

K

Thorofare

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Degrado

Dominic

C.

 

Army

V

Bellmawr

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Delaney

Ralph

M.

 

Marine Corps

K

Somerdale

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Four

Demuro

Ronald

F.

 

Army

V

Deptford

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Dennison

David

L.

 

Marine Corps

V

Pennsauken

Camden

MSM

Technician 5th Grade

Deptula

Thomas

F.

Posthumous

Army

II

Mt. Royal

Gloucester

MSM

Technician 5th Grade

Derr

William

B.

 

Army

II

Mantua

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Four

DeVault

Jennifer

L.

 

Army

OIF

Mount Ephraim

Camden

DSM

Damage Controlman 3rd Class

DeWitt

Reese

 

 

Navy

K

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Technical Sergeant

Di Sipio

Alex

L.

Posthumous

Army

II

Laurel Springs

Camden

DSM

Private 1st Class

Dickinson

Thomas

V.

 

Army

II

Westmont

Camden

DSM

Corporal

Diehl

Lloyd

J.

 

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Four

Doto

Micky

 

 

Army

OIF

Somerdale

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Edwards

James

H.

 

Marine Corps

V

Runnemede

Camden

DSM

Seaman

Effinger

Raymond

D.

 

Navy

V

Blackwood

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Engle

Joseph

R.

 

Army

K

Pitman

Gloucester

MSM

Corporal

English

Robert

E.

 

Marine Corps

V

Franklinville

Gloucester

MSM

Private

Erskine

Francis

R.

 

Army

K

West Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Esler

Karl

A.

 

Army

II

Blackwood

Camden

MSM

Technical Sergeant

Fanuka

Anthony

J.

 

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Private 1st Class

Faucher

Raymond

E.

 

Army

V

Cherry Hill

Camden

MSM

Technician 4th Grade

Fesi

Joseph

J.

 

Army

II

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Four

Fink

John

T.

 

Army

V

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Technical Sergeant

Fitch

Roy

J.

 

Air Force

V

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Private 1st Class

Foster

Leroy

 

 

Army

II

Franklinville

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Staff Sergeant

Fox

George

H.

Posthumous

Army

II

Mickleton

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Frank

William

C.

Posthumous

Army

V

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Gargano

Anthony

J.

 

Army

V

Laurel Springs

Camden

MSM

Corporal

Garrity

John

P.

Posthumous

Army

K

Stratford

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Gerber

Charles

J.

 

Army

K

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Goode

Nathaniel

A.

Posthumous

Army

II

Camden

Camden

MSM

Specialist Four

Gordon

Barry

C.

 

Army

V

Somerdale

Camden

MSM

Carpenters Mate 3rd Class

Grosso

Vincent

N.

 

Navy

II

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Staff Sergeant

Guida

Louis

A.

 

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Corporal

Hackett

Michael

J.

 

Marine Corps

V

Bellmawr

Camden

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Hannigan

David

L.

 

Army

V

Blackwood

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Harold

Belh

 

 

Air Force

V

Clayton

Gloucester

MSM

Technician 5th Grade

Heath

Ulysses

G.

 

Army

II

Westville

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Heitman

Joseph

C.

 

Army

V

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Machinist Mate 3rd Class

Henderson

James

 

Posthumous

Navy

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Henry

Abigail

S.

 

Army

II

Stratford

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Hesley

Edward

A.

 

Marine Corps

DSS

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Hunter

Robert

F.

 

Army

K

Laurel Springs

Camden

DSM

Senior Chief Petty Officer

Ingram

Dennis

M.

 

Navy

V

Cherry Hill

Camden

MSM

Chief Petty Officer

Irion

Edward

A.

 

Navy

II

Stratford

Camden

DSM

Private 1st Class

Izzo

Camillo

R.

 

Army

II

National Park

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Corporal

Jordan

James

J.

 

Marine Corps

V

Woodbury

Gloucester

DSM

Storekeeper 3rd Class

Kelchner

Diane

L.

 

Navy

DSS

Mount Laurel

Camden

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Kiefer

Frederick

C.

Posthumous

Army

II

Clayton

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Four

Kirk

Eugene

T.

 

Army

V

Woodbury

Gloucester

MSM

Corporal

Kite

Joseph

W.

 

Marine Corps

II

Westmont

Camden

DSM w/C

Private 1st Class

Kobylinski

Paul

 

 

Army

II

Mullica Hill

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Konopka

Leonard

E.

 

Marine Corps

V

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Petty Officer 1st Class

Kusse

James

E.

 

Navy

V

Gibbstown

Gloucester

  

1 p.m. ceremony 

Award

Rank

Last Name

First Name

MI

Posthumous

Branch

war

City

county

DSM

Private 1st Class

Lambert

Thomas

A.

 

Army

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Technical Sergeant

Landberg

John

W.

Posthumous

Navy

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Corporal

LaRosa

Russell

F.

 

Army

II

Voorhees

Camden

MSM

Seaman

Leininger

Harry

A.

 

Navy

K

Westmont

Camden

MSM

Gunners Mate 2nd Class

Loftis

James

A.

 

Navy

II

Somerdale

Camden

DSM

Sergeant

Mahoney

James

E.

 

Air Force

V

Williamstown

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Mariani

Vincent

R.

 

Marine Corps

V

Voorhees

Camden

DSM

Corporal

Marino

John

C.

 

Army

K

Westville

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Martinez

Amador

 

 

Army

V

Berlin

Camden

MSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Mauro

Anthony

J.

 

Army

K

Audubon

Camden

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Mayers

Howard

W.

 

Air Force

K

Mount Ephraim

Camden

DSM

Boatswain's Mate Senior Chief

McAfee

Kenneth

E.

 

Navy

V

Clayton

Gloucester

MSM

Corporal

McBride

Raymond

J.

 

Army

K

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM

Technician 5th Class

McCarty

Edward

 

 

Army

II

Woodbury

Gloucester

DSM

Private

McGraw

James

K.

 

Army

K

Mount Ephraim

Camden

MSM

Machinist Mate 3rd Class

McShane

Vincent

J.

 

Navy

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

McStay

Hugh

F.

 

Marine Corps

K

Gibbstown

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Metz

Frank

H.

 

Army

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Private

Meyer

Michael

E.

 

Army

V

Sicklerville

Gloucester

DSM

Machinist Mate 1st Class

Michel

John

W.

 

Navy

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Miduski

Joseph

T.

 

Air Force

V

Runnemede

Camden

MSM

Sergeant

Mihalic

Thomas

C.

Posthumous

Marine Corps

K

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Airman

Mills

Robert

E.

 

Navy

V

Wenonah

Gloucester

MSM

Corporal

Misci

Nicholas

A.

 

Air Force

K

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Moen

William

F.

 

Marine Corps

V

Runnemede

Camden

MSM

Private

Molinari

Anthony

W.

 

Army

II

Clementon

Camden

MSM

Corporal

Mumbower

William

 

 

Marine Corps

V

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Staff Sergeant

Murphy

John

W.

 

Marine Corps

V

Woodbury

Gloucester

DSM

Hospitalman 3rd Class

Muzyczek

Louis

A.

 

Navy

V

Pennsauken

Camden

DSM

Corporal

Nastasi

Nicholas

A.

 

Army

K

Clarksboro

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Orcutt

Shawn

M.

 

Marine Corps

OIF

Magnolia

Camden

DSM

Technician 5th Grade

Owens

Thomas

W.

 

Army

II

Mullica Hill

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Four

Palcko

Ronald

J.

 

Army

V

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Staff Sergeant

Palladino

Rudolph

C.

Posthumous

Army

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Private

Pappas

William

 

 

Army

II

Franklinville

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Patterson

Joseph

 

 

Army

V

Pitman

Gloucester

MSM

Coxswain

Pfeiffer

John

A.

 

Navy

II

Cherry Hill

Camden

DSM

Technician 4th Grade

Pike

Edward

A.

Posthumous

Army

II

National Park

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Poole

Joseph

F.

Posthumous

Army

II

Woodbury Heights

Gloucester

MSM

Seaman 1st Class

Quitmeyer

Harry

 

 

Navy

II

Deptford

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Reader

John

L.

 

Marine Corps

K

Mantua

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Five

Redfield

James

T.

Posthumous

Army

V

Glassboro

Gloucester

DSM w/C

Private 1st Class

Redfield

Searle

N.

Posthumous

Army

II

Medford

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Redman

Wilmot

R.

 

Marine Corps

OIF

Gibbstown

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Rimer

Robert

J.

 

Army

V

Clementon

Camden

DSM

Specialist Four

Rizzo

Joseph

P.

 

Army

V

Vineland

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Four

Rizzo

Joseph

 

 

Army

V

Vineland

Gloucester

DSM

Private 1st Class

Robinson

Robert

C.

 

Army

V

Glassboro

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Romano

Charles

 

 

Army

K

Somerdale

Camden

DSM w/C

Sergeant

Romano

Francis

M.

Posthumous

Army

K

Gloucester City

Camden

MSM

Corporal

Rooney

James

 

 

Marine Corps

V

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Four

Ryder

George

M.

Posthumous

Army

V

Mullica Hill

Gloucester

MSM

Staff Sergeant

Schieber

Daniel

P.

 

Army

II

West Collingswood

Camden

DSM

Technical Sergeant

Scott

Ernest

C.

 

Air Force

OIF

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Specialist Five

Semler

Richard

W.

 

Army

V

Cherry Hill

Camden

MSM

Corporal

Sigismondi

Edward

H.

 

Army

K

Blackwood

Gloucester

MSM

Seaman 1st Class

Simpson

Grover

C.

 

Navy

II

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Private 1st Class

Slobogin

George

 

Posthumous

Army

II

Sewell

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Smith

George

W.

 

Marine Corps

V

Albion

Camden

DSM

Corporal

Staehle

John

J.

 

Army

K

Williamstown

Gloucester

MSM

Master Sergeant

Stead

Gilbert

E.

 

Army

K

Clementon

Camden

DSM w/C

Commander

Stefencavage

George

 

Posthumous

Navy

V

Bellmawr

Camden

DSM

Master Sergeant

Strickland

Kevin

 

 

Air Force

OEF

Pennsauken

Camden

DSM

Private 1st Class

Sullivan

LeRoy

 

Posthumous

Army

II

Clayton

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Suter

Wilmier

R.

 

Army

K

Williamstown

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Thomas

Samuel

J.

 

Army

II

Gibbstown

Gloucester

DSM

Corporal

Traenkner

Patrick

A.

 

Marine Corps

V

Runnemede

Camden

MSM

Specialist Five

Trojan

Edward

T.

 

Army

V

Haddonfield

Camden

MSM

Private 1st Class

Urbano

Amedio

N.

 

Army

K

Westmont

Camden

DSM

Lance Corporal

Wagner

Joseph

W.

 

Marine Corps

V

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Private

Wagner

William

AJ

Posthumous

Marine Corps

I

Franklinville

Gloucester

DSM

Colonel

Waite

John

R.

 

Army

K

Cherry Hill

Camden

DSM

Specialist Five

Walton

Moses

P.

 

Army

V

Wenonah

Camden

DSM

Sergeant 1st Class

Watts

Benjamin

F.

 

Army

K

West Mont

Camden

MSM

Specialist Four

Welinsky

Arthur

H.

 

Army

V

Turnersville

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Wilson

Albert

H.

 

Air Force

K

Sewell

Gloucester

MSM

Private

Wingfield

Wesley

E.

 

Army

II

Clarksboro

Gloucester

MSM

Sergeant

Witts

Edward

M.

 

Army

V

Williamstown

Gloucester

MSM

Specialist Two

Wolf

John

P.

 

Army

K

Westville

Gloucester

DSM

Sergeant

Wolfe

Gary

S.

 

Air Force

V

Pitman

Gloucester


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