A World War II veteran from Long Branch who flew 24 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 bomber and an Iraq war veteran from Sea Girt who helped rebuild Fallujah after the devastating battle there were among 18 Monmouth County war veterans honored by the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) on March 3.

     The veterans were presented the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal and other awards at a ceremony at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. The state Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to all New Jersey residents who served in combat while on active duty during wartime.

     The ceremony marked the beginning of a three-day outreach program at the mall as part of an ongoing effort by DMAVA to educate veterans and their families about health, education, housing and other benefits to which they may be entitled.

     The ‘One Mall a Month' travelling veterans' kiosk will be at the mall from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday (March 3-4) and it will be staffed by DMAVA veterans' benefits experts.

     Veterans who miss the opportunity to visit the mall kiosk can call the department's toll free benefits information line any time at 1-888-8NJ VETS.

     The medals at Tuesday's ceremony were awarded by two decorated Vietnam veterans, retired Gen. Frank Carlini and Gary Englert, and Assemblyman Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr. (R-Monmouth). Carlini is the state director of veterans' healthcare and Englert is the state director of veterans' services.

     Before receiving his medal, Robert S. Newman, the World War II veteran from Long Branch, recalled that he arrived in England in 1944, less than a week before the Normandy invasion.

     “I made sure I let Ike (Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower) know I was there, so the invasion could begin,” Newman said, laughing. “I flew my first combat mission a few days later. I'll never forget those days.”

     Newman, 84, retired as the chief probation officer from Monmouth County in 1986.

     Marine Reserve Gunnery Sgt. Christopher J. Randazzo, the Iraq veteran from Sea Bright, was among several medal recipients who are still in the military.

     “It's great to be recognized,” said Randazzo, who served with a civil affairs unit that advised local Iraqi government officials in Fallujah in the aftermath of the 2004 battle for control of the city.