Page 1

MORRIS COUNTY

DISTINGUISHED

MILITARY SERVICE

MEDAL RECIPIENTS

Updated January 2014

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Morris County Board Of Chosen Freeholders

Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Director

David Scapicchio, Deputy Director

Douglas R. Cabana

John Cesaro

Ann F. Grossi

John Krickus

William “Hank” Lyon

Former Freeholders

William J. Chegwidden

Frank Druetzler

Gene Feyl

John Inglesino

Cicilia Lauries

John J. Murphy

James Murray

Margaret Nordstrom

Joseph Pennacchio

Jack Schrier

Photographs

Joel Aronson

MORRIS COUNTY MEDALS

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

DESIGN

Front: County seal encircled with words:

“Morris County Distinguished Military Service”

Back: Outline of County map with American Flag

“Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders”

“World War II Commemorative”

ELIGIBILITY

Active Duty - December 1941thru September 1945

Veteran lived in Morris County

Honorably Discharged (Copy of Separation Papers)

Living or Deceased

EVENT

Estimated 7,000 –10,000 recipients & guests

Municipal ceremonies in partnership with Town Councils

Committee Members: Mayor Jack Dunn, Madison

Jane Hopkins, Boonton

Joseph Quade, Montville

Robert Tracey, Morristown

August, 2000

INDEX - BY LAST NAME

Norus Achmetov - November 9, 2009

Arthur H. Ackerman - December 12, 2006

Andrew Adams - May 27, 2009

Paul Adams - May 27, 2009

Theodore Aderson - June 9, 2008

Hunter Alarcon - November 13, 2013

Adan Albrecht - September 9, 2009

Ian Alloway Culver - November 13, 2013

John Amicucci - March 9, 2011

Johnny Andino - August 10, 2011

Christopher U. Andrews - May 23, 2007

Robert Appel - June 9, 2008

William Armstrong - November 7, 2007

Joel B. Aronson - August 22, 2007

Ronald C. Aulisio - March 12, 2008

James Auriemma – March 14, 2012

Robert Axt - November 9, 2009

Thomas M. Bacon - November 12, 2008

Andrew Barcia - December 12, 2006

Robert J. Barone - May 27, 2009

Joe Barrelli - August 10, 2011

Jesus Barrio - May 25, 2011

Richard Barry – May 23, 2012

Matthew Clay Bartlett - May 23, 2007

William P. Bashaw - July 26, 2006

Ronald R. Bauer - November 12, 2008

Leo O. Beattie - March 22, 2006

Richard Beck - November 10, 2010

William Beck - December 9, 2009

Pasquale G. Belcastro - December 12, 2006

Daniel S. Bendas - June 9, 2008

Michael T. Bergeron - September 9, 2009

Vincent Adam Binkoski - March 11, 2009

William S. Blaher – May 23, 2012

Robert Blaszak – March 14, 2012

Henry (Hank) Broxmeier - May 28, 2008

Robert Bracero, Jr. - May 27, 2009

Charles W. Bradshaw - November 12, 2008

Bruce W. Bristol - December 12, 2006

Craig Brooks - May 24, 2006

Eugine Bozza - May 24, 2013

Donald S. Brown - May 23, 2007

Giancarlo Bruzzese - March 9, 2011

Thomas Bubryckie - November 9, 2009

Edward F. Buchanan - December 12, 2006

William J. Buchanan - December 12, 2006

John Budzinski - September 9, 2011

Keith G. Byard - May 23, 2012

Jeffrey L. Calabrese - December 12, 2006

Leonard F. Calabrese - December 12, 2006

John D. “Jack” Callahan - May 24, 2013

James Cammarano - August 10, 2011

Bradford A. Camp - August 13, 2008

Eugene B. Campbell - December 9, 2009

Robert G. Caputo - March 24, 2010

Joseph Carmina, Jr. - March 22, 2006

William Carroll - September 11, 2013

William J. Carroll, Iv - November 7, 2007

Bryant F. Casterline - March 12, 2008

Paul M. Chase - July 26, 2006

John L. Christensen - March 23, 2007

John D. Clark - March 24, 2010

Robert J. Clark - December 12, 2006

Terence M. Coletta - November 10, 2010

Charles H. Collins, Jr. - September 9, 2009

Marshall E. Collins - September 11, 2013

Leo R. Colombo - August 10, 2011

Collin M. Congleton - May 24, 2006

Joseph F. Connolly - March 22, 2006

Brian Conover - June 9, 2008

Nelson R. Cook - December 12, 2006

John Cooper, Jr. - July 26, 2006

Ross L. Cooper, Jr. - June 9, 2008

James A. Corlett - November 12, 2008

Alfred Cornetto - March 22, 2006

Christopher B. Cosgrove Iii - May 23, 2007

Brian Costanza - May 27, 2009

Robert C. Cottrell - May 24, 2006

Hugh James Coghlan Iv - November 9, 2009

Terrance S. Cozza - August 10, 2011

Emerson Crooks - May 27, 2009

Awilda Curving - June 9, 2008

Marcin Czajka - June 9, 2008

Drew W. Daddio - May 23, 2007

Dominick D’andrea - March 11, 2009

Thomas J. Davenport - September 11, 2013

David Dawes - March 9, 2011

Robert De Blasi - March 13, 2013

Gerald N. De Franco - March 11, 2009

Joe Delloiacovo - August 11, 2010

Joseph James De Maux - May 24, 2013

Stanley N. Demby - May 28, 2008

Carol De Meo - March 13, 2013

Paul De Meo - March 13, 2013

Francis E. Demouthe - August 22, 2007

Ralf K. Demouthe - August 22, 2007

Orlando De Pascale Sr. - September 11, 2013

Thomas J. Denicola - December 9, 2009

Anthony Desimone - November 12, 2008

Francis J. Desmond - November 13, 2013

Joseph Devaney - July 8, 2009

Richard T. Dickinson - March 23, 2007

Wilman Diez - May 24, 2006

Marc Dilley - May 28, 2008

Thomas J. Dinkelspiel - June 9, 2008

Gerald Brian Doe, Jr. - March 11, 2009

Richard L. Donnelly - March 9, 2011

Thomas D. Dresdner - September 11, 2013

Robert Drexler - November 9, 2009

James T. Dunn - September 27, 2006

Jermaine Dunham - May 23, 2012

Charles R. Dyon, Jr. - March 12, 2008

Richard Eastman, Jr. - May 23, 2012

John J. “Jeff ” Elam - May 26, 2010

Anthony R. Eresman - July 26, 2006

William Evers - September 9, 2011

Donald J. Fantasia - May 23, 2007

Damon Farms - June 9, 2008

Richard M. Febbi - August 22, 2007

Herbert Feinstein - May 28, 2008

Michael Ferment - May 26, 2010

Charles D. Ferry, Ii - May 24, 2013

John H. Finkeldie Iii - July 8, 2009

Bryan Flanagan - May 26, 2010

Gary Flanagan - November 12, 2008

Jack Ford - May 27, 2009

Joseph B. Ford - July 8, 2009

Lawrence C. Forno - November 12, 2008

Michael Fournier - December 9, 2009

Richard Henry Frantz - March 12, 2008

John Freudenberg, Jr. - July 8, 2009

Thomas Frischman - November 10, 2010

Thomas Frodella - September 9, 2009

John E. Fuson - September 9, 2009

Richard Gamsby - March 14, 2012

Christopher B. Gates - May 28, 2008

Anthony Gatti - August 22, 2007

James Gervasio - March 14, 2012

Kenneth S. Gerwin - November 12, 2008

Philip J. Gigante - May 24, 2013

Nicholas Gileta - November 13, 2013

Patrick J. Gilmore - December 12, 2006

Steve Goetz - May 27, 2009

Carlos Gonzalez - May 24, 2006

Frederick J. Goughlan - July 8, 2009

David R. Gravel - September 11, 2013

Jeffrey R. Greco - May 23, 2007

Lemoyne E. Griffith - September 27, 2006

Joseph A. Grow - March 12, 2008

Christopher Gracia - September 9, 2009

Robert J. Guidi - November 7, 2007

Ken Hacker - March 24, 2010

John J. Hagen, The Third - September 27, 2006

Eric J. Hanna - July 8, 2009

Charles L. Harden - September 9, 2009

Bernice Haydu - September 9, 2011

William D. Hazen, Sr. - March 23, 2007

Raymond E. Hill - March 23, 2007

Kevin M. Hilton - May 23, 2012

Karl Hipp - November 9, 2009

Velma D. Hodge - May 23, 2007

Arnold Hokins - May 24, 2013

Elliot E. Holder, Iv - September 11, 2013

Christopher A. Hopf- September 27, 2006

Christian Hormaza - November 13, 2013

Wilmar Hormaza, Jr. - November 13, 2013

David Hourigan - May 28, 2008

Philip C. Hughes - December 12, 2006

Armand J. Inelli - May 28, 2008

Joseph A. Ippolito - August 22, 2007

Tom James - May 27, 2009

John J. Jandura, Jr. - August 11, 2010

George Johns - March 13, 2013

Charles B. Jones - November 12, 2008

George H. Jones - March 13, 2013

Griffith H. Jones - March 23, 2007

Michael W. Juhls - March 22, 2006

Frank O. Kaenrath - December 12, 2006

John G. Kafalas - July 26, 2006

Robert L. Kane - September 27, 2006

Barry Kaplan - November 9, 2009

Herbert P. Kean - March 24, 2010

John F. Keiling - June 9, 2008

Alfred J. Keiser - June 9, 2008

Kurt A. Keller - September 27, 2006

James Kennedy - May 26, 2010

Peter J. King - May 27, 2009

Joseph Kloss - September 9, 2009

William F. Koch, Jr. - March 13, 2013

Charles H. Koehler - May 23, 2012

Robert R. Koetzner - May 26, 2010

Richard Kohn - March 24, 2010

Peter Kolln, Jr. - June 9, 2008

Douglas A. Koeppen - November 13, 2013

Edward J. Kozlowski - August 22, 2007

Ira C. Kronenfeld - September 27, 2006

Patrick Kruger - May 24, 2006

Eugene A. Kuhar - May 23, 2007

Joe Lake - November 10, 2010

Fred Lash - November 7, 2007

Christopher E. Laver - May 24, 2006

Michael Laver - May 27, 2009

Luis Layme - May 25, 2011

Joseph Leal – May 23, 2012

George Lee – September 9, 2011

Henry Leer - May 28, 2008

Robert Franklin Lefferts V – September 9, 2011

Jason J. Leffler - September 27, 2006

Vincent Leo, Jr. - March 12, 2008

Donald Letts – September 9, 2011

Sydney Levit - August 13, 2008

Amaury Lopez - May 26, 2010

Jason M. Lubeck - June 9, 2008

Greg Lukaszyk - May 26, 2010

Anthony T. Luzetsky - May 27, 2009

Roy R. J. Mabee - August 11, 2010

John L. Madden - March 23, 2007

Jeffrey E. Magahan - June 9, 2008

Augustine “Gus” Magistro - November 9, 2009

Frank Malone - November 9, 2009

Philip Mangiafridda, Jr. - May 24, 2006

Karl Mangino - September 27, 2006

Gerald D. Manning - March 12, 2008

Joseph Margiotta - August 13, 2008

Robert Marks - May 26, 2010

William J. Marshall Iii - March 9, 2011

Andy Jose Marte - May 25, 2011

Timothy H. Masker - September 11, 2013

Edward Matera - March 13, 2013

Albert J. Mazzatta - September 11, 2013

David J. Maywood - September 27, 2006

Eugene J. Mc Ardle - May 26, 2010

John W. Mc Carthy - March 11, 2009

James F. Mc Connell, Jr. - July 8, 2009

Timothy A. Mc Enteer - July 26, 2006

Robert Mc Ginness - December 12, 2006

Eugene Mc Mann - August 22, 2007

Lee E. Mc Nulty - July 8, 2009

Gordon William Mc Williams - November 12, 2008

Savary Metelus - May 25, 2011

Edward F. Miglarese, Jr. - August 22, 2007

Robert Miller - March 22, 2006

Roy Miller - July 26, 2006

Steven T. Miller - June 9, 2008

Morton Millinger - August 13, 2008

Frank Mirabella - November 10, 2010

Jacquel R. Miranda - May 23, 2007

Domenick Missaggia - September 11, 2013

Thomas J. Mitchell - March 9, 2011

Eddie Molina - May 25, 2011

Scott Moncavio - September 9, 2009

Angelo G. Morreale - July 26, 2006

Richard Barry - May 23, 2012

Vinson Morris - March 23, 2007

Paul J. Mueller - March 13, 2013

William Muse - May 24, 2013

Helen Mutz - November 10, 2010

Walter K. Mutz - November 10, 2010

Francis L. Nardi - August 10, 2011

Vincent Nasilli - March 14, 2012

John J. Nataluk - May 24, 2013

Jack Niemynski - December 9, 2009

Mario P. Nigro - March 12, 2008

Ahmad R. Nobles - May 24, 2006

James Francis Nocera - May 24, 2013

Joseph Noonan - March 9, 2011

Tim O’connor - March 11, 2009

George W. O’dell - August 11, 2010

Robert C. Oehley - March 14, 2012

George Ondish - November 10, 2010

Frank J. O’neill - July 26, 2006

Lawrence E. Oppel - May 23, 2012

Frederick B. Orejola - August 11, 2010

Lewis G. Osbun - September 9, 2011

Joseph F. Osisek - March 12, 2008

Donald A. Ott - May 26, 2010

Ken Page - March 23, 2007

Harold Paret - July 26, 2006

Christina Pavel - May 24, 2006

Mark Peer - May 26, 2010

Robert R. Peer - July 8, 2009

Louis A. Pekarovich - March 12, 2008

Kevin Perry - May 27, 2009

Louis G. Petrone, Jr. - May 24, 2006

Dana B. Phelps - May 27, 2009

Robert Pilkington - August 10, 2011

David Pinero - May 26, 2010

Elston Pirro - March 24, 2010

Thomas Porfido - March 22, 2006

Richard Porzig - May 24, 2013

Alexander Sergio Prezioso Ii - August 13, 2008

Leo E. Rabinowitz - March 14, 2012

David S. Ragucci - March 9, 2011

F. Edward “Tony” Ramirez - September 11, 2013

Moyses Ramirez - March 9, 2011

Russel Redhead - March 24, 2010

John D. “Jack” Reed, Sr. – May 24, 2013

William J. Regal - November 7, 2007

Seymour Reich - March 22, 2006

John Reilly - November 9, 2009

Tom Reilly - May 26, 2010

Kris C. Reinmann - July 26, 2006

Joe Replogle - May 27, 2009

Richard J. Ricco - December 9, 2009

Joseph Richardson – September 9, 2011

Willie W. Richardson, Sr. - August 11, 2010

John J. Rich - August 13, 2008

Rod Ridolfo - May 24, 2013

Peter J. Rinaldi, The Second - May 26, 2010

Conrad J. Rittweger Jr. - September 27, 2006

Adrian V. Rivas - March 9, 2011

Wilfredo S. Rodriguez - August 11, 2010

David Roman - June 9, 2008

Dieter Rosellen - March 14, 2012

Luis Rua - May 25, 2011

Eddie Ruiz - July 8, 2009

Robert W. Ruppert - March 14, 2012

Gary Salvano - May 26, 2010

Luis A. Sanchez - May 25, 2011

Peter Sarni Iii - May 24, 2006

John Scagnelli - August 10, 2011

Angelo Scalo - August 11, 2010

Anthony J. Schiavone - August 13, 2008

Raymond P. Schmitt - August 11, 2010

George R. Schnatz - August 22, 2007

Donald W. Schuld - March 14, 2012

Chris Secula - March 13, 2013

Paul Segro - May 26, 2010

Anthony F. Semiz - September 11, 2013

Joseph Serino - November 13, 2013

Anthony J. Serra - Mach 13, 2013

Charles J. Shanley, Jr. - December 12, 2006

Anthony D. Shaw - September 11, 2013

Jonathan Shaw - May 26, 2010

Ray Shepherd - May 26, 2010

John J. Sherwood - November 7, 2007

Russell Sieb - March 11, 2009

Alphonse G. Sierchio - May 24, 2006

Donald Silverthorne - November 12, 2008

Wendell D. Slayton - March 24, 2010

James B. Smith - May 23, 2012

Robert B. Smith - November 7, 2007

Robert Smolen - June 9, 2008

Gregory J. Somjen - November 9, 2009

Michael Sprung - June 9, 2008

Scott C. Stebbins - May 23, 2007

Stanford Stoller - March 22, 2006

William M. Stone, Iii - June 9, 2008

David Stracener – May 23, 2012

Walter Sulley - November 10, 2010

Ben Suntag - August 10, 2011

Robert Sweetin - September 27, 2006

Shirley A. Tappen – September 9, 2011

Cassan B. Taylor - May 25, 2011

Dominic J. Tetta - December 12, 2006

Johnny L. Thomas, Jr. - May 25, 2011

Clinton Armstrong Threlfall - March 12, 2008

Christopher J. Tighe - March 11, 2009

Richard J. Tilney - March 24, 2010

James E. Titus, Sr. - August 11, 2010

Arthur E. Tokle - March 9, 2011

Aaron D. Tomasini - May 24, 2006

Samuel Torres - March 9, 2011

Luis R. Trenche - May 25, 2011

Raymond B. Troxell - March 23, 2007

Stephen Turko - December 9, 2009

David M. Turner - March 23, 2007

Simon Vacca - November 7, 2007

Wilmer A. Valbuema - March 9, 2011

Louis A. Valori - June 9, 2008

Marshall “Mark” Van Dyke – March 14, 2012

Andy Van Orden - June 9, 2008

James D. Van Valen - November 7, 2007

Arthur G. Van Winkle - December 12, 2006

Amery E. Vasso - March 24, 2010

Edwin Vega - March 13, 2013

Jessica Velez - May 26, 2010

James Vialard - September 11, 2013

Vanessa L. Vichengrad - March 13, 2013

James J. Vigilante - May 28, 2008

Matthew E. Villegas - November 13, 2013

Raymond J. Vito - November 12, 2008

Karl Vonderheyde - March 24, 2010

Donald T. Vose, Jr. - March 23, 2007

Leonard Voytush - November 10, 2010

Everett B. Vreeland, Jr. - March 23, 2007

Thomas D. Wall - August 13, 2008

William J. Wall - August 13, 2008

Jim Walsh – September 9, 2011

Raymond T. Walsh - September 27, 2006

Robert J. Ward - November 10, 2010

William Watson - May 28, 2008

John Webber - May 24, 2006

Thomas H. Westfield – September 9, 2011

Thomas L. Weisenbeck - August 10, 2011

Ronald Welch – March 14, 2012

Arthur Whelan - March 22, 2006

Frederick J. Wiedenmann – May 23, 2012

James B. Wilcox - March 23, 2007

Philip H. Wittnebert - September 9, 2009

Kyle C. Witty - May 23, 2007

Remigiusz Wojdala - May 23, 2007

Carl F. Wronko - December 9, 2009

Christine Wronko - December 9, 2009

William Yarlaski - July 8, 2009

Frank Yodice, Jr. - August 22, 2007

J. Donald York - November 7, 2007

Edward C. Young - November 10, 2010

Sabino Zarro - December 9, 2009

Anthony Zignauskas - May 24, 2006

INDEX - BY CEREMONY DATE

March 22, 2006

Leo O. Beattie

Joseph Carmina, Jr.

Joseph F. Connolly

Alfred Cornetto

Michael W. Juhls

Robert Miller

Thomas Porfido

Seymour Reich

Stanford Stoller

Arthur Whelan

May 24, 2006

Craig Brooks

Collin M. Congleton

Robert C. Cottrell

Wilman Diez

Carlos Gonzalez

Patrick Kruger

Christopher E. Laver

Philip Mangiafridda, Jr.

Ahmad R. Nobles

Christina Pavel

Louis G. Petrone, Jr.

Peter Sarni Iii

Alphonse G. Sierchio

Aaron D. Tomasini

John Webber

Anthony Zignauskas

July 26, 2006

William P. Bashaw

July 26, 2006 (Continued)

Paul M. Chase

John Cooper, Jr.

Anthony R. Eresman

John G. Kafalas

Timothy A. Mc Enteer

Roy Miller

Angelo G. Morreale

Frank J. O’neill

Harold Paret

Kris C. Reinmann

September 27, 2006

James T. Dunn

Lemoyne E. Griffith

John J. Hagen, The Third

Christopher A. Hopf

Robert L. Kane

Kurt A. Keller

Ira C. Kronenfeld

Jason J. Leffler

Karl Mangino

David J. Maywood

Conrad J. Rittweger Jr.

Robert Sweetin

Raymond T. Walsh

December 12, 2006

Arthur H. Ackerman

Andrew Barcia

Pasquale G. Belcastro

Bruce W. Bristol

Edward F. Buchanan

William J. Buchanan

Jeffrey L. Calabrese

December 12, 2006 (Continued)

Leonard F. Calabrese

Robert J. Clark

Nelson R. Cook

Patrick J. Gilmore

Philip C. Hughes

Frank O. Kaenrath

Robert Mc Ginness

Charles J. Shanley, Jr.

Dominic J. Tetta

Arthur G. Van Winkle

March 23, 2007

John L. Christensen

Richard T. Dickinson

William D. Hazen, Sr.

Raymond E. Hill

Griffith H. Jones

John L. Madden

Glen B. Murray Jr.

Ken Page

Raymond B. Troxell

David M. Turner

Donald T. Vose, Jr.

Everett B. Vreeland, Jr.

James B. Wilcox

May 23, 2007

Christopher U. Andrews

Matthew Clay Bartlett

Donald S. Brown

Christopher B. Cosgrove Iii

Drew W. Daddio

Donald J. Fantasia

Jeffrey R. Greco

May 23, 2007 (Continued)

Velma D. Hodge

Eugene A. Kuhar

Jacquel R. Miranda

Scott C. Stebbins

Kyle C. Witty

Remigiusz Wojdala

August 22, 2007

Joel B. Aronson

Francis E. Demouthe

Ralf K. Demouthe

Richard M. Febbi

Anthony Gatti

Joseph A. Ippolito

Edward J. Kozlowski

Eugene Mc Mann

Edward F. Miglarese, Jr.

George R. Schnatz

Frank Yodice, Jr.

November 7, 2007

William Armstrong

William J. Carroll Iv

Robert J. Guidi

Fred Lash

William J. Regal

John J. Sherwood

Robert B. Smith

Simon Vacca

James D. Van Valen

J. Donald York

March 12, 2008

Ronald C. Aulisio

March 12, 2008 (Continued)

Bryant F. Casterline

Charles R. Dyon, Jr.

Richard Henry Frantz

Joseph A. Grow

Vincent Leo, Jr.

Gerald D. Manning

Mario P. Nigro

Joseph F. Osisek

Louis A. Pekarovich

Clinton Armstrong Threlfall

May 28, 2008

Henry (Hank) Broxmeier

Stanley N. Demby

Marc Dilley

Herbert Feinstein

Christopher B. Gates

Armand J. Inelli

David Hourigan

Henry Leer

James J. Vigilante

William Watson

June 9, 2008

Theodore Aderson

Robert Appel

Daniel S. Bendas

Brian Conover

Ross L. Cooper, Jr.

Awilda Curving

Marcin Czajka

Thomas J. Dinkelspiel

Damon Farms

John F. Keiling

June 9, 2008 (Continued)

Alfred J. Keiser

Peter Kolln, Jr.

Jason M. Lubeck

Jeffrey E. Magahan

Steven T. Miller

David Roman

Robert Smolen

Michael Sprung

William M. Stone, Iii

Louis A. Valori

Andy Van Orden

August 13, 2008

Bradford A. Camp

Sydney Levit

Joseph Margiotta

Morton Millinger

Alexander Sergio Prezioso Ii

John J. Rich

Anthony J. Schiavone

Thomas D. Wall

William J. Wall

November 12, 2008

Thomas M. Bacon

Ronald R. Bauer

Charles W. Bradshaw

James A. Corlett

Anthony Desimone

Gary Flanagan

Lawrence C. Forno

Kenneth S. Gerwin

Charles B. Jones

Gordon William Mc Williams

November 12, 2008 (Continued)

Donald Silverthorne

Raymond J. Vito

March 11, 2009

Vincent Adam Binkoski

Dominick D’andrea

Gerald N. De Franco

Gerald Brian Doe, Jr.

John W. Mc Carthy

Tim O’connor

Russell Sieb

Christopher J. Tighe

May 27, 2009

Andrew Adams

Paul Adams

Robert J. Barone

Robert Bracero, Jr.

Brian Costanza

Emerson Crooks

Jack Ford

Steve Goetz

Tom James

Peter J. King

Michael Laver

Anthony T. Luzetsky

Kevin Perry

Dana B. Phelps

Joe Replogle

July 8, 2009

Joseph Devaney

John H. Finkeldie Iii

Joseph B. Ford

July 8, 2009 (Continued)

John Freudenberg, Jr.

Frederick J. Goughlan

Eric J. Hanna

James F. Mc Connell, Jr.

Lee E. Mc Nulty

Robert R. Peer

Eddie Ruiz

William Yarlaski

September 9, 2009

Adan Albrecht

Michael T. Bergeron

Charles H. Collins, Jr.

Thomas Frodella

John E. Fuson

Christopher Gracia

Charles L. Harden

Joseph Kloss

Scott Moncavio

Philip H. Wittnebert

November 9, 2009

Norus Achmetov

Robert Axt

Thomas Bubryckie

Hugh James Coghlan Iv

Robert Drexler

Karl Hipp

Barry Kaplan

Augustine “Gus” Magistro

Frank Malone

John Reilly

Gregory J. Somjen

December 9, 2009

William Beck

Eugene B. Campbell

Thomas J. Denicola

Michael Fournier

Jack Niemynski

Richard J. Ricco

Stephen Turko

Carl F. Wronko

Christine Wronko

Sabino Zarro

March 24, 2010

Robert G. Caputo

John D. Clark

Ken Hacker

Herbert P. Kean

Richard Kohn

Elston Pirro

Russel Redhead

Wendell D. Slayton

Richard J. Tilney

Amery E. Vasso

Karl Vonderheyde

May 26, 2010

John J. “Jeff ” Elam

Michael Ferment

Bryan Flanagan

James Kennedy

Robert R. Koetzner

Amaury Lopez

Greg Lukaszyk

Robert Marks

Eugene J. Mc Ardle

Donald A. Ott

Mark Peer

David Pinero

Tom Reilly

Peter J. Rinaldi, The Second

Gary Salvano

Paul Segro

Jonathan Shaw

Ray Shepherd

Jessica Velez

August 11, 2010

John J. Amicucci

Joe Delloiacovo

John J. Jandura, Jr.

Roy R. J. Mabee

George W. O’dell

Frederick B. Orejola

Willie W. Richardson, Sr.

Wilfredo S. Rodriguez

Angelo Scalo

Raymond P. Schmitt

James E. Titus, Sr.

November 10, 2010

Richard Beck

Terence M. Coletta

Thomas Frischman

Joe Lake

Frank Mirabella

Helen Mutz

Walter K. Mutz

George Ondish

Walter Sulley

November 10, 2010 (Continued)

Leonard Voytush

Robert J. Ward

Edward C. Young

March 9, 2011

John Amicucci

Giancarlo Bruzzese

David Dawes

Richard L. Donnelly

William J. Marshall Iii

Thomas J. Mitchell

William E. O’brien

David S. Ragucci

Moyses Ramirez

Adrian V. Rivas

Arthur E. Tokle

Samuel Torres

Wilmer A. Valbuema

May 25, 2011

Jesus Barrio

Luis Layme

Andy Jose Marte

Savary Metelus

Eddie Molina

Luis Rua

Luis A. Sanchez

Cassan B. Taylor

Johnny L. Thomas, Jr.

Luis R. Trenche

August 10, 2011

Johnny Andino

Joe Barrelli

August 10, 2011 (Continued)

James Cammarano

Leo R. Colombo

Terrance S. Cozza

Francis L. Nardi

Robert Pilkington

John Scagnelli

Ben Suntag

Thomas L. Weisenbeck

September 9, 2011

John Budzinski

William Evers

Bernice Haydu

George Lee

Robert Franklin Lefferts V

Donald Letts

Lewis G. Osbun

Joseph Richardson

Shirley A. Tappen

Jim Walsh

Thomas H. Westfield

March 14, 2012

James Auriemma

Robert Blaszak

Richard Gamsby

James Gervasio

Vincent Nasilli

Joseph Noonan

Robert C. Oehley

Leo E. Rabinowitz

Dieter Rosellen

Robert W. Ruppert

Donald W. Schuld

March 14, 2012 (Continued)

Marshall “Mark” Van Dyke

Ronald Welch

May 23, 2012

Richard Barry

William S. Blaher

Jermaine Dunham

Keith G. Byard

Richard W. Eastman, Jr.

Kevin M. Hilton

Charles H. Koehler

Joseph Leal

Vinson Morris

Lawrence E. Oppel

James B. Smith

David Stracener

Fredrick J. Wiedenmann

March 13, 2013

Robert De Blasi

Carol De Meo

Paul De Meo

George Johns

William F. Koch, Jr.

Edward Matera

Paul J. Mueller

Chris Secula

Anthony J. Serra

Edwin Vega

Vanessa L. Vichengrad

May 24, 2013

Eugene Bozza

John D. “Jack” Callahan

Joseph James De Maux

Charles D. Ferry Ii

Philip J. Gigante

Arnold Hokins

William Muse

John J. Nataluk

James Francis Nocera

Richard Porzig

John D. “Jack” Reed, Sr.

Rod Ridolfo

September 11, 2013

William J. Carroll, Iv

Marshall E. Collins

Thomas J. Davenport

Orlando De Pascale, Sr.

Thomas D. Dresdner

David R. Gravel

Elliot E. Holder, Iv

Timothy H. Masker

Albert J. Mazzatta

Domenick Missaggia

F. Edward “Tony” Ramirez

Anthony F. Semiz

Anthony D. Shaw

James Vialard

November 13, 2013

Hunter Alarcon

Ian Alloway Culver

Francis J. Desmond

Nicholas Gileta

Christian Hormaza

Wilmar Hormaza, Jr

Douglas A. Koeppen

Joseph A. Serino

Matthew E. Villegas

MARCH 22, 2006

LEO O. BEATTIE

Leo O. Beattie is a U.S. Army veteran from Mount Arlington who served with the 82nd

Airborne at Fort Campbell Kentucky and Camp Drum, N.Y. Mr. Beattie is the recipient of the

National Defense Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a Parachute Badge.

JOSEPH CARMINA, JR.

Joseph Carmina is a Navy veteran who served submarine duty aboard the U.S. Grayback

supporting Special Operations. Mr. Carmina is a Mount Olive resident who received a Humani-

tarian Service Medal for saving 29 Vietnamese in the South China Sea. 

JOSEPH F. CONNOLLY

Joseph F. Connolly is a veteran of the United States Army who was with the 25th Division

serving on the 38th Parallel. A Millington resident, he was a Radio Operator and received the

Korean War Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

ALFRED CORNETTO

Alfred Cornetto is a U.S. Army veteran from Towaco. Mr. Cornetto received an Army Com-

mendation Medal for Valor, a Good Conduct Medal and the U.N. Service Medal.

MICHAEL W. JUHLS

Michael W. Juhls, of Budd Lake is United States Marine Corps Veteran. He served as an

Antitank Assault Guided Missileman and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Navy

Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and was awarded Meritorious Unit Com-

mendations.

ROBERT MILLER

Robert Miller, of Lake Hopatcong, is a Navy veteran who served aboard a Navy Ammuni-

tion ship. Mr. Miller received a Bronze Star, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Ser-

vice Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

THOMAS PORFIDO

Thomas Porfido resides in Pine Brook and he is a veteran of the United States Army. Mr.

Porfido was attached to the 76th Field Artillery, and he was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland

SEYMOUR REICH

Seymour Reich is a U.S. Navy veteran from Montville who served on the U.S. Perkins, which

was a “sacrifice ship.” That’s a ship that acts as a forward observer to attract enemy fire so the

main fleet could destroy the enemy.

STANFORD STOLLER

Stanford Stoller is an Air Force veteran from Montville who was attached to the 171st Air

Evacuation group. Mr. Stoller was responsible for transporting wounded soldiers who were com-

ing in to the West Coast to the East Coast.

ARTHUR WHELAN

Arthur Whelan of Pine Brook is a veteran of the United States Navy. Mr. Whelan was sta-

tioned in the Philippines and Vietnam. He is the recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal, the

Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Medal.

MAY 24, 2006

CRAIG BROOKS

Mr. Brooks is a U.S. Marines Corporal. Golf Company 2nd Battalion 25th Marines 4th Ma-

rine Division. Stationed in Nasiriyah, Iraq Mr. Brooks received Combat Action Ribbon.

COLLIN M. CONGLETON

Mr. Congleton volunteered as a combat replacement and was sent to Iraq as Special Opera-

tions in Anbar Provence, which was the main route for insurgents coming into the country from

Syria. His unit lost 48 men killed in action and had over 100 wounded. He received two meri-

torious promotions and a combat promotion. He also received National Defense Medal, Iraqi

Campaign Medal and Combat Action Medal.

ROBERT C. COTTRELL

Mr. Cottrell was a Member of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. He was inducted

into the Army September 20, 1951. Campaigns included “Heartbreak Ridge and Bloody Ridge”

in which 130 men lost their lives. He received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service

Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and a Combat Infantry Badge.

WILMAN DIEZ

Mr. Diez was with the U.S. Marines Golf Company 2nd Battalion 25th Marines 4th Marine

Division. He received Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and Global War on

Terrorism Medal.

CARLOS GONZALEZ

Mr. Gonzalez served with the Army National Guard in Tikrit, Iraq with the 250th Signal

Corps in the field of radio communications and maintenance.

PATRICK KRUGER

Mr. Kruger entered U.S. ARMY March 1970 and is due to be discharged July 2006. He

served in Kuwait and Iraq as a Master Sergeant. As a Battalion Motor Sergeant, he was responsi-

ble for all maintenance on military vehicles.

CHRISTOPHER E. LAVER

Mr. Laver served in the U.S. Army Specialist (E-4). He was attached to the 57th Guntruck

Co. 10th Mountain Division while in Iraq. He received the Army Commendation Medal with

Valor, Combat Action Badge, Army Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Ser-

vice Medal.

PHILIP MANGIAFRIDDA, JR.

Mr. Mangiafridda was stationed with the U. S. Army 3rd Infantry Division in Kuwait, Bagh-

dad, Iraq and Fallujah, Iraq. He is a Specialist E-4. He received a Good Conduct Medal and a

Combat Infantry Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

AHMAD R. NOBLES

Mr. Nobles served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was stationed in Germany with the

Military Police. He attained the rank of Specialist E 4.

CHRISTINA PAVEL

Christina Pavel served in the U.S. Army. She attained rank of Specialist (E-4). She was sta-

tioned at Fort Gordon, Georgia and Korea. Ms. Pavel attended Army Computer Science School.

LOUIS G. PETRONE, JR.

Mr. Petrone was killed in action 1/7/68 in Vietnam. He attended Upsala College but left pri-

or to graduating to join the Marine Corps. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

PETER SARNI III

Mr. Sarni served in Tekrit, Iraq as a Sergeant First Class. He was a Navy Corpsman assigned

to Special Forces, Forced Recon. He was also responsible for prisoners entering the Iraq prison

system. He received two Army Achievement Medals, Army Commendation Medal and 13 Coins

for Meritorious Service.

ALPHONSE G. SIERCHIO

Born in Newark, the seventh of ten children, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed

outside Honolulu, Hawaii. He was at the Schofield Barracks on 12/7/41 during the Pearl Harbor

Attack. He served in numerous campaigns including Tarawa and Guam. He received the WWII

Victory Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Medal, Philippines Defense Medal, in addition to numerous cam-

paign ribbons.

AARON D. TOMASINI

Mr. Tomasini served with the U.S. Army in the Military Police Unit in Sader City, Baghdad.

He received the Army Commendation Medal and Iraqi Campaign Medal.

JOHN WEBBER

Mr. Webber served in the U.S. Army from 1977-1985 as a military policemen. He participat-

ed in the conflicts of Grenada and Lebanon. He received two Army Achievement Medals and the

Overseas Service Medal.

ANTHONY ZIGNAUSKAS

Mr. Zignauskas was with U.S. Army C Company 759th Military Police Battalion 89th Mili-

tary Police Brigade. He served Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Army Commendation

Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,

National Defense Medal and a Meritorious Unit Citation.

WILLIAM P. BASHAW

William P. Bashaw of Riverdale served in the United States Army and saw action in Vietnam

with the 1ST Calvary. He received the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service

Medal and an Overseas Bar.

PAUL M. CHASE

Paul M. Chase of Dover is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam as a transportation

specialist. He received the National Defense Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam

Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

JUNE 7, 2006

JOHN COOPER, JR.

John Cooper, Jr., is a retired police officer and a Navy veteran from Pompton Plains who was

involved in underwater warfare. As a chemist, he tested the salinity of water, testing as far down

as two miles to help determine how fast torpedoes would travel in salt water. He received the

National Defense Medal, the European Occupation Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. 

He and his wife have five adopted children ranging in age from 27 to 5.

ANTHONY R. ERESMAN

Anthony R. Eresman of Rockaway served in the United States Marines Corps, and did two

tours of Iraq. He participated in the April 2003 rescue of Army Private Jessica Lynch. He also

served and fought with Vincent Sullivan of Chatham, who was killed in action July 23, 2004 and

who was honored posthumously by the freeholders. He received the Navy and Marine Corps

Achievement Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, an Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on

Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Medal and the Presidential Unit Cita-

tion-Navy.

JOHN G. KAFALAS

John G. Kafalas of Whippany served in the United States Air Force, flying a total of 18 mis-

sions as a flight engineer. Chief among his responsibilities was keeping the aircraft flying while in

battle. He received the Meritorious Achievement Medal with two clusters.

TIMOTHY A. MC ENTEER

Timothy A. McEnteer is a U.S. Army veteran from Denville who served in Afghanistan

during Operation Enduring Freedom. He received two Army Achievement Medals, the Army

Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Medal, an Over-

seas Service Ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

ROY MILLER

Roy Miller is an East Hanover resident and an Army veteran. He was stationed in Germany

and there, he trained as a Heavy Mortar Artillery Specialist.

ANGELO G. MORREALE

Angelo G. Morreale is an Air Force veteran from Succasunna. He trained as an engine me-

chanic in various capacities from Maine to Texas. He received the National Defense Service

Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.

FRANK J. O’NEILL

Frank J. O’Neill is a former Randolph resident who now lives in Maplewood. An Army

veteran, he was a Forward Observer with the 101st Airborne. He attained the rank of First Lieu-

tenant and received a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against

hostile forces.

HAROLD PARET

Harold Paret, who has passed away, was from Morristown He was a veteran of the United

States Navy who attained the rank of Petty Officer. He was assigned to the Norfolk Navy Base in

Virginia repairing and maintaining Navy ships. While working on a ship that came in from the

Pacific with a crew infected with spinal meningitis, he too contracted the disease. This was be-

fore the days of penicillin, so sulfur drugs were used as a cure.

KRIS C. REINMANN

Kris C. Reinmann of Boonton Township served in the United States Army with the 416th

Civil Affairs Battalion out of Norristown, Pennsylvania. His mission was to instruct the people

of Iraq how to manage their economic affairs. He received the Purple Heart for battle wounds he

received when his Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device. 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2006

JAMES T. DUNN

Mr. Dunn, of Boonton, served in the South Pacific in the Army Air Corps from 1942

through 1945 and received the American Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. 

Here at home, he was a member of Harmony Hose and Engine Company of the Boonton

Fire Department for 56 years. Mr. Dunn passed away just two weeks ago.

LEMOYNE E. GRIFFITH

An Army veteran, Mr. Griffith resides in Parsippany, and he served his nation from 1942 to

1945. He did his basic training at Fort Gordon, Louisiana, and was part of the first occupation

forces to come ashore in Japan. He remembers that the biggest obstacle was trying to get on

shore with all the heavy equipment and how surprised the Japanese citizens were at seeing the

Americans come ashore for the first time. 

Here at home, Mr. Griffith served as a member of the Parsippany Fire Department.

JOHN J. HAGEN, THE THIRD

A resident of Boonton, Mr. Hagen served in Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm. He is a

United States Navy veteran whose specialty was electrical and mechanical repair. He received the

National Defense Service Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. 

Mr. Hagen is a police officer with the Boonton Police Department.

CHRISTOPHER A. HOPF

Mr. Hopf resides in Mendham. An Air Force veteran, he served in the Persian Gulf as part

of Operation Desert Shield- Desert Storm. He left Dhahran, Saudi Arabia days before the bomb-

ing of Khobar Towers that killed 19 members of the armed forces. He received the Air Force

Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, The Air Force Good Conduct Med-

al, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the

Air Force Expeditionary Medal for Operation Southern Watch.

Mr. Hopf is a detective with the Mendham Police Department.

ROBERT L. KANE

Mr. Kane is a veteran of the United States Army. He is a resident of Parsippany who served

his country in Vietnam. Mr. Kane received the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Ser-

vice Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Bronze Star. 

He continues to serve us as a member of the Parsippany Fire Department.

KURT A. KELLER

Mr. Keller is an Army veteran who served in the area of counter intelligence during Bosnia

- Herzegovina, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mission was

to gather intelligence from local Iraqi’s. He also assisted in the recovery efforts from the United

Nations explosion which claimed more than 50 lives. Mr. Keller received the Army Achievement

Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Develop-

ment Ribbon, an Armed Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Expert Marksmanship Qual-

ification Badge with Grenade Bar.

A Boonton resident, Mr. Keller is also a Boonton police officer.

IRA C. KRONENFELD

Mr. Kronenfeld is a Lincoln Park resident and a member of the borough fire department

who served in the United States Navy from 1980 to 1984. He was heading to Beirut, Lebanon,

when his ship was diverted to Granada to rescue medical students caught in that country’s gov-

ernment crisis. He received the Humanitarian Service Award for this effort. From there, he went

to Beirut to assist in the rescue operation at the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks where 200 Corps

members lost their lives in a suicide bombing. He also received the Navy Expeditionary Medal, a

Navy Unit Commendation and the Sea Service Deployment Medal with a Star.

JASON J. LEFFLER

A Madison resident, Mr. Leffler served with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne in the Opera-

tion Desert Shield-Desert Storm. He was stationed in Saudi Arabia and was involved with air

assaults, anti tank warfare and tow missiles. Some of his humanitarian work involved adminis-

tering medical help to the Bedouins in the Arabian Desert. He received the Army Service Rib-

bon, the National Defense Service Medal, a Parachutist Badge, an Air Assault Badge, two Air

Achievement Medals and one Army Commendation Medal and was discharged as a Captain. 

Today, Mr. Leffler is with the Brookside Fire and EMS Unit in Mendham Township.

KARL MANGINO

Mr. Mangino is a Marine veteran from Boonton, who served his nation from 1996 through

2000. He is a Boonton police officer who was in Saudi Arabia guarding the ports when the naval

destroyer the USS Cole was bombed in a terrorist attack October 12, 2000. He received the Sea

Service Deployment Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Navy Unit Commen-

dation Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Navy and Marine Corps Achieve-

ment Medal

DAVID J. MAYWOOD

A Marine veteran and Boonton resident, Mr. Maywood served in Operation Desert

Shield-Desert Storm. His duties included motor transport in and around the ports of Saudi

Arabia. He remembers having guard duty at Port of Jabal, Saudi Arabia, while Scud missiles were

coming in. The Port was where the American forces stored all of their artillery for the gulf war

operation. He accomplished two tours of duty and received the National Defense Service Medal

and the Sea Service Deployment Medal. 

Mr. Maywood is a Boonton police officer.

CONRAD J. RITTWEGER JR.

Mr. Rittweger served in the United States Navy in Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm.

He is a Roxbury resident who graduated with honors from the Navy’s Damage Control

School. There, he trained for dealing with accidents that may occur on board from fire and

flooding.

Today, he works for the New Jersey Department of Transportation and is a member of the

Roxbury Fire Department.

ROBERT SWEETIN

Mr. Sweetin was a Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force. He flew more than 150

hours per month flying supplies for Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm. The supplies came

from all over the world and were flown to the actual battle theater.

Mr. Sweetin resides in Chatham and continues to serve as a member of the Chatham Police

Department. 

RAYMOND T. WALSH

Raymond T. Walsh lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania when was drafted by the Army in

1950. He received his orientation at Fort Dix, and trained at Fort Polk, Louisiana. However, a

service-connected disability prevented him from fighting in the Korean conflict.

A Randolph resident, Mr. Walsh has served for 50 years with the Ironia Fire Department,

and was its Chief from 1976 to 1978.

DECEMBER 13, 2006

ARTHUR H. ACKERMAN

Arthur H. Ackerman of Montville was a Radio Operator in the Army. He also served as a

driver for his colonel. He remembers the Tuesday evening when President Kennedy became in-

volved in the Cuban Crisis. The very next day, his entire division was on orders to mobilize.

ANDREW BARCIA

Andrew Barcia of Budd Lake, was with the U.S. Army’s 94th Infantry Division, Company

A, and was stationed in Northern France. Mr. Barcia received the Army Occupation Medal, the

World War II Victory Medal and the Bronze Star for Valor in Battle and during the Nuremberg

Trial he was a guard for Hermann Goering, the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe.

PASQUALE G. BELCASTRO

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Pasquale G. Belcastro of Morris Plains was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash-

ington. He trained with the engineering group before being transferred to the Military Police,

where his main function was guarding and transferring enemy prisoners who were relocated in

the United States to two different bases: Fort Worth and Fort Ord. He also supervised the con-

struction of a road between these two bases to facilitate these prisoner transfers.

BRUCE W. BRISTOL

Bruce W. Bristol of Landing enlisted in the Army 1966 after graduating from Drew Universi-

ty and achieved the rank of Specialist 5. He worked in Personal Management and Personal Sta-

tistics at Fort Knox, and was responsible for the whereabouts of every soldier on the base. Today

he is a Financial Planner.

EDWARD F. BUCHANAN

Edward F. Buchanan, of Flanders has achieved the Rank of E-5 in the United States Navy. He

is a Hull Technician and Fire Fighter in the Persian Gulf, securing oil wells and repairing and

rescuing downed aircraft. He is currently stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and is awaiting his 3rd

tour of duty in Iraq.

WILLIAM J. BUCHANAN

William J. Buchanan of Flanders is a veteran of the United States Navy. He was stationed at

Norfolk, Virginia and on the Island of Guam and was responsible for operating landing craft,

those seagoing vehicles used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an am-

phibious assault. Because they were flat-bottomed, and because many of them had a flat front

rather than a normal bow, landing crafts were extremely difficult to control and very uncomfort-

able in rough seas.

JEFFREY L. CALABRESE

Jeffrey L. Calabrese of Morris Plains, another member of the Army’s famed 82nd Airborne.

He was an Airborne member for four years and qualified for Air Assault School where he was

certified in two specialized rigs: harnesses for picking up equipment with Chinook Helicop-

ters and harnesses for soldiers repelling down mountains. Mr. Calabrese was at Ft. Bragg on

Nine-Eleven and remembers the entire base being on lock-down for a month. He received the

Army Achievement Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with

Rifle Bar, a Parachutist Badge and an Air Assault Badge.

LEONARD F. CALABRESE

Leonard F. Calabrese of Morris Plains is a Navy veteran whose duties included the trans-

portation of war materials to Vietnam. He received the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam

Service Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon. Leonard Calabrese died at the

age of 54 as a result of complications from his handling of Agent Orange. His twin brother, who

served with him, died of similar causes.

ROBERT J. CLARK

Robert J. Clark of Chatham is an Army veteran who trained in the Infantry with special

training in the famous Browning Automatic Rifle. He was stationed in Nuremberg, and was on

“ready alert” the entire time in Germany. After the service, Mr. Clark worked for 30 years as a

Residential Health Care Worker with the Veteran’s Administration at Lyons Hospital.

NELSON R. COOK

Nelson R. Cook of Denville served in the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, also

known as the All-Americans. The paratroopers in jump boots, baggy pants and maroon berets

have always been ready and willing to jump into danger and then drive on until the mission was

accomplished. Mr. Cook received the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the

Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge

and Sharpshooter M-16 award.

PATRICK J. GILMORE

Patrick J. Gilmore of East Hanover is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He served

with the 55th Fighter Group and achieved the Rank of Airman 2nd Class. He was with the Police

Security Forces and was stationed in Guam and in Okinawa.

PHILIP C. HUGHES

Philip C. Hughes the second of Hopatcong is a 1991 graduate of the United States Military

Academy at West Point. He was deployed to Afghanistan where his duties included communi-

cations with warlords to obtain better information. He is now in Hawaii, coordinating supplies

into Afghanistan as well as the efforts to keep track of all casualties and deaths. He received the

Bronze Star, and he is due to be promoted to Lt. Colonel in 2007.

FRANK O. KAENRATH

Frank O. Kaenrath of Succasunna was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force. He trained

as an Aircraft Mechanic in West Texas, but he requested combat duty. His request was granted

and he was transferred to France and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. He received three

Bronze Stars and Unit Citations, BUT he refused the Purple Heart, saying others were more wor-

thy.

ROBERT MC GINNESS

Robert McGinness is an Army veteran from Hopatcong. He enlisted in Newark, trained

at Fort Knox, and was a Tank Crewman who fought in Central Europe. He received the Pur-

ple Heart, a Victory Medal, the European African Medal and a Rifle and Carbine Sharpshooter

Badge.

CHARLES J. SHANLEY, JR.

Charles J. Shanley, Jr. of Randolph was a United States Army Seaman. Stationed on the USS

Leyte Aircraft Carrier, he was a member of the Anti-submarine Squadron. He served in the

Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain and Africa and was always involved in fires as a result of explo-

sions that occurred when refueling ships and other aircraft on the high seas. 

DOMINIC J. TETTA

Dominic J. Tetta of Madison was a member of the Army’s Big Red 1, 10th Division, 7th

Army. He worked with the Adjutant General in the Post Office in Stuttgart, Germany, and re-

members returning to the United States from Frankford on the same plane as the Hungarian

Freedom Fighters. Upon his return, Mr. Tetta had a distinguished 43-year career as a Probation

Officer.

ARTHUR G. VAN WINKLE

Arthur G. Van Winkle of Morris Plains is an Army veteran who served with the U.S. Army

Chemical Corps with Company B at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. A Specialist 5th Class, he

was assigned to Weapons Development and the Engineering Laboratory where he was involved

in field testing with the 101st Airborne for chemicals used in “Tunnel Rat” or underground tun-

nel warfare.

MARCH 23, 2007

JOHN L. CHRISTENSEN

John L. Christensen, of Parsippany, joined the Army in 1967 and served until 1969. He

served at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied as an assistant Chaplin. He is

a retired teacher, who remembers being on the base while protestors many times outnumbering

the service men and women came to Fort Hamilton to demonstrate against the Vietnam War.

RICHARD T. DICKINSON

Richard T. Dickinson of Morris Plains, graduated from Ohio University in 1970 under the

university’s R.O.T.C. Program. But, Ohio University did not conduct formal graduation ceremo-

nies that year because of the incidents at Ohio’s Kent State University. He was a 1st Lieutenant in

the Army serving in Vietnam as a Supply Officer, and remembers calling in a B52 strike after a

unit not far from him was overrun.

WILLIAM D. HAZEN, SR.

William D. Hazen, Sr. of Morris Plains was a Navy Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class during

World War Two. He was stationed on a Patrol Craft, or Sub Chaser, which, by the way, was only

170 feet in length, with 64 men and 5 officers. He will always remember riding out a hurricane

while on board this vessel. He received the American Theater Medal, the Victory Medal and Asi-

atic Pacific Medal.

RAYMOND E. HILL

Raymond E. Hill of Hanover Township is a Marine veteran who was attached to the Ma-

rine Corp. Air Group. Except for 200 men who were refuelers in Hawaii, his Air Group was sent

to Vietnam, where most were killed. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

Back in Morris County, he became a Trauma Chaplin at Greystone and at Morristown Me-

morial Hospital, and he is now studying for his Doctorate in Medical Humanities at Drew Uni-

versity.

GRIFFITH H. JONES

Griffith H. Jones of Mountain Lakes is a U.S. Army veteran who joined R.OT.C. while he was

a student at Princeton. He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and then served in the Infantry as a

Rifle Platoon Leader in the 2nd Infantry Division. While the Armistice was being signed, he was

patrolling Korea’s Chorwon Valley. Two days after he left to become a Regimental Legal Officer,

13 men in his prior unit were killed when in an explosion at a munitions dump.

JOHN L. MADDEN

John L. Madden of Morristown was 17 when he enlisted in the Navy. He was attached to the

11th Special Sea Bee Battalion and was sent to the South Pacific. On April 1, 1945, he was part of

the initial invasion on Okinawa with the 6th Marine Division. He was injured during a Japanese

bombing raid for which he received the Purple Heart. He also received a Battle Star, the Ameri-

can Theater Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal and the World War II Medal.

GLEN B. MURRAY JR.

Glen B. Murray Jr. of Jefferson Township served with the 21st Infantry Battalion, United

States Marines Reserves. His unit trained in the 2nd Marine Division for two weeks and left by

train to go to Camp Pendleton, California, for deployment. Because of a disability, Glenn was

forced to remain stateside, but he vividly remembers the day the North Korean’s crossed the 38th

Parallel June 25, 1950.

KEN PAGE

Ken Page of Parsippany is a veteran who served his country in the United States Army Air

Force from 1942 to 1945. An accountant by profession, he was a cook and baker in the service

while he was stationed in China, Burma and India. 

RAYMOND B. TROXELL

Raymond B. Troxell was an Army veteran who trained at Fort Riley, Kansas, as a member

of the United States Calvary. He was sent to the Middle East Theatre in 1944 as part of General

Eisenhower’s famous 6th Army Group to prepare for the invasion of Europe. He was in Ger-

many about a week after Hitler died, and in the summer of 1945 in Rome, he had an emotional

reunion with his G.I. brother, Eugene, of Madison. Raymond received the Army Good Conduct

Medal, the European/Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Victory Medal.

DAVID M. TURNER

David M. Turner is a police officer with the Mount Olive Police Department. He served in

the United States Army during Desert Storm as an enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer and was

attached to the 1st Ranger Battalion. Once, as Iraq was massing on the border of Kuwait prepar-

ing for an invasion, the Kuwait government requested that David’s Battalion demonstrate a show

of force to deter an invasion. 

DONALD T. VOSE, JR.

Donald T. Vose, Jr. of Rockaway served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1954, and

then 40 years in the Naval Reserves until 1995. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and

served as Senior Ensign Watch Officer aboard the U.S.S. Leyte Aircraft Carrier with 2,600 men

aboard, serving mainly in the Mediterranean.

EVERETT B. VREELAND, JR.

Everett B. Vreeland, Jr. of Montville was drafted into the Army in July 1953. He trained at

Fort Gordon, Georgia, transferred to the Signal Corp at Fort Monmouth and became an Instruc-

tor 3rd Class. He was a track and field athlete while in the service, and cleared 12 feet 6 inches in

the pole vault.

He qualified under the GI Bill, went to Law School and received his Doctor of Law degree.

JAMES B. WILCOX

James B. Wilcox is an Army veteran from Morristown who served as a Military Police Offi-

cer. His unit was sent to Korea, and while he was there, Bob Hope came to entertain the troops.

He qualified as an expert on the 45 Caliber Pistol and as a Sharpshooter for the M-16. He re-

ceived the National Defense Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and the Army

Expeditionary Medal.

A former Detective Lieutenant with the Morristown Police Department, he is retired from

the force after 32 years.

MAY 23, 2007

CHRISTOPHER U. ANDREWS

Christopher Andrews of Kinnelon is a Navy veteran who served aboard the U.S.S. Indepen-

dence during the Operation Southern Watch, the first invasion of Iraq. He manned the catapult

apparatus which released jet aircraft off the carrier, and because there were so many jets taking

off there was a constant awareness of danger, and safety was constantly on his mind. Christopher

received the National Defense Service Medal, the Southern Asia Service Medal and The Sea Ser-

vice Deployment Ribbon.

MATTHEW CLAY BARTLETT

Matthew is in the Army, stationed at Ft. Myer, Virginia, with the Old Guard at the Tomb of

the Unknown Soldier. Accepting his medal is Matthew’s father, Franklin Weston Bartlett, Jr. Mat-

thew attended The Citadel, and served with the 10th Mountain Division and was deployed to

Bosnia. Then, as Captain-Army Airborne Ranger of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Air-

borne Division, he served in Iraq till September 2006. Matthew’s company was recognized by the

U.S. Central Command when it located one of the largest caches of weapons in the region. He

and his company were also instrumental in apprehending numerous most wanted individu-

als. Matthew received the Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation

Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Glob-

al War on Terror Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Armed Forces Medal.

DONALD S. BROWN

Lance Corporal Donald S. Brown of the U. S. Marine Corps, was killed in action October 25,

2006, in the city of Haditha, Iraq. A Roxbury High School graduate, Donald joined the Marines

in September 2005, and was deployed to Iraq in September, 2006. He had been in Iraq less than

60 days. He was with three other service members when an improvised explosive device detonat-

ed, killing all four. His brother, Kenneth, was also a Marine. He did three tours in Iraq, and was

discharged the month Donald was killed. 19-year-old Lance Corporal Donald S. Brown received

numerous medals and citations including the Purple Heart, the National Defense Ribbon, the

Iraqi Campaign Ribbon and the War on Terrorism Service Medal. Accepting his Morris County

Distinguished Military Service medal are his parents, Annette and Philip Brown.

CHRISTOPHER B. COSGROVE III

Marine Lance Corporal Christopher Cosgrove the Third of Cedar Knolls was killed in ac-

tion October 1, 2006. Being a Marine was his dream, but his parents convinced him to wait

until he graduated from college. So, after graduating from Monmouth University he joined the

Marines. He went to boot camp at Paris Island and then advanced infantry training before his

Marine Battalion was deployed to Iraq on March 6, 2006. Seven months later, at a checkpoint

in Fallujah, he was killed by a suicide bomber. 23-year-old Lance Corporal Christopher B. Cos-

grove the Third received numerous commendations and medals including the Purple Heart; the

Armed Forces Reserve Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terror

Service Medal; the Operation Iraqi Freedom Commemorative Medal; and the New Jersey Dis-

tinguished Service Medal.

DREW W. DADDIO

Drew W. Daddio of Parsippany is a Marine Corps veteran who served with three other vet-

erans being honored today. He was attached to the 2nd Battalion 25th Marine Golf Company out

of Picatinny Arsenal. He volunteered for active duty along with his buddies, and was involved

in many fire fights in Fallujah. There, he served at a check point, making sure Iraqi’s were not

armed. Drew is a Lance Corporal who is subject to recall, and he is most proud of his Combat

Action Ribbon. 

DONALD J. FANTASIA

Donald J. Fantasia is a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, who provided police

protection for convoys in the Al Anbar province, including the capital, Ramadi. He was attached

to the Marine Air Wing out of 29 Palm California, and he received the Global War on Terrorism

Expeditionary medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Med-

al. He has about 4 months before discharge, and he is still subject to recall.

JEFFREY R. GRECO

A Flanders resident, Jeffrey Greco is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard who trained

at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May. He was a Seaman on a cutter and had request-

ed duty in Iraq but instead was assigned to patrol off the coast of Cuba. During his tour of duty

there, he and the other crewmembers on the cutter rescued approximately 270 Cuban refugees

fleeing their native land for America. Coast Guardsman Greco is the proud recipient of the Na-

tional Defense Service Medal.

VELMA D. HODGE

Velma D. Hodge of Netcong was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. After work-

ing at Met Life in New York and passing recruiting billboards during her commute, she joined

the Marines at the age of 21. She did her boot camp at Paris Island and later became a computer

specialist attached to the 2nd Force Service Group at Camp Lejeune. Her unit provided technical

support and solved computer problems for Marines in Iraq and around the world. She was also

stationed in Japan for a time. Corporal Hodge was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Na-

tional Defense Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

EUGENE A. KUHAR

Eugene Kuhar has been with the Army National Guard since 1967. He is a Staff Sergeant

who performed tactical security procedures for the Iraq war. Staff Sergeant Kuhar has earned the

Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism

Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

JACQUEL R. MIRANDA

Jacquel Miranda of Hopatcong is a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. He

and one of our other honorees today, Donald Fantasia, are childhood friends and served in the

same Marine unit. Lance Corporal Miranda was in the military police in AL Anbar province,

providing protection to convoys. He received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 

SCOTT C. STEBBINS

Scott C. Stebbins of Madison is an Air Force veteran who wanted to fly for as long as he can

remember. He majored in aviation at the Florida Institute of Technology, joined the Air Force in

1985 and flew C-5 Transports in the first Gulf invasion in 1991. Their mission was to fly non mil-

itary personal to other locations such as Spain. He also flew missions into Kuwait, and remem-

bers having to wait on the runway in Saudi Arabia at night, knowing Scud missiles were always

coming in. Scott Stebbins retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service and now is a pilot

for United Airlines.

KYLE C. WITTY

Marine Lance Corporal Kyle C. Witty also served with several of our medal recipients. He

was attached to the 2nd Battalion 25th Marines, Golf Company, 225 out of Picatinny Arsenal. He

volunteered for active duty with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, and lived in the

city of Fallujah where he saw action as part of a rifle company. He received the Armed Forces

Reserve Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal and the National

Defense Service Medal.

REMIGIUSZ WOJDALA

Marine Lance Corporal Wojdala served with the 2nd Battalion 25TH Marines Golf Com-

pany stationed out of Picatinny Arsenal and was attached to a rifle company. He volunteered

for active duty with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines to go to Iraq along with two

other medal recipients today, Kyle Witty and Christopher Cosgrove. He was 10 meters away

from Lance Corporal Cosgrove when an improvised explosive device exploded and killed his

friend. Lance Corporal Wojdala received the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Sea Service De-

ployment Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

AUGUST 22, 2007

JOEL B. ARONSON

Joel Aronson of Wharton, served in the United States Air Force during the Taiwan Straits

Crisis in 1958. He trained in the Chinese Mandarin Language at Yale University and radio-in-

tercept procedures at the National Security Agency. He was on active duty in Taiwan as a Com-

munications Intelligence Specialist and a Photo Journalist. He was honored for his service by the

Government of Nationalist China, which presented him with the Badge of Honor. 

FRANCIS E. DEMOUTHE

Francis E. Demouthe of Boonton Township was an Army/Navy veteran who planned on

being a Classical singer. A tenor, he sang at Carnegie Hall before he was drafted. He served in the

European Theatre of Operations for 13 months, and was in charge of the Motor Pool in France

and also at Fort Dix, where he supplied motor transportation for troops moving in and out of the

base. Francis Demouthe was also assigned to the Secretary General’s staff of the Service Forces

in the European Theatre. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct

Medal and the World War Two Victory Medal. 

After the service, he and his wife, Jean moved to California, and Jean called recently to thank

the Freeholders for honoring her husband and other veterans.

RALF K. DEMOUTHE

Ralf K. Demouthe of Boonton Township was an Army veteran who became an airplane and

engine mechanic. While performing his duties at Ft. Knox, he was badly burned in an accident,

but he did not want to leave the military. He underwent grueling rehabilitation and returned to

Morris County where he became an Army Recruiter in Morristown. Ralf Demouthe received the

American Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and the World War Two Victory Medal.

One of the highlights of his life was meeting baseball great Lou Gehrig. Ironically, Ralf died

in 2000 from Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

RICHARD M. FEBBI

Mr. Febbi was a Marine veteran who was killed two years ago in a motor vehicle accident

in Tacoma, Washington. Accepting his medal is his mother, Jane McCarthy, his father, Matthew

Febbi, and Richard’s sister, Dana Febbi-Hemilton. Richard Febbi of Butler enlisted in the Ma-

rines on his 18th birthday. Richard was Assigned to the Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Battal-

ion, 3rd Marines and graduated from the prestigious Marine Sniper School. He served in Japan,

Australia and Hawaii, with his last assignment being at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Richard devoted his life to the military, so to keep his memory alive, his family established

the Sgt. Richard Febbi Memorial Fund, to provide financial assistance to servicemen and wom-

en and their families. The fund assists with travel expenses, so family members can visit injured

soldiers at Walter Reed and other facilities, and helps provide Christmas presents for families of

veterans who cannot afford them.

ANTHONY GATTI

Anthony Gatti of Lincoln Park is a veteran of the United States Army. He was an Army Med-

ic with the 16th Medical Battalion. He served with the Occupation Forces in World War Two

and was stationed in Pusan, Korea. Mr. Gatti served between 1945 and 1948 and attained the

rank of Corporal.

JOSEPH A. IPPOLITO

Joseph Ippolito enlisted in the Air Force 1961, and was stationed in California, Florida and

at McGuire Air Force Base. During the Cuban Crisis he was a Motor Pool Serviceman. A Boon-

ton resident, Mr. Ippolito comes from a family of servicemen. Four brothers are also veterans

and his father received the Purple Heart.

Joseph’s son, Dean, is a World Class Chess Champion, and with that in mind, Mr. Ippolito

was instrumental in establishing “Sets for Vets,” which sends chess sets to wounded veterans all

over the world including 146 veterans’ hospitals.

EDWARD J. KOZLOWSKI

Edward J. Kozlowski is a resident of Boonton Township and a World War Two Navy veter-

an. Mr. Kozlowski was a Carpenters Mate 3rd Class and served on Eniwetok in the Marshall Is-

lands in 1945. This is where Atomic Bomb testing was being conducted after atomic bombs had

already been dropped on Japan. He and his crew would build observation posts on the island so

the aftermath of the large explosions could be viewed.

EUGENE MC MANN

A veteran of the United States Navy, Eugene McMann of Lincoln Park was in the 1st Waive

of Normandy in 1944 during World War Two. For the invasion, he trained in Scotland for

months and was part of the Underwater Demolition Team which is now called the Navy Seals.

Some of his team never made it back from Normandy. Mr. McMann obtained the rank of Fire-

man 1st Class, and he received the Bronze Star, the European Theater Medal, and the Victory

Medal.

EDWARD F. MIGLARESE, JR.

Edward F. Miglarese is a Vietnam veteran who graduated from the Naval Academy and

joined the Marine Corp as a pilot. His tour in Vietnam was 1966 to 1967, flying 187 missions

over North and South Vietnam in the fastest jet of its time, the F4B Phantom Jet. In South Viet-

nam he flew close air support, flying at tree-top level at 600 miles per hour. Every pilot knew

with each mission that they may not return, and he did lose some of his close friends who were

shot down. Mr. Miglarese, of Oak Ridge, taking enemy fire while on a mission, received 16 Air

Medals, the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

GEORGE R. SCHNATZ

A Marine veteran, George Schnatz was in the Second Marine Division when he was selected

to be part of Headquarters Company in Washington, D.C. Headquarters has been in existence

since 1801. Better known as the 8th and I (eye), this unit is the face of the Marine Corps and

supports both ceremonial and security missions in our nation’s capital. Their elegant drills are

as precise as a Swiss clock, and they are on duty for State Funerals, funerals at Arlington, Presi-

dential Guard Duty and for Foreign Dignitaries. Mr. Schnatz, of Montville, served from 1957 to

1963.

FRANK YODICE, JR.

Frank Yodice Jr. is a retired Butler police officer. He joined the United States Navy during the

Vietnam Conflict. He was attached to the Navy Seabees and served in Puerto Rico as a “crash fire

rescue expert.” That meant he was on duty constantly for potential plane crashes. Mr. Yodice also

served in Great Lakes, New York

NOVEMBER 7, 2007

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG

William Armstrong is an Army veteran from Randolph who did his basic training at Fort

Dix, and served in Korea. A platoon sergeant, he was attached to the 185th Engineer Combat

Battalion. While in Korea, he was a heavy equipment operator. 

After his discharge he went to the RCA Institute under the GI Bill and worked for Bell Labs

for 37 years. 

WILLIAM J. CARROLL IV

William J. Carroll IV joined the Marine Corps in 1996 and was stationed in Indonesia. He

attained the rank of Lance Corporal and received his Combat Action Ribbon for evacuating the

American Embassy in Jacarta. He was transferred to the 31st Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Battal-

ion, 5th Marines, and in 1998 he attained the distinguished position as Embassy Guard and was

stationed in the Embassy in Tunas. A Jefferson resident, he is a County College of Morris gradu-

ate where he majored in Criminal Justice. He is now with the Morris County Detention Center.

William has also joined the National Guard and has been commissioned a 1st Lieutenant. He is

currently waiting deployment to Iraq in June 2008.

ROBERT J. GUIDI

Robert J. Guidi of Mine Hill joined the Army in 1967 for Special Forces so his brother, who

was married with a child, could be reclassified out of the draft. He went from Air Bourne to

Ranger School to Special Operations, where he was under the jurisdiction of the Department of

Defense and under orders from the CIA. His battles took him to Laos, Cambodia and South and

North Vietnam, fighting in hand-to-hand combat. He was a prisoner of war for nine months and

was kept in a cage. He received a field commission to Captain from the ranks of a non-commis-

sioned officer. He was wounded in action and received the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and a

Silver Star. He is most proud of the Silver Star which he earned by taking out an enemy position

by himself. 

FRED LASH

Fred Lash served during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force. He graduated from

the University of South Carolina and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the university’s

ROTC Program. He was stationed in McGuire Air Force Base and at Randolph Air Base in San

Antonio, Texas, and served as Auditor General for all bases in the United States. He was respon-

sible for confirming the proper distribution of money and as well as inventory such as missiles.

Mr. Lash is a former councilman in Denville.

WILLIAM J. REGAL

William J. Regal is an Army veteran who entered the military in 1965. He was stationed in

Korea with the A Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division. In 1967, Ko-

rea still had to be secured, and Mr. Regal was sent to the DMZ. There, he was an E-4 Specialist,

assigned to the transportation motorcade. 

JOHN J. SHERWOOD

John J. Sherwood is a Vietnam Veteran from East Hanover who served in the United States

Army with Delta Company, 5th Calvary of the 1st Air Calvary Division. He ran as an Infantry

Man conducting “sweep and clear operations” from Cambodia to the South China Sea, looking

for explosive devices and other weapons. While performing its duties, his unit took many casu-

alties. He was promoted to Sergeant E5. Mr. Sherwood graduated from Rutgers University under

the GI Bill and has had a distinguished career in law enforcement with the Newark Police De-

partment and with the Essex County Sherriff ’s Office, where he was the Deputy Chief.

ROBERT B. SMITH

Robert B. Smith of Morris Plains is a veteran of World War II who was an Electrician 2nd

Class stationed on the USS Baltimore Heavy Cruiser. In addition to surviving many typhoons, he

went on 27 missions during the war. He also distinctly remembers serving as President Franklin

D. Roosevelt’s orderly on the president’s last fishing expedition aboard the USS Baltimore. It was

only two months before Roosevelt’s death and Mr. Smith not only took care of the President, but

the president’s dog, Fala. 

SIMON VACCA

Simon Vacca was drafted into the Army in 1952 and did his basic training at Fort Dix. He

served in the infantry and was sent to Korea where he was a Military Policeman guarding the

Korean prisoners captured during the conflict. After the peace accord was signed he was dis-

charged out of Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

Mr. Vacca is a New Vernon resident who entered his father’s carpentry business, which he

runs today with his two sons.

JAMES D. VAN VALEN

James D. Van Valen of Wharton joined the Marines in July 2001. He was selected to attend

reconnaissance school and was assigned to the 1st Recon Marine Division at Camp Pendleton,

California, which is where he was on September 11, 2001. He was deployed to Iraq and patrolled

the city streets of Basra. Mr. Van Valen was discharged as a Sergeant and received the Marine

Corps Good Conduct Medal; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the National Defense Ser-

vice Medal, a Navy Unit Commendation, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,

and two Certificates of Commendation. Mr. Van Valen attends the County College of Morris and

anticipates going to medical school.

J. DONALD YORK

J. Donald York is a Montville resident who entered the Marine Corps in 1988. He was sent

to the Persian Gulf in 1990 with the 3rd Division 1st Battalion and served as a Staff Sergeant, E-6

Grade, in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Operation Enduring Freedom

and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to open battle, he still mourns the lost of his 1st Lieu-

tenant, Nathan Krissof, to an Improvised Explosive Device in December 2006. Mr. York received

the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, Six Sea Service Deployment

Ribbons, the National Defense Service Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon. He is a police offi-

cer in Cliffside Park who is still in the Reserves in Counter Intelligence out of Quantico, Virgin-

ia, and is subject to recall to Iraq. 

MARCH 12, 2008

RONALD C. AULISIO

Ronald Aulisio was in the Army National Guard when he was federalized and sent to Viet-

nam. He was trained in Motor Transport and Repair and while in Vietnam he supported Ameri-

can forces, mostly the 11th Army Calvary Division, as well as foreign troops. Mr. Aulisio is a Ce-

dar Knolls resident who was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal,

the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

BRYANT F. CASTERLINE

Bryant Casterline was a World War II veteran from Succasunna who was in the Army Calva-

ry and who fought in North Africa and Italy. He had vivid memories of seeing Mussolini’s body

hanging upside down in Milan for the public to view shortly after the Italian dictator was cap-

tured and executed. Mr. Casterline, who received a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant,

also fought in France, where he earned most of his Gallantry Medals, seven Battle Stars includ-

ing the Silver Star for taking out a German machine gun Pillbox and a Purple Heart. 

Mr. Casterline died January 19, just shy of his 90th birthday.

CHARLES R. DYON, JR.

Charles R. Dyon, Jr. signed with the Yankees and Chicago before joining the Marines, doing

basic training at Paris Island and then heading on to the Second Marine Division. He served in

Korea and in Lebanon, and also acted as a Currier for the Pentagon delivering classified docu-

ments. He served in the Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953, and was the Marine Corps Reserves

until 1959.

Mr. Dyon, of Millington, went to Hofstra University under the G.I. Bill. His love for the

Marine Corps resulted in his establishing and endorsing Scholarship Programs at Hofstra for any

Honorably Discharged Marine or child or grandchild of a discharged Marine.

RICHARD HENRY FRANTZ

Richard Henry Frantz, of Succasunna served in the 129th Signal Corps Army National

Guard. That group was activated in September 1950 for the Korean War. While in training at

Camp Pickett, Virginia, his unit was reviewed by General Dwight Eisenhower.

He was Honorably Discharged in 1953 and entered East Stroudsburg State Teachers College

under the G.I. Bill. Mr. Frantz is retired from the Roxbury School District after 34 years. 

JOSEPH A. GROW

Joseph A. Grow is an Army Air Force veteran who was a First Lieutenant with the 387th

Bomber Group, 9th Air Force. Mr. Grow flew 43 missions over England and France on the B-26,

and his mission was taking out German railroads. The book, “My War in Medium Bombers,”

written years after the war by a fellow pilot, prominently features Mr. Grow crash-landing his

B-26 fully loaded with 2,000 lb bombs without causing any of the bombs to go off. Mr. Grow, a

Rockaway resident, received the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon

and the Distinguished Unit Citation American Defense Service Medal. 

VINCENT LEO, JR.

Vincent Leo Jr., graduated from Seton Hall University and was commissioned a Second

Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Quartermaster Branch, where he was responsible for the training

of troops in Vietnam. He was transferred to Okinawa where he was in charge of the storage and

shipping of C-rations for troops in Vietnam. He completed his Army obligations in 1970 as a

Captain, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Medal for

Southeast Asia.

Mr. Leo has been active in the community for many years and he is a former mayor of East

Hanover. 

GERALD D. MANNING

Gerald Manning of Parsippany served in the Army of Occupation in Germany from 1954 to

1956. He was in a Provisional Battalion of the 12th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division and was sta-

tioned along the “Fulda Gap.” He was part of the first line of defense in the event of any Russian/

Communist aggression toward Germany, which did not receive its independence until 1955. He

was drafted at the age of 19 and at 20, he found himself in Germany with other NATO forces

protecting against a possible Russian invasion into Germany.

MARIO P. NIGRO

Mario Nigro of Denville is a World War Two veteran who served in the United States Army

from 1944 to 1946. He was a Corporal in the 97th Infantry Division, which followed General

George Patton’s Army, acting as a clean-up operation. A retired Lieutenant with the Newark

Police Department, Mr. Nigro is a decorated soldier who received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign

Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge and the European Cam-

paign Medal with a Bronze Star.

JOSEPH F. OSISEK 

Joseph Osisek of Parsippany joined the Army on June 6, 1940. He served his country for six

years, fighting with General Patton and seeing action in France and Morocco. He was wounded

in action and received the Purple Heart along with a number of other medals. Mr. Osisek tries to

remember the lighter side of battle. He says he was always looking for fresh food for his unit, and

would often trade tea bags with the French for fresh eggs.

LOUIS A. PEKAROVICH

Louis Pekarovich was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1942. He served here in the states

in Special Services, and dealt primarily with entertainment offered through the United Service

Organizations. At that time, the U.S.O. was in its infancy, having only been formed in 1941,

before the start of World War Two. Mr. Pekarovich was among the early servicemen who real-

ized how important it was to the moral of our troops to have the U.S.O. as a steadfast supporter

of their efforts. A Wharton resident, he received the American Theater Service Medal, a Good

Conduct Medal, and the WWII Victory Campaign Medal.

CLINTON ARMSTRONG THRELFALL

Clinton Armstrong Threlfall is a Navy veteran from Wharton whose service ran from 1982

to 1986. He served in Lebanon with Search and Rescue, and acted as an Honor Guard for the 250

Marines, sailors and soldiers who were killed in the 1983 Beirut barracks suicide bombing. He

also served at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He received the Good Conduct Med-

al, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and the Navy Unit Com-

mendation.

MARCH 28, 2008

HENRY (HANK) BROXMEIER

Hank Broxmeier of Morristown joined the Marines in 1966 and was a Communication Spe-

cialist who, while he was in Vietnam, was constantly repairing radio lines that were knocked out

because of persistent battle. Mr. Broxmeier was involved in the 1968 Defense of Khe Sanh the

longest, deadliest and most controversial battle of the Vietnam War. The Marine base was under

steady attack for some two and a half months. It is estimated that battle took fifteen-thousand

enemy lives and the lives of one thousand Americans. He received the National Defense Ser-

vice Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and a Presidential Unit

Citation. He also received a Navy Commendation for performing his duties with exceptional

courage, professionalism and devotion to duty and for making significant contributions to the

mission’s success. Finally, Mr. Broxmeier was awarded the Purple Heart.

STANLEY N. DEMBY

Stanley Demby is a Wharton resident who has 30 years of service with the National

Guard. He joined the Guard after high school and was with the 42nd Infantry Division where

he attained the rank of Warrant Officer. He was deployed in Iraq via Kuwait, and was based

at Camp Spiciter, which was named after the pilot who went missing in action in the first in-

vasion. While in Iraq, Mr. Demby and his unit were responsible for truck and tank mainte-

nance. He received the Army Commendation Ribbon and several Unit Citations.

MARC DILLEY

Marc Dilley joined the Marines in 1989 and was attached to the 2nd Marine Division in

Jacksonville, North Carolina, and with the 3rd Division in Okinawa. A Chester native, he served

in the Persian Gulf in the first invasion and applied for the Honor Guard out of Washington,

D.C., Headquarters Company. Mr. Dilley received a Good Conduct Medal, a Navy Unit Com-

mendation, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Southwest Asia Medal, and the National Defense

Service Medal.

Sadly, Marc was killed in an auto accident in Jefferson one year ago. His mother, Dorella

Dilley, is here today with her son’s photo, to accept his medal. She is grateful her son is being

honored, and she is also pleased that this ceremony is on the front lawn of the same courthouse

where her late husband, Glen, joined the army 50 years ago.

HERBERT FEINSTEIN

Herbert Feinstein of Parsippany joined the Navy in 1950 when he was living in the

Bronx. He was a 3rd Class Electrician and was among 5,000 personnel serving on the U.S.S. Wis-

consin. After two and a half years at sea, where they were hit by enemy fire, he was transferred to

Staten Island and the Military Sea Transportation Service, which transported military personnel

and their families to different duty stations. Mr. Feinstein was in charge of entertainment for all

military personnel, and the Navy even sent him to movie school.

CHRISTOPHER B. GATES

Christopher Gates graduated from Muhlenberg College, received a Masters Degree from

Fairleigh Dickinson University and then began a 5-year doctoral program at Seton Hall. He

completed the last year of the program in psychology at Walter Reed Hospital. With that experi-

ence under his belt, Mr. Gates, of Mendham, joined the Army and its 10th Mountain Division at

Fort Drum, New York. He left for Afghanistan in February 2006 and for the next year he traveled

to remote outposts in that country, counseling troops who were constantly under stress. He at-

tained the rank of Captain and returned in February 2007. Mr. Gates is now pursuing his inter-

ests of counseling troops and their families.

DAVID HOURIGAN

David Hourigan is an Army veteran who was drafted in 1965. He served in the Military

Police, doing escort duty for convoys travelling up and down Route 1 in Vietnam. He remembers

the day he arrived in Vietnam and bombs were exploding not far from his air strip. Mr. Hourig-

an attained the rank of Specialist E-4, and received a number of unit citations for his work pa-

trolling tankers and convoys while coming under fire on many occasions.

He is a former Wharton police officer who retired from the force after 23 years of distin-

guished service.

ARMAND J. INELLI

Armand Inelli of Chester was born in Manhattan and at 18 he joined the Army Air Corp

as a mechanic. He was stationed in Panama but when World War Two broke out, he was trans-

ferred to Guam. There, planes were returning from Iwo Jima, completely shelled and in need

of repair. Marines who were wounded in combat were also coming in. Mr. Inelli received the

American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal.

HENRY LEER

Mr. Leer, of Landing, Roxbury Township, was rejected by the Navy because of his eyes. But,

he saw just fine for the Army, which drafted him. He was attached to the 234th Combat Engi-

neers and landed at Normandy and on a crowded Omaha Beach just two days after the initial

invasion. He and the rest of his unit were under fire as they built bridges, cleared mines and wa-

terproofed engines. An Englewood High School graduate, Mr. Leer played football under Vince

Lombardi. He attributes his survival skills during the war to this legendary coach. Mr. Leer

attained the rank of Corporal, and his unit received the Presidential Citation.

He married his wife Evelyn at the age of 62 and they enjoyed 15 years of happiness until she

passed to her final reward. Henry’s family, neighbors and friends especially Theresa, Pam and

Frank are extremely proud of him.

JAMES J. VIGILANTE

James Vigilante joined the Air Force in 1982 and at the age of 18, he was assigned to the Ti-

tan II Project in Kansas where he quickly was struck by how destructive nuclear weapons could

be. He was discharged in 1987, and in 2001, right after the bombing of the World Trade Center,

he joined the Reserves. He is attached to the 35th Arial Port Squadron out of McGuire Air Force

Base where his job is loading C5 and C17 planes with tanks, trucks and other military vehi-

cles. He can also set those planes up as medical/hospital airships.

Mr. Vigilante is a former councilman in Parsippany who stands by to be deployed to Iraq.

WILLIAM WATSON

William Watson is a resident of Millington, Long Hill Township. While attending Butler

College, Mr. Watson enlisted into the Reserve Army Corp. After two years of college he was sent

to Alabama for Boot Camp and was assigned to Deep Water Diving School. After his training,

his missions involved diving approximately 100 feet and performing maintenance on ships that

were in port. Mr. Watson was one of only about one-thousand individuals in the Army doing

deep sea diving operations. During World War Two, his assignments included France and Ma-

nila. He finished his assignment as a Harbor Craft Inspector in California.

GALLERY

JUNE 9, 2008

THEODORE ANDERSON

Patrolman Theodore Anderson is a veteran of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, Infantry,

who served from 1992 to 1996, attaining the rank of Corporal. He served during Desert Storm,

Desert Shield and in Somalia and Haiti and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the

Armed Forces Service Medal and a Joint Meritorious Unit Medal. 

ROBERT APPEL

Patrolman Robert Appel served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1987 and again

from 1997 to 2005. A Medic, he rose to the rank of Sergeant and served during Operation En-

during Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Bronze Star and a Combat Med-

ical Badge. 

DANIEL S. BENDAS

Patrolman Daniel S. Bendas is a Navy veteran. A Petty Officer 3rd Class, he served from

1994 to 1999 and was a Submarine Machinist Mate. He served his country during Operation

Southern and Northern Watch and received a Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy Expedi-

tionary Medal and an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

BRIAN CONOVER

Patrolman Brian Conover was a member of the U.S. Air Force from 2002 to 2006. He was a

Senior Airman with our Security Forces who served during Operation Enduring Freedom, and

who received a Commendation Medal. 

ROSS L. COOPER, JR.

Patrolman Ross L. Cooper, Jr. is an Army Sergeant who served from 1999 to 2003 as a Brad-

ley Fighting Vehicle Mechanic. He received an Army Commendation Medal and an Air Assault

Badge for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

AWILDA CURVING

Patrolman Awilda Curving is a 10-year Army veteran and Administrative Personnel Spe-

cialist whose service was from 1998 to 2008. Officer Curving achieved the Sergeant’s rank and

served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, receiving an Army Commendation Medal, an Army

Achievement Medal and an Iraq Campaign Medal. 

MARCIN CZAJKA

Patrolman Marcin Czajka is an Army Cavalry Scout who, while serving from 2002 to 2008,

earned his Sergeant’s stripes. Officer Czajka received an Army Commendation Medal, a National

Defense Medal and an Army Service Medal and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

THOMAS J. DINKELSPIEL

Patrolman Thomas J. Dinkelspiel has been in the Army since 1990. He is an Infantry Ser-

geant who has earned a Combat Infantry Badge and who has served during Operation Iraqi

Freedom. 

DAMON FARMS

A member of the United States Air Force since 1992, Patrolman Damon Farms is a Tech-

nical Sergeant in the Heavy Equipment Operation. He served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq

and was awarded an Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service

Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. 

JOHN F. KEILING

Patrolman John F. Keiling was a Staff Sergeant with our Security Forces when he was in the

Air Force from 1999 to 2006. He was in Saudi Arabia, he served during Operation Enduring

Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was presented with an Expeditionary Medal, the

National Defense Service Medal and an Achievement Medal. 

ALFRED J. KEISER

Army Specialist, Patrolman Alfred J. Keiser, was a Combat Medic who served from 1992 to

1996 during Bosnia/Herzegovina. He was awarded the Accommodation Medal, the Armed Forc-

es Expeditionary Medal and a NATO Medal. 

PETER KOLLN, JR.

Patrolman Peter Kolln, Jr. was in the United States Navy from 1990 to 1994. He achieved the

rank of Corporal and served during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. He

was presented with the National Defense Service Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

JASON M. LUBECK

Navy veteran, Patrolman Jason M. Lubeck was a Second Class Petty Officer when he served

from 1997 to 2005. As a Seabee, he was part of the Navy’s Construction Force and served during

Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received an Armed

Forces Service Medal, the Iraqi Freedom Service Medal and an Army Achievement Medal. 

JEFFREY E. MAGAHAN

Patrolman Jeffrey E. Magahan is a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Army Na-

tional Guard, to which he still belongs. He is a Staff Sergeant with Military Intelligence-Security

Forces who served during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He was presented

with the Air Force Achievement Medal with Valor, the Air Force Expeditionary Medal, the Na-

tional Defense Service Medal and an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. 

STEVEN T. MILLER

From 1987 to 1991, Patrolman Steven T. Miller served in the United States Navy. A Third

Class Petty Officer assigned to Personnel, he served during Operations Desert Storm and Des-

ert Shield, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the

Kuwait Liberation Medal and a Navy Unit Commendation. 

DAVID ROMAN

He entered the Navy in 1990 and Patrolman David Roman continues to serve. He is a Third

Class Petty Officer assigned to Personnel who served during Operation Desert Storm and Oper-

ation Desert Shield. He was presented with the Kuwait Liberation Medal and the National De-

fense Service Medal. 

ROBERT SMOLEN

Patrolman Robert Smolen was in the Air Force from 2002 to 2005. A Senior Airman, he

was an Aircraft Electrician who served during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded a

Maintenance Badge, and Air Force Training Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and an

Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal. 

MICHAEL SPRUNG

Patrolman Michael Sprung has been in the United States Marine Corps since 2003. A Motor

Vehicle Operator, he is a Sergeant who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has received

the Navy and Marine Achievement Medal, the Overseas Deployment Medal and the Iraqi Cam-

paign Medal. 

WILLIAM M. STONE, III

Patrolman William M. Stone, III was an Army Specialist and a Heavy Construction Equip-

ment Operator when he served from 1999 to 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was

presented with an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal and the National

Defense Service Medal. 

LOUIS A. VALORI

Police Sergeant Louis A. Valori joined the Army in 1984 and continues to serve. He is an

Army Major with the Military Police and he received a Commendation Medal for his service

during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

ANDY VAN ORDEN

Patrolman Andy Van Orden was in the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2008 and attained the

rank of Sergeant. He was an Anti-Tank Assault Man who served during Operation Iraqi Free-

dom and the Kosovo Campaign. He earned a Combat Action Ribbon, a Sea Service Deployment

Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation and the National Defense Service Medal. 

AUGUST 13, 2008

BRADFORD A. CAMP

Bradford Camp enlisted in the Navy in 1983. He was a Petty Officer who served as an Op-

eration Specialist - Air Intercept Controller. He quickly discovered his passion for the “Radar

Screen,” and became a Tomahawk Cruise Missile Radar Tracker, assisting in coordinating the

operations of “Top Gun” pilots. As an Air Intercept Controller he was also responsible for pre-

venting naval ships from shooting down civilian airliners. Mr. Camp, who resides in Denville,

was deployed twice to the Persian Gulf, first during the Iranian and Iraqi Conflict in 1985-1986,

and again in 1990. He was awarded two letters of commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Med-

al, the Sea Service Medal with Silver Star, and the Navy Marksman Medal.

SYDNEY LEVIT

Sydney Levit is a World War Two veteran who was raised in Philadelphia and was drafted

into the United States Army at 18. He volunteered for the 17th Airborne Division which saw

action in the Battle of the Bulge. His unit started with 140 men, but once the battle ended, only

16 had survived. Suffering from frostbitten hands and feet, Mr. Levit was sent to Paris to recover.

Once released, he was assigned to Glider Duty. These gliders were made of canvas and held 13

men. They ended their duty in Germany, liberating a concentration camp where the Germans

had killed all the Russian soldiers before the Americans arrived. Mr. Levit a PFC-Acting Ser-

geant and a resident of Morris Plains received the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal,

and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze

Arrowhead. 

JOSEPH MARGIOTTA

Joseph Margiotta is an Army veteran and our third World War Two veteran being honored

tonight. He went through basic training at Fort Dix, and at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and spent

three years in the armed forces, mainly in the European Theater. He attained the rank of Techni-

cal Sergeant. For his achievements, Joseph received the European Theater Operation Badge and

the Good Conduct Medal. He is a well-known Morristown tailor who will be retiring in a matter

of days, if he hasn’t already done so and who is turning his business over to his employees.

MORTON MILLINGER

Morton Millinger of Randolph joined the Air Force reserve in 1952, and was drafted shortly

thereafter into the Army. He served in Korea as an analyst, keeping track of military personnel

and attaining the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Millinger has remained active in veterans affairs. He is

the past state commander of the Jewish American War Veterans and he was appointed to the VA

General Advisory Board. He was also one of eight Korean War veterans selected to accompany

Governor Whitman on a trade mission to Korea to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the

start of the Korean War.

ALEXANDER SERGIO PREZIOSO II

A Marine Corps pilot, Alexander’s interest in air planes, according to his mother, Francine,

began when he was a toddler and had planes in his room. He started his flight career flying

banner planes off the New Jersey shore. After graduating from flight school in Florida, he joined

the Marines in 2006 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. But, on March 19 of this year,

Alexander died in a training accident in Florida at the age of 23. He was buried at Arlington

National Cemetery, and was posthumously promoted to First Lieutenant. His father, Alexander,

recently attended a military service honoring his son at Pensacola Naval Air Station. 

He was a star athlete at Jefferson High School and recently had his lacrosse jersey retired.

His family could not be here tonight but we will make sure they receive his medal. 

JOHN J. RICH

John Rich is a Dover resident who attained the rank of Sergeant while serving in the United

States Marine Corps from May 1956 until May 1962. He was a communication specialist sta-

tioned in the Hawaiian Islands with the Marine Corps Quick Reaction Force. The primary mis-

sion of the Quick Reaction Force was to detour Red China from invading the island of Formosa

until a larger force could be deployed. 

John is an avid collector of Marine Corps memorabilia, which he proudly displays in a spe-

cial lounge in his home. He also enters a float with a United States Marine Corps theme in any

local parade he can. For the past 18 years he chaired the Dover Senior Housing Board and has

never missed a meeting. Last year, John was voted the “Town of Dover Volunteer of the Year.” 

ANTHONY J. SCHIAVONE

A World War Two veteran, Anthony Schiavone is a Denville resident who was drafted into

the Army in 1942. Because he had a chemical engineering degree from Queens College, the

Army sent him Virginia Tech for the “Manhattan Project.” However, his orders were inadvertent-

ly changed and he ended up at Fort Bragg being trained in chemical warfare. Mr. Schiavone was

assigned to the 37th Division where he saw battle in the Philippines and performed maintenance

of the flame throwers used by combat troops. A sergeant, he received the World War II Victory

Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal; the American Service Medal, and the Bronze Star Med-

al. 

THOMAS D. WALL

Thomas D. Wall is a major with the United States Army the brother of William and obvious-

ly the son of Ed and Jane. He is a Parsippany resident who has spent 25 years in the military as a

paratrooper and ranger. Thomas is trained as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and he has served in

the Gulf War, in Afghanistan, and he has served three tours in Iraq. In addition to Ranger awards

and citations and ribbons, campaign and meritorious service medals, he has received the Air

Assault Badge, the Master Parachute Badge and the Pre Fall Jump Master Award. He is currently

stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. 

WILLIAM J. WALL

William J. Wall of Parsippany is a detective with the Boonton Township Police Depart-

ment. A graduate of East Stroudsburg University, he received his reserve commission as an

infantry officer in the United States Army. He volunteered for active duty and was assigned to

the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault Team as a platoon leader. He has served in several ca-

pacities, including as a trainer for deploying battalions on the East Coast. William is a Lieutenant

Colonel and the Active Battalion Commander for the 309th regiment, “Wolf Pack” battalion, and

he is currently stationed in Georgia. He has received a number of military citations, including

the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal

with 2 oak leaf clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal with a bronze service star.

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

THOMAS M. BACON

Thomas Bacon entered the Marine Corp on St. Patrick’s Day in 1965 at the age of 17. Two

years later, he was deployed to Vietnam where he was assigned to Delta Company Force Recon

and was stationed in Dong Ha. He received two Purple Hearts the first, for injuries he sustained

in 1967 while assisting Bravo Company during an operation that had a 95 percent casualty rate

which included his friend, Sylvester Land. He received his second Purple Heart and a Gold Star

on in 1967 while on a reconnaissance operation in Quang Tri Province. Mr. Bacon, of Morris-

town, was a drill instructor on Parris Island, and after completing his active duty he joined the

reserves and was stationed at Picatinny Arsenal.

He has been employed as a union carpenter through Local 620 in Madison for over 35 years.

RONALD R. BAUER

Ronald Bauer, of Florham Park, was 20 when he enlisted in the Navy. He trained at Bain-

bridge, Maryland as a corpsman, and served during the Korean War, spending much of his time

in the Operation Room of the 2nd Marine Division in North Carolina. He was a 3rd Class Petty

Officer on board the USS Roanoke, a light cruiser which served 850 men and which was the flag

ship of the 6th fleet. 

He is a former Construction Official with Parsippany who is now Building Inspector for

Florham Park and who also once served as Morris County Coroner. 

CHARLES W. BRADSHAW

Charles Bradshaw of Mine Hill joined the Army in 1967 and volunteered for the Army Secu-

rity Agency, which was an automatic four-year enlistment dealing with intelligence matters. He

was stationed in Korea and finished his career at Fort Bragg. 

As a result of the draft, Mr. Bradshaw met and served with a wide diversity of men. He de-

veloped a true appreciation of “Brotherhood,” which he would not have experienced had he gone

directly into his career as an engineer, and he has made it a point to pass this attitude onto his

two sons. 

JAMES A. CORLETT

James Corlett is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He trained in Cape May and

volunteered for duty in Vietnam and spent 13 months on an 82 foot cutter off the Vietnam coast,

stopping all vessels for inspection. His ship was equipped with heavy weapons, and even though

it only had two officers, two chiefs and four enlisted men aboard, it was called upon to help out

in many “Hot Spots” along the coast. Mr. Corlett also vividly remembers being onboard during

some frightful typhoons off the Vietnamese coast. In addition to his duty in Vietnam, he was

stationed in Texas and Sandy Hook. 

Mr. Corlett, of Madison, has spent 37 years as a mason in Local 21. 

ANTHONY DESIMONE

Army veteran Anthony Desimone of Morristown was assigned to Vietnam after attending

Quartermaster school in Virginia and graduating as a Second Lieutenant. While in Vietnam,

he was given a piece of land, a new unit, a warehouse kit and a civilian engineering detachment

and asked to test a theory on implementing a self-service supply center in the jungles. The task

was completed in 60 days and he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his work. He

rotated to Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

When he returned home, Mr. Desimone was employed with IBM. In 2003 he joined the

County of Morris in the Superintendant of Elections Office as a Data Specialist and transferred

to the Board of Elections in 2007.

GARY FLANAGAN

Gary Flanagan served in the Army from 1970 to 1972. He was trained at Fort Knox as a Ra-

dio Repairman and was sent to Germany for possible deployment to Vietnam. He was on leave

to his home when a snow storm delayed his return to his unit, and may have saved his life. When

he was able finally able to return his unit had already been deployed to Vietnam. He started

writing letters to members of his unit, but there was never any response. When he wrote to their

families they informed him that many of his friends had been killed. A resident of Dover, Mr.

Flanagan is employed as a security guard by the County of Morris. 

LAWRENCE C. FORNO

Lawrence Forno is a Marine veteran from Convent Station who served from 1959 to 1961 at

the Atomic Underwater Warfare Base at the US Navel Air Station in New Foundland, where he

had top secret military clearance. From 1961 to 1963 he was stationed at the 2nd Marine Divi-

sion in North Carolina and also at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia. During the Cu-

ban Missile Crisis, Mr. Forno served on the USS Mt. McKinley, and received the Armed Forces

Expeditionary Medal. 

Since being discharged in 1965, he has worked in the financial leasing field, and is currently

with Audi in Mendham. 

KENNETH S. GERWIN

Kenneth Gerwin is the first veteran of the Public Health Service to receive the Morris Coun-

ty Distinguished Service Medal. Veteran status was granted to the US Public Health Services

during the Vietnam War. 

Dr. Gerwin was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, and did his residency at NYU Medical Center

in the field of Ear, Nose and Throat. He left to become the lead physician in his field at Walter

Reed Hospital. He returned to Morristown to practice at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

CHARLES B. JONES

Charles Jones was a veteran of World War II. He served in the United States Navy aboard the

USS Monitor in the Far East, and was on active duty from 1941 to 1945. He did not talk to his

family about his war experiences but his daughter said her father was the most patriotic man she

knew. 

Mr. Jones, who died in 2005, loved the flag and all it stood for and loved his country more

than life itself, and had turned his garage walls into a navel photo gallery. He lived in Florham

Park and in Madison and served on the Florham Park Volunteer Fire Department. 

GORDON WILLIAM MC WILLIAMS

Gordon W. McWilliams was a talented athlete who received a scholarship to Colgate, but

after one year of college, he returned to work at his family business in Jersey City. He was induct-

ed into the Army on December 7, 1942 while living in Denville. He shipped out with his unit,

the 148th Field Artillery Battalion in November of 1944 where he joined in the battle of Luzon

and the retaking of the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He rejoined the family

business, and he and his wife of 40 years moved to Mountain Lakes in 1949. The late Mr. McWil-

liams received the American Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the World War

II Victory Medal and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. His brothers Roger and Alexander are

both World War II Naval veterans, and his brother, Donald, is a former Army Pilot. 

DONALD SILVERTHORNE

Donald Silverthorne, of Lake Hiawatha, was a 17-year old high school senior during World

War II when he and a few of his friends decided to join the Army. After basic training he was sta-

tioned at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being shipped to Europe. In Germany, the late Mr. Silver-

thorne was in charge of escorting German prisoners of war to the different POW camps. He said

even after he returned home, the destruction he saw during the war remained in his mind for a

long time. 

Upon his discharge from the Army, he became a tradesman as a mason and helped build our

nation’s cities. 

RAYMOND J. VITO

Raymond Vito is a Marine veteran who was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, Camp

Lejeune, North Carolina. He was a combat engineer who served two years and five months in

the Gulf Conflict. Mr. Vito is a Cedar Knolls resident who was decorated with a Combat Action

Ribbon, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror-

ism Service Expeditionary Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. 

MARCH 11, 2009

VINCENT ADAM BINKOSKI

Vincent Binkoski of Wharton joined the Army in 1987. He was assigned to intelligence and

coordinated efforts to track down and capture Panama’s military dictator Manuel Noriega. Be-

cause he was trained in map reading and was part of a Fast Strike Force, Mr. Binkoski was placed

in the initial invasion of Iraq in 1991, and was assigned to the 3rd Army Calvary in the push to

Bagdad. However, his division was ordered to stop in Basra it was charged with neutralizing all

the surrendering Iraqi military. He received The Army Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces

Expeditionary Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. 

He is married to Jill, who works for the County of Morris.

DOMINICK D’ANDREA

Dominick D’Andrea enlisted into the Army on his birthday in 1971. He was selected to be

in the Special Intelligence Security Division of the Army and was at the highest level of security,

working 12 hour shifts and remaining on-call 24 hours a day. He dealt with the most sensitive

communication areas involving the Vietnam War. Mr. D’Andrea was deployed all over the coun-

try delivering sensitive information as it affected the battle plans. This information came from

pilots, soldiers on the ground, the CIA and other sources. A resident of Montville, Mr. D’Andrea

received the Army Commendation Medal, The National Defense Medal and the Cross of Gal-

lantry issued by the Country of Vietnam. 

He is a Certified Teacher and works as a guidance counselor for the Clifton School System.

He is married and has three children.

GERALD N. DE FRANCO

A Korean War veteran, Gerald DeFranco is a Rockaway resident who was drafted into the

Army in 1952 in Newark. After basic and advanced training at Fort Bliss, Texas, as an anti-air-

craft gunner, Mr. DeFranco was sent to Japan in 1952 on board the ship Kaiser-Frazier. It took

15 days to cross the ocean, and the trip was marked by a typhoon that wreaked havoc during the

crossing. He returned from active duty on an aircraft carrier and was assigned to Camp Kilmer

here in New Jersey. 

As a civilian, Mr. DeFranco was a shear operator for the Work-O-Lite Company.

GERALD BRIAN DOE, JR.

Brian Doe, Jr. is an Army veteran who was drafted in 1968. After basic training at Fort Polk,

he was sent to NCO School, and was then assigned to Fort Dix for one year as a trainer. He was

sent to Vietnam and saw action in the Central Highlands, where he conducted assaults by heli-

copter. Mr. Doe, of Morris Plains, earned a Bronze Star and an Air Assault Badge with an Oak

Leaf Cluster. The Oak Leaf represents at least 30 to 40 assaults.

Returning home, he enrolled at Fairleigh Dickenson and started a business in Morristown

which he sold after 26 years.

JOHN W. MC CARTHY

John McCarthy of Rockaway joined the Army when he was 17 after getting his mother’s

permission, of course. His basic training was at Ft. Dix, and then he trained as a specialist at Ft.

Monmouth. Mr. McCarthy was sent to Soul, Korea, in direct support of the front line troops.

There, he remembers he and the other soldiers were constantly worried about insurgents and

ambushes. His service from 1947 to 1953 included a stint in Japan. 

When he returned home, he went to work for 15 years for Railway Express and then he

spent another 20 years with UPS. He is married and has two daughters.

TIM O’CONNOR

Tim O’Connor entered the Army out of Newark in 1967, and arrived in Vietnam on January

9, 1968. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, and his squad patrolled the Cambodian

Border and intercepted Viet Cong and North Vietnam soldiers coming down the Ho Chi Minh

Trail. When the Tet Offensive began on January 30, 1968, his 25th Division was responsible for

blocking the Viet Cong troops from infiltrating Saigon.

Mr. O’Connor, of Morristown, lost four of his buddies to enemy action. He visits the Viet-

nam Memorial in Washington as often as he can to remember his friends, and still wears a brace-

let in memory of his best friend. He joined the Jersey City Police Department where he attained

the rank of Detective Sergeant.

RUSSELL SIEB

Russell Sieb joined the Navy after high school in 1988 and served as a Bosun’s Mate 3rd

Class. He was in the first invasion of the Gulf War serving on an LPD craft an amphibious land-

ing vessel that puts Marines on the beach. An LPD craft can carry about 1,000 marines and a

crew of 400. Mr. Sieb is a Randolph resident who received the National Defense Service Medal,

the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Southwest Asian Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal

and the Surface Warfare Insignia. 

A graduate of the County College of Morris and Rutgers University where he studied Crimi-

nal Justice, Mr. Sieb has his own business. He is married with two children.

CHRISTOPHER J. TIGHE

Christopher Tighe was born into a large family in Irvington and joined the Navy as his ticket

out of a tough neighborhood. He was assigned to the attack squadron 46 on board the USS Sara-

toga in 1963, the USS Shangri-La in 1965 and the USS Intrepid in 1966, and experienced haz-

ardous duty on each one. He was a Petty Officer operating as a Radioman and was above deck as

a take-off and landing coordinator for more than 100 flights per day and night. Nighttime duty

was especially dangerous, since no lights could be used. Mr. Tighe, of Randolph, still remembers

the 10 pilots who were shot down and killed and the eight pilots who went missing from their

missions over Vietnam. The Commander of the Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, awarded a

citation to the attack squadron 46 for accident-free operations from three aircraft carriers with

43-hundred hours of flight time and 17-hundred carrier landings.

MAY 27, 2009

ANDREW ADAMS

Andrew Adams, of Flanders, entered the Navy in 1993. After boot camp and initial train-

ing, he was assigned to the USS Shiloh, a Cruiser based out of San Diego, and worked as a Deck

Seaman and later as a Damage Controlman. He did two deployments to the Persian Gulf in

support of Desert Watch. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal,

the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Navy Sea Ser-

vice Deployment Navy “E” Ribbon, the Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Naval Achievement

Award. Mr. Adams agrees with John F. Kennedy when the late president said: Any man who may

be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, can respond with a good deal

of pride and satisfaction, “I served in the United States Navy.” 

PAUL ADAMS

This is the first time Morris County has had the opportunity to award medals to two

brothers who served in the same branch of the military, in the same conflict and on the same

ship. Paul Adams went to his brother’s Navy graduation and decided he too wanted to join the

Navy. And he did! He found himself serving onboard the USS Shiloh with his brother during the

Persian Gulf Conflict. Paul Adams received the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy

Good Conduct Medal. 

ROBERT J. BARONE

Robert J. Barone is a Marine veteran who was actually going to join the Navy because his

father was a Navy veteran. But on his way to visit the Navy Recruiter in 1982, he was intercepted

by a Recruiter for the Marine Corps., which he joined instead. He was attached to the Second

Marine Division in North Carolina and was eventually assigned to the 9th Marine Motor Pool,

which was part of the first Invasion of Iraq after 9-11. The main function of these Marines was to

round up the surrendering Iraq soldiers, who were not well dressed or equipped and who were

surrendering by the thousands. Mr. Barone, a Wharton resident, carries a Christian Cross given

to him by a detainee to whom he showed compassion. He earned a Navy Achievement Medal,

the Kuwait Liberation Medal and a National Defense Medal. 

ROBERT BRACERO, JR.

Robert Bracero, Jr graduated from Roxbury High School and later joined the Marine Corps

with a friend from Hopatcong. After training at Parris Island and at Camp Lejeune, North Caro-

lina, he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in the Al Anbar Province in 2005. He was deployed again

to Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 and 2007 as a Sergeant and Vehicle Commander. He vividly recalls

gunfire and explosions at every corner of that city, where his company lost 13 very dedicated

Marines. Mr. Bracero, of Roxbury, also served in Afghanistan. He received the Combat Action

Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Sea Ser-

vice Deployment Ribbon, an Army Achievement Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.

BRIAN COSTANZA

Brian Costanza joined the Air Force after high school. He went to Jet Engine School and was

stationed in Plattsburg, New York where he worked on fixed-wing aircraft. He also spent time in

England at Royal Air Force Base Alconbury, about 60 miles north of London. There, he worked

on the A10 “Wart Hog,” a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft used extensively in Iraq to provide

close air support of ground forces. 

Mr. Costanza is self-employed in the plumbing business and lives in the Flanders section of

Mt. Olive with his wife and four children. 

EMERSON CROOKS

Mr. Crooks was drafted into the Army 1968, and the Army told him to report to the Federal

Building in Newark. When he arrived, the Marines needed 12 men that same day picked him

out of the line-up and hours later, he was on his way to Parris Island. After Advanced Infantry

Training, Mr. Crooks was sent to Okinawa to be deployed to Vietnam. Before he left, however,

he was asked to make a will and put his personal affects in a box in case he didn’t come back. In

Vietnam as part of Gulf Company 1st Division, his unit lost 27 Marines in one day, including

his best friend who had volunteered to take Emerson’s place that day. To this day, Mr. Crooks,

of Randolph remembers all of the sounds, smells and discomforts of the war. He was awarded

the Legion of Merit with a Valor Designation for heroism, and now devotes his time to veterans’

issues and to several veterans’ centers in the area. 

JACK FORD

Jack Ford enlisted in the Navy in 1964 and served on 4 destroyers - the USS Joseph P. Ken-

nedy Jr, the USS Furse, the USS Albert T. Harris, and the J. Douglas Blackwood. He also studied

engineering and main propulsion at 3 U.S. Navy Service Schools. Mr. Ford, who resides in Mad-

ison, received the Vietnam Service Medal and the Cold War Certificate of Recognition. Since

graduating from City University of New York in 1973, he has worked in manufacturing and

sales. 

STEVE GOETZ

Steve Goetz enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1994, and after basic training, he was as-

signed to Fleet Hospital 11 as a Corpsman. He completed Field Medical Service School in 1996

and was then assigned to the 4th Medical Battalion -Surgical Company Alpha Detachment 2 of

the Marine Corps. In 2003, he was deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr.

Goetz, of Rockaway, transferred to the Marines’ Gulf Company and later the 4th Medical Battal-

ion Surgical Company Bravo. In 2008, he was deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq, as part of Operation

Iraqi Freedom and was assigned as Senior Enlisted Leader to the Korean Village Shock Trauma

Platoon.

TOM JAMES

In 1999, Tom James graduated Seton Hall University, joined the National Guard and was

commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Since 9-11, he’s been deployed twice most recently to Afghan-

istan as an Embedded Trainer where he lived with and trained the Afghan Army. Two weeks

before he was to leave Afghanistan, his group was ambushed by about 70 well-armed Taliban

forces. In a six-hour battle they lost one American Trainer and one Afghan soldier. Mr. James,

who resides in Rockaway, says it is now good to see Afghan soldiers and police fighting for their

country and to win the support and respect of their fellow countrymen. 

PETER J. KING

Peter King of Montville graduated from Morris Catholic High School, received an under-

graduate degree from LaSalle University and went on to law school at Cardozo School of Law

in New York. After law school, he joined the Army and trained at Fort Hood, Texas in ordnance

and munitions. When he completed his training, Mr. King was deployed to Iraq, and his service

earned him the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service

Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He became a law partner with John Dorsey, specializ-

ing in municipal law. 

MICHAEL LAVER

Michael Laver was a Military Policeman stationed in Darmstadt, Germany. His responsibil-

ities included law enforcement of military installations during peace time and combat missions

during war time. In 2003 he was deployed to Tel Aviv, Israel for Operation Freedom. Mr. Laver,

of Morris Plains, also provided security for three critical air bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. A

graduate of the Army Basic Training and Military Police Advance Training in Missouri, he

logged 40 hours of Advanced Sniper Training and received more than 500 hours of anti-terror-

ism training. Mr. Laver is an officer with the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.

ANTHONY T. LUZETSKY

Anthony Luzetsky grew up in Morris County and graduated from Lenape Regional High

School in 1969. His plans for college were detoured when he was drafted into the Army. He had

an offer to attend the Military Academy at West Point but decided to stay with the regular Army

as an enlisted man. Mr. Luzetsky, of Lake Hopatcong, was deployed to Vietnam in 1972 and was

stationed Plaiku, the Central Highlands and had many encounters with the North Vietnamese

Army. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the

Vietnam Campaign Medal.

KEVIN PERRY

Kevin Perry is a Denville resident who joined the Navy in 1990, became a Seabee and quali-

fied as a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist in 1994. While on active duty he was attached to the

Navy Mobile Construction Battalion from Gulfport, Mississippi. As a reservist Mr. Perry was

attached to the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion from Lakehurst, New Jersey. During Desert

Storm he packed transport vehicles with supplies for troops out in the field. He received a certif-

icate of achievement from the commanding officer for his significant contributions to the overall

effectiveness of the command, which led to the “Seabee of the Quarter” for the entire battal-

ion. He also received the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, 2 Navy Battle “E” Ribbons,

the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Med-

al, the Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Metal and the Navy Expert Pistol Marksmanship Metal. 

DANA B. PHELPS

Dana Phelps enlisted in the Navy Reserve in 1992 and trained at the Hospital Corps School

in Illinois. She attended the County College of Morris until 1995 when she moved to Alaska and

attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage, for nursing. She maintained her Reserve sta-

tus attached to a Fleet Hospital, graduated from Field Medical School and was attached to the

Marine Reserve in Anchorage. Ms. Phelps received her nursing degree, took a commission as

Ensign, returned to New Jersey in 2001 and was assigned to the 4th Medical Battalion Surgical

Company Bravo, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She was deployed to Camp Korean Village, Iraq,

in 2008. During her deployment she received her Fleet Marine Warfare device as a flight nurse

while serving with the Combat Logistic Battalion out of Camp Lejeune. She was then assigned to

the Shock Trauma Platoon. Ms. Phelps, of Rockaway, maintains her reserve status and is em-

ployed as an Emergency Room Nurse at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

in Newark. 

JOE REPLOGLE

Joe Replogle joined the Merchant Marines after high school. Then, after three years, he at-

tended Penn State where he joined the ROTC Navy Program and received a degree in Electrical

Engineering. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corp and served

in Japan as an Assistant Communication Officer and in Korea during the end of the Korean con-

flict. 

After returning to the states, he was employed for 35 years by Bell Labs. In retirement, this

Mendham resident volunteers his time assisting the blind with computer set-ups.

GALLERY

JULY 8, 2009

FREDERICK J. GOUGHLAN

Mr. Goughlan is a Morristown resident who joined the National Guard in 1993 when he was

17. He served 8 years in the Reserves, and then in 2002, as a result of the terrorist attacks on our

nation on September 11, 2001, he volunteered for the regular Army. He served with his friend,

Robert Peer before being assigned prison duty at Camp Cropper in Baghdad. 

Mr. Goughlan is a staff sergeant who recently returned from his second tour in Iraq. 

JOSEPH DEVANEY

Joseph Devaney is an Army veteran who served in World War ll. He attended boot camp in

1943 in Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania, and was assigned to the 244th Port Company. During

his service to our nation, Mr. Devaney landed on four beaches the last of which was Luzon, in

the Philippines, where he was seriously wounded. He received a Purple Heart, and after being

discharged from the Army,

Mr. Devaney, of Mine Hill, went to Ryder College and became a CPA with his own firm. He

recently celebrated his 67th class reunion from Boonton High School.

JOHN H. FINKELDIE III

Mr. Finkeldie is a Marine veteran who joined the Corps when he was 17 and trained as a re-

fueler of military aircraft. He spent 10 years on active duty and 10 years in the reserves. He flew

65 missions in Iraq and Kuwait, and was in Kuwait City when it was liberated. He remembers

the destruction in both Iraq and Kuwait and having to land his KC-130 refueler on highways

because no landing strips were available. In addition to many unit citations, this Jefferson resi-

dent received the Kuwait Liberation Medal, a Meritorious Mast, a Letter of Appreciation and the

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

When he returned to the states, he enrolled the New Jersey Institute of Technology under

the GI Bill and studied Civil Engineering.

JOSEPH B. FORD

Mr. Ford served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, enlisting in the Air Force in 1952

at the age of 17. He trained as an electrician, working on prop and jet aircraft, and graduated in

the top 10% of his class. He was sent to England to maintain the F86, which was the major jet

fighter used by the Air Force in the Korean Conflict. While in England, Mr. Ford also met his

wife. Once back in the states, he re-enlisted and was stationed at McGuire Air Base before be-

ing sent to Ethiopia as an advisor to the Ethiopian Air Force. When he returned to the states he

was trained on the B-52 Bomber that was used in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972, and was soon on

his way to Thailand rescuing downed aviators in Laos for which he received the Bronze Star for

heroism. 

Mr. Ford retired from the Air Force with 20 years of service, and is now an assistant Pastor

with Bethel AME Church in Morristown.

JOHN FREUDENBERG, JR.

John Freudenberg, Jr. spent 4 years in the Army Reserve and 3 years on active duty, sta-

tioned in Vicenza, Italy. He was a sergeant with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team with

the duty of squad leader, and was deployed to Afghanistan for 15 months. He received numerous

commendations including a National Defense Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal,

an Army Achievement Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, a

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a NATO Medal and a Combat Infantryman Badge. 

Mr. Freudenberg returned home in April 2009 and is attending the County College of Mor-

ris, working on a criminal justice degree. He volunteers for the Randolph Rescue Squad and is

an active member of VFW Post 7333. While growing up in Randolph achieved the rank of Eagle

Scout with Troop 50. 

ERIC J. HANNA

Eric Hanna of Denville is another Eagle Scout, achieving that rank 9 years ago. He went

to Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and while there, he joined the

Marine Corps. He became a tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided Missile Gunner with

the 25th Marines and was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2005. When Mr. Hanna returned to the

states, he transferred to the reserve unit at Picatinny Arsenal and has since been transferred to

Scout Sniper Platoon with Headquarter and Support Company of the 25th Marines. 

He graduated from Rutgers with a degree in Criminal Justice and is pursuing a career in law

enforcement. 

JAMES F. MC CONNELL, JR.

James McConnell Jr. of Randolph enlisted in the Air Force in 1960 and trained in aircraft

mechanics at Lakeland Air Base in Texas. He was sent to Pease Air Base in New Hampshire

where he worked on air tankers such as the KC 97 which was used for aerial refueling. He was

attached to one of the most famous units in the United States Air Force the 509th - the same unit

that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in World War II. Mr. McConnell served 18

months in Tripoli, and while he was gone, his wife gave birth to the first of their two children. 

He is a 30-year member of the Randolph Rescue Squad and is employed by the County Col-

lege of Morris.

LEE E. MC NULTY

Lee McNulty joined the Navy in 1970 and was twice deployed to Vietnam. There, he partic-

ipated in the around-the-clock bombing of North Vietnam, which helped bring the North Viet-

namese to Paris to sign the cease fire agreement in January 1973. Today, more than 36 years later,

he still thinks about his comrades who were killed, became prisoners of war or are still listed as

missing in action. After serving nearly 4 years, Mr. McNulty, of Butler, arrived back in the states

just shy of his 21st birthday. 

Lee McNulty graduated from Montclair University and became a teacher at John F. Kennedy

High School in Paterson. 

ROBERT R. PEER

Robert R. Peer grew up in Montville and joined the National Guard in 1988. His unit was

federalized and sent to Iraq for their first deployment in 2003 where they provided gun truck

security for Iraqi Nationals. But their vehicles were not reinforced, so they had to weld armored

plates on the vehicles and place sand bags in the backs for added protection while their base of

operation in Iraq was being mortared every day. He was deployed a second time in 2008, and his

unit was responsible for security at a detention center in Iraq, moving anywhere from 20 to 60

prisoners per day to various locations. 

EDDIE RUIZ

Mr. Ruiz was born in Aguada, Puerto Rico and grew up in Wharton. After attending two

years of college, he decided to join the Army to fulfill his childhood dream. He became a mem-

ber of the Infantry Reconnaissance Unit and was deployed to Iraq for 12 months, performing

various missions around the country. For his service and courage, Mr. Ruiz received the Army

Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the

Army Service Medal and the Overseas Service Medal. 

Mr. Ruiz hopes to finish college and begin a career in law enforcement.

WILLIAM YARLASKI

William Yarlaski is a Marine veteran from Budd Lake. He enlisted at the age of 19, trained

in the Military Police and was sent to Kuwait in 2003 and to Iraq in 2004. He did convoy secu-

rity and while serving his nation, he suffered severe facial injuries from an improvised explosive

device. Mr. Yarlaski was sent to a Ramadi military hospital, and even with extensive injuries,

he requested to be returned to his unit. He came back to the United States, but was redeployed

to Iraq in 2006 for his second tour. In addition to the Purple Heart, he received the Sea Service

Deployment Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal the Global War on Ter-

rorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal and three Certificates of Commendation. 

Mr. Yarlaski is employed by the Morris County Correctional Facility and he is the second

from that facility to receive benefits under the G.I. Bill. 

GALLERY

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009

ADAN ALBRECHT

Adan Albrecht is a Marine veteran who joined the Corps in 2005. He was attached to the 3rd

Battalion, 3rd Marines and did two tours in Iraq in 2006 and again in 2007, losing his best friend

in one battle. Mr. Albrecht said he served with squad leaders who were extremely qualified and

who had gained invaluable experience while serving in Afghanistan. He received the Iraq Cam-

paign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Ribbon and the Combat Action Ribbon. 

He is a Flanders resident who is now attending the County College of Morris where he is

studying Criminal Justice. His hope is to become a State Trooper. 

MICHAEL T. BERGERON

Michael Bergeron, who joined the Marines in 2003, comes from a family with a long tradi-

tion of military service, beginning with his great-grandfather. He was deployed to Fallujah and

was wounded by an IED. Mr. Bergeron received an early discharge as a result of the injuries he

suffered, and he has undergone several surgical procedures since his discharge. He was awarded

a Purple Heart, the Global War on Terrorism Ribbon and the National Defense Service Ribbon. 

A resident of Budd Lake, Mr. Bergeron, in spite of his injuries, is employed as a heavy equip-

ment operator. 

CHARLES H. COLLINS, JR.

Chuck Collins grew up in Florham Park, graduated from Hanover Park High School, and

with his parents’ permission, he joined the Army when he was 17. His high Army test scores

landed him a position with the Army Security Agency and he was sent to Japan to do classified

security work. 

A graduate of Drew University with a degree in economics, Mr. Collins, of Ledgewood, is

vice president and treasurer of the Army Security Agency Association, and he is an employee of

the Morris County Surrogate’s Office. 

THOMAS FRODELLA

Thomas Frodella is a Riverdale resident who joined the National Guard in 1980 and was

stationed for the next six years at Fort Dix. He says throughout his life, in spite of past learning

disabilities, he was always encouraged to complete his tasks. 

He says whether it was in the military or while he was at Ramapo College or at Rutgers

University, he was given opportunities for success. Knowing this is not the case for everyone, he

has made it his life’s work to give these same opportunities to other veterans. He has set up a non

profit organization that addresses education and homelessness among veterans, including those

with learning disabilities. 

JOHN E. FUSON

John Fuson of Port Murray, was raised in Oregon and later moved to New Jersey with his

parents. He joined the Air Force in 1991 and was stationed at Altus Air Base in Altus, Oklaho-

ma. There, he trained in the medical services area and was named Medical Technician of the

Year in 1995.

He is currently in the construction business and in the future, he would like to become in-

volved in doing remediation work on homes for disabled veterans. 

CHRISTOPHER GRACIA

Christopher Gracia of Pequannock joined the National Guard in December 1999 and did

a tour of duty in Cuba. Later, he was deployed to Iraq as a squad leader assigned to segregating

the Iraq prisoners who were Sunnies from those who were Shias. This was done because, even

though they were prisoners, respect is shown for different religions and life and family experi-

ences. Staff Sergeant Gracia says this demonstrates that the United States Military does respect

prisoners in spite of some press to the contrary. He is with Bravo Company 2nd Battalion 113th

Infantry out of Jersey City. Among the many citations he has received are the Army Commenda-

tion Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He plans on a 20-year

career with the Army National Guard and is therefore subject to being recalled to active duty. 

CHARLES L. HARDEN

Charles Harden of Wharton joined the Navy in 1964. He was stationed aboard the U.S.S.

Enterprise off the coast of Vietnam. This aircraft carrier the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft

carrier was responsible for most of the bombing missions in Vietnam. 

Here in the states, Mr. Harden ran his own business as a dynamite blaster. In his spare time,

Charles Hardin and his fellow members of the Tri- County Motorcycle Club, some of whom are

here this evening, enjoyed raising money for children in need. 

JOSEPH KLOSS

Joseph Kloss is an Army veteran from Boonton who grew up as the oldest of eight children

in Lake Parsippany. He joined the Marine Corp Reserves prior to enlisting in the Army as a

Military Policeman. Even though the Korean War was over, the United States was still testing

hydrogen bombs in the Pacific at a location called Eniwetok (en-uh-wee-tok), where he provided

security for this operation. 

When he returned to the states, he became an advocate for training veterans in the vocation-

al trades, and developed special programs that remain in place today from Port Elizabeth to the

Morris County School of Technology. 

SCOTT MONCAVIO

Scott Moncavio is a 3rd generation Marine veteran, with his father and grandfather having

also served active duty. After basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina, he did an 8-month

tour of duty in Iraq and another 3 months in Afghanistan. His training was in small arms repair

and he traveled throughout Iraq and Afghanistan maintaining weapons and being met constant-

ly with resistance from ambushes. His unit, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, has the distinction of

having the longest continuous contact with the enemy in Iraq. 

Mr. Moncavio, of Randolph, is employed at Picatinny Arsenal as a mechanical engineer

technician. 

PHILIP H. WITTNEBERT

Philip Wittnebert is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. A resident of Oak Ridge, he

joined the Coast Guard when he was 17 and trained as a Long Range Navigation Specialist. This

meant setting up radio beacons for pilots in Vietnam. Mr. Wittnebert was attached to the de-

stroyer, U.S.S. Jarvis and received the Vietnam Service Medal and a Bronze Star.

His son, Michael is in the Army and is attached to the 82nd Air Borne. 

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

NORUS ACHMETOV

After graduating from Seton Hall University Law School in 1968, Norus Achmetov was

commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. He was later promoted to 1st Lieutenant and then

became a Calvary Officer assigned to the newly reorganized 78th Division which was a Ma-

neuver Training Command at Fort Dix. As an Armor Training Officer, he evaluated armor and

mechanized infantry units in the northeast. Mr. Achmetov, of Boonton, was awarded the Nation-

al Defense Service Medal and received commendations for service with the 1st Battalion School

Brigade United States Army Armor School at Fort Knox. 

He was discharged in 1981, but he continued to participate in Department of Defense Pro-

grams. 

ROBERT AXT

Robert Axt was raised in Florida and moved to Boonton Township with his parents. He

joined the Army in 1953 and attended Boot Camp at Camp Picket, Virginia. He was assigned to

Sandia Air Base in New Mexico and was trained for the Arms Forces Special Weapons Project,

which was given responsibility for discharging all military functions relating to atomic energy

in coordination with the Atomic Energy Commission. Mr. Axt worked in electronics and other

highly classified areas, and was later assigned to Killeen Air Base in Texas which was a depot for

all atomic weapons electronics. 

He graduated from New Jersey College of Engineering, now called NJIT, and worked for

General Electric and then Thiokol where he tested rocket engines.

THOMAS BUBRYCKIE

After receiving the approval from his father, Thomas Bubryckie joined the Marines when he

was 16. He became a Squad Leader with the 1st Marine division serving in the South Pacific, and

fought battles at Guadalcanal and Peleliu (pell-li-loo). His division suffered 85 percent casual-

ties from Malaria and lost 6,500 men during one month of fighting at Peleliu. This was probably

the most controversial battle of World War II because of the island’s questionable strategic val-

ue. Peleliu also had the highest casualty rate of any battle in the Pacific. Mr. Bubryckie, of Ches-

ter, was awarded the Purple Heart. 

HUGH JAMES COGHLAN IV

Hugh Coghlan was raised in Ringwood and joined the Army after high school. After fulfill-

ing his obligation in the Army, he joined the National Guard. He was deployed to Guantanamo

Bay as a Counter Intelligence Officer. There, his responsibility was to make sure systems were

already in place to prevent another Abu Ghraib. He is a Mountain Lakes resident who earned the

Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Vital Defense Service Medal,

the Air Services Ribbon and the Air Assault Badge. 

Mr. Coghlan became an Air Marshall after his military service.

ROBERT DREXLER

Robert Drexler is an Army veteran who was raised in Patterson. Drafted in 1966, he ad-

vanced to the rank of Sergeant during his time in the military. He was attached to the 1st Infan-

try Division, and saw action in Vietnam. Mr. Drexler received a number of medals and ribbons

in recognition of his military service. 

He resides in Landing and remains passionate about greeting veterans who return from their

tours of duty. He thinks it’s important that these men and women be personally thanked for their

service to our nation. 

KARL HIPP

Karl Hipp was born in Switzerland and moved to the United States when he was 25. He

spoke German and French but he wanted to learn English. He had already completed manda-

tory military service in Switzerland, and moving to the United States made him subject to our

draft. Well, he was drafted, but he chose instead to join the Air Force. He was trained in com-

munications and was stationed at Stewart Air Base in Newberg, New York, with the Strategic Air

Command. He was later sent to Germany’s Lankerkoff Air Base for radio communications.

Mr. Hipp, of Randolph, learned to sail at the age of 70 and is considered “qualified skipper”

by the Coast Guard. 

BARRY KAPLAN

Barry Kaplan of Lake Hiawatha, was born in Brooklyn and was drafted into the Army in

1961. He did his basic training at Fort Dix as a gunner and was deployed during the Cuban Mis-

sile Crisis in 1962. You’ll remember during that crisis, the two super powers, the United States

and the Soviet Union, stared each other down for seven days before the Soviet Union decided to

disband its missiles ending the conflict. Since Mr. Kaplan was the driver for the Colonel during

this crisis, he knew that if the Soviets did not step down, all four branches of our armed forces

would have met in the center of Cuba and would have been able to declare victory in 90 minutes. 

AUGUSTINE “GUS” MAGISTRO

Gus was born in Brooklyn and graduated from Lehigh University in 1952 with an Engineer-

ing Degree. Drafted into the Army in 1954, he trained as a Radio Repairman at Fort Benning.

His company operated a theater- wide communications network in support of a major airborne

war game in the southeast United States. Mr. Magistro supported the U. S. Armed Forces in his

civilian career with the design and development of military equipment at Picatinny Arsenal. The

weapons included; guided missiles, tanks, mortars and handguns. He also trained 5,000 engi-

neers and scientists in these and other techniques, which over the years have saved the Army

more than $100 million. 

A Wharton resident, Mr. Magistro is a former member of two school boards and he was

instrumental in the placement of monuments at Picatinny and in Denville recognizing the work

done in breaking the sound barrier with rocket engines developed at Picatinny.

FRANK MALONE

Frank Malone of Lake Hopatcong joined the Army in 1968. He did his boot camp at Fort

Dix, and his advanced training in air assault at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Mr. Malone was sent to

Vietnam in 1969 with the 101st Air Mobile Force and was a Tunnel Rat someone who performed

search and destroy missions in the underground tunnel complexes that were created by the Viet

Cong. Fifteen days before he was scheduled to leave, he was wounded. As a result of those inju-

ries, his leg had to be amputated 10 years after he left Vietnam. He received the Air Medal, the

Unit Citation and the Purple Heart. 

He is actively involved with several veterans’ organizations including Vietnam Veterans of

America, the Society of the Purple Heart, and he is commander of a local chapter of the Disabled

American Veterans.

JOHN REILLY

John Reilly of Brookside is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard who served during

the Vietnam era. With his parents’ permission, he joined the Coast Guard at 17, thinking that

would be a great place to gain some maturity. He trained as an Aviation Mechanic at Elizabeth

City, North Carolina, and was later sent to Alaska. While on a routine mission his aircraft’s land-

ing gear became disabled. He and his crew punctured holes through the fuselage with axes so

they could manually manipulate the landing gear. This action saved the aircraft and Mr. Reilly

received a Special Commendation Medal from the Commandant for meritorious actions. He was

later assigned to Brooklyn and was ready to do rescue work in the event armed forces personal

needed assistance after a landing at sea.

GREGORY J. SOMJEN

Gregory Somjen enlisted in the Marines in 2005. After basic training, he did his infantry

combat training at Camp LeJeune and was assigned to the Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th

Marines. Mr. Somjen served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Squad Automatic Weapons Gun-

ner and was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and a Meritorious Mast for superior performance

of his duties. He was also deployed to the 26th Marines Expeditionary Unit in Fellujah where

he served as Assistant Patrol Leader and Navigator. Mr. Somjen participated in more than 150

combat patrols and integrated efforts with Iraqi Police to curtail insurgent activity in the city. His

unit also supported regional security throughout the Gulf and entertained such influential visi-

tors as the secretary of the Navy and the Ambassador to Spain. 

In August 2009, Gregory re-enlisted in the Marine Corp.

GALLERY

DECEMBER 9, 2009

WILLIAM BECK

Patrolman William Beck joined the Marines in 1987 and did his basic training at Parris

Island. He was an Aviation Maintenance Administrator, and attained the rank of Corporal. His

other duty stations were Cherry Point, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. For his service

to our nation, he was awarded the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Navy Achievement

Medal. 

EUGENE B. CAMPBELL

Patrolman Eugene Campbell joined the Army in 1985 and was a Military Policeman. He was

stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and he also served overseas in Italy. In recognition of his service,

he was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achieve-

ment Medal and various sharpshooter awards. 

THOMAS J. DENICOLA

A Marine veteran, Patrolman Thomas Denicola joined the Corps in 1977. He was a Field

Radio Operator and Primary Marksmanship Instructor who attained the rank of Sergeant. He

was deployed in both Operation Northern Watch to enforce a no-fly zone above the 36th parallel

in Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He received a Presidential Unit Citation, the Sea Ser-

vice Deployment Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Iraq Freedom Campaign

Medal, and in 2001 he was named his unit’s Non Commission Officer of the Year. 

MICHAEL FOURNIER

Patrolman Michael Fournier is a veteran of the United States Navy. He joined the Navy in

1998, and his assignment was as a Sonar Technician. He served in the Persian Gulf and received

a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Expert Ribbon for a 9-millimeter pistol, the Navy “E”

Ribbon, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. 

JACK NIEMYNSKI

Patrolman Jack Niemynski joined the Army National Guard in 1990. He served in the Infan-

try, and was stationed in Iraq. He is currently a Master Sergeant. He received a Bronze Star, an

Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. 

RICHARD J. RICCO

Patrolman Richard Ricco is an Army National Guard veteran. He joined the Army in 1988

and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Benning, Georgia. He was a Tank Com-

mander and Paratrooper who attained the rank of Sergeant. He received the U.S. Army Reserve

Component Achievement Medal and the New Jersey Merit Award. 

STEPHEN TURKO

In 1982, Police Corporal Stephen Turko joined the U.S. Air Force. As an Electronics Techni-

cian and Weather Equipment Specialist, he attained the rank of Sergeant. For his service to our

nation, he was awarded the Air Force Training Ribbon, the Longevity Service Award Ribbon, a

Good Conduct Medal and an Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon. 

CARL F. WRONKO

Mr. Wronko, as we said, is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam in the early 1970s. He

was assigned to the 1st Armored Calvary Division and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. Mr.

Wronko was based out of Chu Lai, about 60 miles southeast of Da Nang, on the South China

Sea, and his division was involved in ground operations in Tam Ky and around Hawk Hill. He

was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism in Ground Combat, the Vietnam Service Metal

and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. 

Mr. Wronko now serves as Judge of the Roxbury Township Municipal Court. 

CHRISTINE WRONKO

Christine Wronko was a nurse in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. She, too, served

during the early 1970s in Chu Lai. Mrs. Wronko was a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of the

91st Evacuation Hospital. This facility was once referred to by its commanding officer as the

most active hospital in Vietnam. There, Mrs. Wronko, a first Lieutenant, treated the wounded

and comforted the dying.

She is now a nurse at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Dover, the former Dover General Hospital. 

SABINO ZARRO

Detective Sabino Zarro joined the Army in 1975. He served as a Military Policeman with

the 52nd Military Police at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He also served with the 56th Air Defense

Artillery in Salzwoog, Germany. 

MARCH 24, 2010

ROBERT G. CAPUTO

Robert Caputo was born in Paterson and joined the Army after high school. He was sent

to Vietnam after training as a Mortar Patrol Gunman and was assigned to the 101st Airborne

Division. He did most of his fighting in the A Shau Valley, which was a key infiltration route for

the North Vietnamese Army. He was involved in numerous fire fights during which many of his

fellow soldiers were killed.

A disabled veteran because of war injuries, Mr. Caputo, of Hopatcong, distanced himself

from Vietnam when he returned to the States, and never collected his ribbons and medals. It was

because of research done by his daughter, Stephanie, who is here tonight, that he realized he was

awarded the Bronze Star along with several other medals. 

JOHN D. CLARK

John D. Clark of Rockaway is an Army veteran who did his training at Fort McClellan, Al-

abama, the home of the United States Military Police and Army chemical schools. He was then

sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia as a military policeman and finished his tour of duty in Hawaii at

Fort Shafter, which provided support to military operations in both war and peacetime engage-

ments. 

Mr. Clark is a volunteer fire fighter with the Borough of Rockaway, and I am pleased to say

he is employed at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy as a shift operator. 

KEN HACKER

Ken Hacker graduated from Kinnelon High School and was drafted into the Army in 1970.

He did his basic training at Fort Dix, and was scheduled to go to Vietnam when his orders were

changed to Germany. He served as a non-commissioned officer of Headquarters Company 14th

Armored Division. 

After being discharged, Mr. Hacker went to work for Bell Labs and the New Jersey Tele-

phone system and has been with them for forty years. He is the union delegate for the IBEW. 

HERBERT P. KEAN

Herbert Kean joined the Army in 1946 out of Newark and was assigned to a new unit called

the Ski Troops. This unit was trained in Colorado and in other cold weather areas such as Alaska

for combat in the most difficult mountainous terrain in Europe. The Swiss Army was authorized

to assist in their training, which included skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing and cold weather

survival tactics. Mr. Kean, of Morristown, was lucky his life was saved by Swiss army personnel

during one exercise because of their knowledge of cold weather fighting. 

After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Kean became an engineer, graduating from Penn

State and from graduate school at Stevens Institute. He worked for the NASA space program as

a consultant and was asked to investigate the 1967 flash fire in the command module of Apollo

1, which took the lives astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Edward White. Mr.

Kean, who is retired, has developed a passion for antique tools and has written 4 books on the

subject. 

RICHARD KOHN

Richard Kohn enlisted in the Air Force in May of 1962. He trained in Radio Operations with

a tour that started at Lakeland Air Base in Texas and continued at Keesler Air Base in Biloxi,

Mississippi. Mr. Kohn, a Cedar Knolls resident, spent a one year tour of duty in Greenland at

Sondrestrom Air Base tracking air craft before his final duty in Italy. 

He learned to speak Italian and after his discharge from the Air Force, he stayed in Italy and

worked in the computer industry for Olivetti. Mr. Kohn is now retired. 

ELSTON PIRRO

Elston Pirro was drafted into the Army in 1966. He did his basic training at Fort Dix and his

advanced training at Fort Hood, Texas. Mr. Pirro was attached to the 198th Infantry Brigade and

saw action in Vietnam. He was at the Battle of Monkey Hill in the Central Highlands where 25

men were lost in one day. Mr. Pirro, of Mount Arlington, received the Combat Infantry Badge,

the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Gallantry Cross for

Heroism. 

Like many veterans returning from war, he had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. After

several jobs left him unsatisfied, he rejoined the Armed Forces and retired with 22 years of Ac-

tive Duty Service. 

RUSSEL REDHEAD

Russell Redhead joined the Marines in March of 2003 and was assigned to the 2nd Marine

Division, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines. He was sent to Iraq where his first tour was at Abu Ghyrab

Prison. His group was mortared at least 3 times a day for 7 months. His next tour was convoy

duty over dangerous territory from Al Asad to Ramadi. He also did Security Patrol on roads

known for IEDs. In fact, Mr. Redhead was seriously injured an IED explosion and had to be

med-evacuated out to the same hospital in Germany that ABC news anchor Bob Woodruff was

treated when he was involved in an IED explosion. A Dover resident, Mr. Redhead’s recovery

surpassed even his doctors’ expectations because of his positive attitude. 

He received the National Defense Award, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Action

Ribbon, the Global Expeditionary Medal and the Purple Heart.

WENDELL D. SLAYTON

Wendell Slayton graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1940 and volunteered for

naval duty. He and others like him braved blockades, torpedoes and bombings to deliver to the

Allied Forces the vital materials that made victory possible. He achieved the rank Lt Command-

er and served in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Cuba, Morocco, the Philippines and Okinawa. Mr.

Slayton received the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Asiat-

ic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Theatre Medal

and he was written up in the book, Merchant Mariners at War and Oral History of World War

II that was published in 2008. 

RICHARD J. TILNEY

Richard Tilney enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1968 and went to Vietnam in 1969, and

was assigned to the 7th Marines. Within a few days of arriving in Vietnam his unit was overrun

by North Vietnamese forces. He remembers his first sergeant telling him there were only three

ways he could leave that country. Be killed, be wounded or rotate out. He was wounded twice,

and the second time it took four days before he was evacuated. He still suffers from his wounds

after all these years. He received the Purple Heart and many battle ribbons, and every year he

and the members of his unit a brotherhood, as he calls it attend reunions around the country. 

After his discharge, Mr. Tilney worked with the FBI and the Federal Drug Enforcement

Administration, going undercover in many drug investigations in New York. He also worked on

both World Trade Center bombings. 

AMERY E. VASSO

Originally from San Francisco, Amery Vasso enlisted in the Army in 1984. He served in

Germany at the time of the fall of the Communist East in Southwest Asia as part of Operation

Desert Storm in Iraq and Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and at Fort Lewis, Wash-

ington. There, he witnessed the fielding of the new Stryker Brigade Combat Team, a new ar-

mored vehicle that can achieve a full spectrum of operations. He was also stationed at Fort Irwin,

California, and at Fort Drum, where he was invited to join the Asymmetric Warfare Group, pro-

viding advisory assistance to the Army and Joint Force Commanders. Mr. Vasso is a Morristown

resident who achieved the rank of First Sergeant and who spent 23 years in the Army. His awards

include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal,

the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, the Iraqi Freedom Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge. 

Mr. Vasso now works at Picatinny Arsenal and is finishing his Master’s Degree in Homeland

Security at Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

KARL VONDERHEYDE

Karl Vonderheyde of Flanders joined the Navy in 1987 and the National Guard in 2001 and

was assigned to Camp Anaconda, Iraq, one of the largest air bases in the world, and because he

was an EMT he was designated a medic for his unit. The unit was an Armored Vehicles Unit that

delivered supplies from the air base to a city of Sadam Loyalists about 60 miles north of Bagh-

dad. He ran trips three times per week for his entire tour a total of 200 trips with most missions

involving ambushes with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was wounded Easter

Sunday, 2005, on one of his last missions, when his vehicle hit an IED. He was saved by a Heli-

copter Gun Ship Escort. He received the Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expe-

dition Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Medal and is up for the Purple Heart. 

Karl Vonderheyde’s son is now in Iraq, and believe it or not, he is assigned to the same truck

unit, running the same route. It is ironic that Karl is able to tell his son what to look for when he

is on patrol.

MAY 26, 2010

JOHN J. “JEFF” ELAM

Colonel Jeff Elam graduated from Michigan State University’s ROTC program and was

assigned to Central Command in Iraq. He was the Deputy Commander for the 411 Engineer

Brigade, which was headquartered about 42 miles north of Baghdad. The 411 commanded and

controlled 3,000 military engineers in support of U.S. military operations. The unit cleared roads

of I-E-Ds and made improvements to various facilities, and Colonel Elam was in charge of plan-

ning and executing all construction and other operations. He is a resident of Oak Ridge who

served in Iraq from July 2006 through July 2007. While in Iraq, he worked with Jefferson High

School to set up a T.V. broadcast between the students and soldiers at Camp Anaconda, Iraq so

that students and soldiers could interact. He presently advises the Army War College in Carlisle,

Pennsylvania, as Deputy Commander. 

Colonel Elam has a son who is a 2nd Lieutenant at Fort Bragg and a daughter who is a se-

nior at Ithaca College. 

MICHAEL FERMENT

Michael Ferment is an architect who grew up in Roxbury. He joined the Army right after

school because it was something he always wanted to do. His first deployment was in Mosel,

Iraq, and his duties involved critical construction projects for the Combat Engineers. His second

deployment was in 2006. In 2007 he was asked to participate in the Special Forces Group soldier

competition. He finished first for his battalion, and was then asked to participate and represent

his battalion on the command level. While in Iraq, Michael, set up a “hallway of heroes,” dedicat-

ed to 20 special-forces soldiers who were killed in battle. Mr. Ferment received the Joint Service

Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the

National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. 

He is an architect with a Morristown firm, and among the projects he has worked on are the

Lyons VA Hospital and the VA Hospital in East Orange. 

BRYAN FLANAGAN 

Corporal Bryan Flanagan joined the Marines in February 2004. He was deployed to Al

Asad, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. When that tour ended, he was stationed in Korea for

Joint Support Training Operations. He later volunteered for his second tour in Iraq in June 2006

and was involved again in combat operations, re-supply missions and patrols in and around

Fallujah. He returned from his second tour in March 2007and began his third tour in Iraq in

August 2008. A Montville resident, Corporal Flanagan has received the Navy and Marine Corps

Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

Award, two Letters of Appreciation, two Certificates of Commendation and a Meritorious Mast,

which is a prestigious written recognition of a job well done.

JAMES KENNEDY

James Kennedy of Morristown joined the Army Reserves in 1993 and then went to regular

Army in 1995. In 1997, he was sent to Bosnia and was assigned to an engineering unit whose

duty it was to repair roads. The repairs were made more difficult because they were usually un-

der sniper attack. Other units were required to continually protect them, and Mr. Kennedy car-

ried an M-60 machine gun for additional security. He was in Bosnia for 8 months before being

sent to Germany where he drove a tractor trailer delivering everything from mail to helicopter

parts. He was in Germany when the events of 9-11 unfolded, and the trucks in his motor pool

were frequently loaded with war heads to be deployed anywhere in the world, if necessary, upon

orders from the President. 

Mr. Kennedy is a Juvenile Detention Officer at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center. 

ROBERT R. KOETZNER

The day of the World Trade Center bombing, Lance Corporal Robert Koetzner decided he

wanted to become a Marine. He graduated from Montville High School in June 2007 and left for

Marine Corps Boot Camp in July. He finished his infantry training in January 2008, and in May

of that year he Robert began training for Iraq with the Marines of Golf Company 2nd Battalion

25th Marines. He arrived in Iraq on September 11, 2008. There he was involved with counter in-

surgency missions in Al Anbar, tracking down weapon caches and destroying them, along with

conducting raids in and around Al Anbar Provence. Robert returned home in April 2009. He is

still serving in the Marine Corps Reserves while finishing his first year at the County College of

Morris. He is pursuing an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, with a goal of having a career is

law enforcement or as a federal agent. He received the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National De-

fense Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and a Sea Service Ribbon.

AMAURY LOPEZ

Amaury Lopez was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States with

his family in 1991. On the recommendation of a friend, he joined the National Guard in 2001

and was with the 112th Field Artillery out of Tom’s River. He was then transferred to the 102nd

Cavalry in Hackettstown and was soon sent to Iraq where he acted in the capacity of a Military

Policeman. He guarded Iraqi detainees, and because of the nature of those who were being de-

tained, his work was classified. He was discharged and returned to the states in June 2009, but he

is subject to be recalled for deployment. He is a Randolph resident who received the Army Com-

mendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service

Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Overseas Service Medal.

Mr. Lopez is married and he and his wife, Roseanna, are expecting their first child.

GREG LUKASZYK

Greg Lukaszyk of Morristown joined the National Guard in 1997 while he was still a senior

in high school. Heightened security in the months and years that followed the events of 9-11 re-

sulted in his unit, the 112th Field Artillery Battery, being ordered to guard the George Washing-

ton Bridge during December 2004. He was then deployed to Iraq and was stationed in Sadr City,

Baghdad and Fallujah. He was a forward observer and a Military Policeman who acted as a first

responder to I-E-Ds and then as an M.P. guarding Iraqi detainees. Mr. Lukaszyk did a second

tour in Iraq in 2008. He received the Combat Action Badge and several accommodation awards

from the National Guard for his service. 

Today he is a Morris County Sheriff ’s Officer in the Protective Services Division.

ROBERT MARKS

Sergeant Robert Marks of Lake Hopatcong signed up for the National Guard in April 2003

and did his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated Number 1 in his Military

Police School class, and then graduated from Sniper School something only about 3 percent of

any battalion ever does. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and was assigned to the Infantry Intelli-

gence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Platoon. He conducted 145 combat missions as a sniper

and gun truck commander and played a critical role in developing a strong rapport with British

and Iraq forces operating in Basra Province, Iraq. This relationship resulted in the successful cap-

ture and safe return of high value detainees and Al Qaeda leaders who escaped from the Camp

Bucca prison camp. He received the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, the

Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Medal and the Silver German Marksmanship

Badge. 

EUGENE J. MC ARDLE

Eugene McArdle is a product of an Irish neighborhood in Jersey City, who now calls Cedar

Knolls home. He joined the Navy in 1952 and served until 1956 on various tender ships that re-

paired submarines, seaplanes and other older ships. One of these ships, the USS San Pablo, con-

ducted oceanographic studies during various cruises, doing research on water temperature, cur-

rents and depth to evaluate new sonar devices for submarines. Another of his ships towed an old

wooden, revolutionary war ship, The USS Constellation that was commissioned in 1855, to the

Port Museum in Baltimore Harbor. His duty stations took him around the world from Alaska to

Europe, and after his discharge he went to work at New Jersey Bell and retired after 33 years. 

He has written a book about his family history to be handed down to his children and

grandchildren. Instead of dwelling on the fact that he is a 100 percent service connected disabled

veteran, he instead continues to view his time in the service to be a true honor. 

DONALD A. OTT

Donald Ott was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and now makes his home in Long Val-

ley. He was one of nine brothers, all but one of whom was in the military, and six sisters. He

joined the Navy as soon as he left high school and did his initial duty in Cuba at Guantanamo

Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was then sent to Key West to train as an atomic weap-

ons specialist in loading the S2F airplane, considered one of the more prominent tools of West-

ern naval power. The plane was a carrier-based aircraft used for ocean patrol and hunting enemy

submarines. Following additional training at the Norfolk, Virginia, Atomic Weapons School, Mr.

Ott was placed on duty on the USS Champlain with a carrier group of S2F- aircraft where they

guarded the shipping lanes of Europe. He was discharged in 1963. But, when President Kennedy

was assassinated, his carrier group assignment was extended for another six months. 

MARK PEER

Sergeant Mark Peer is a graduate of Montville High School who joined the Marine Corps

in 1992. After graduating Motor Transport School, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton with

the First Marine Regiment. He was discharged from active duty in 1997, and in 1998 he joined

Golf Company 2nd Battalion 25th Marines out of Picatinny Arsenal. Sergeant Peer has trained

in several countries, including, Romania, Japan, Mongolia, Norway and was deployed with Golf

Company to Kosovo in 2002 and Iraq in 2003, 2008 and 2009. He has been awarded the Combat

Action Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation, the Antarctica Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign

Medal, the Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon and 14 other ribbons and medals. He

recently was selected to be promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. 

He is employed by Montville Township Public Works Department and is active in the Towa-

co Volunteer Fire Department. He is married with a step-daughter. 

DAVID PINERO

David Pinero did two tours in Iraq while attached to the 3rd battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd

Marine Division out of Camp Lejeune. A Field Artillery Cannon Specialist, he received an

outstanding achievement award for the performance of his duties as a rifleman in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom. He conducted more than 150 mounted and dismounted patrols in

support of counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The patrols were under

constant threat of enemy attack, but Mr. Pinero was able to quickly negotiate the difficult condi-

tions. However, during his tours of duty, he lost two of his platoon mates as casualties to I-E-Ds

while on mounted patrols. For his service, Mr. Pinero of Budd Lake received the Marine Corps

Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Na-

tional Defense Service Medal and the Letter of Appreciation. 

TOM REILLY

Tom Reilly has been in the New Jersey National Guard for the past 14 years and served with

the 102nd Cavalry C Troop Recon. He served in Baghdad, Iraq, and was attached to the 50th

Infantry Brigade Combat Team until June of last year. He was assigned to Military Intelligence

and interviewed prisoners to determine whether they should be released or sent to another facil-

ity. Mr. Reilly estimates more than 200 prisoners came through his duty station. He received the

Army Medal of Commendation and the Corporal Koch Award, which is given to an outstanding

guardsman in memory of Sgt. Steven Koch of East Brunswick, who was killed in Afghanistan in

2008. 

A Morristown resident, he is employed by the Morris County Sheriff ’s Office and is assigned

to the Canine Unit. 

PETER J. RINALDI, THE SECOND

Sergeant Peter Rinaldi enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1997, in part, because of his family’s

history of service. His father was in the Navy as a Submariner, and his grandfather also served in

the military. While he was at Lenape Valley High School he received the Semper Fidelis award

for community service. It was the first time in seven years that anyone at Lenape Valley High

had received this award. He served in Kosovo where he provided protective and other human-

itarian services to civilians. It was because of these activities that he became interested in doing

social work after his discharge from the Marines in 2005. He received the Humanitarian Service

Award, the Overseas Deployment Award and the NATO Award. 

He was educated at the University of Phoenix in the field of Criminal Justice, and he is mar-

ried with two daughters. 

GARY SALVANO

Corporal Gary Salvano of Montville joined the Marines in June 2006 and was attached to

the 1st Battalion, 29 Palms, in California. He was deployed with Delta Company 11th Marines

and performed humanitarian tasks all over the world. In addition to humanitarian efforts, his

main job in the Marines was as a Tank Crewman operating a fully automatic 240 Machine Gun.

He spent three months in Kuwait as part of the Quick Reaction Force, poised to respond to a

threat on very short notice. He also participated in Anti-Piracy Operations off the coast of Africa

and was called in for Humanitarian Operations in Bangladesh for a tsunami. Corporal Salvano

received the National Defense Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Sea Service De-

ployment Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. 

He was married two years ago and he and his wife are expecting their first child. 

PAUL SEGRO

Paul Segro was born and grew up in Jersey City. He is a Captain in the New Jersey Nation-

al Guard and has top secret security clearance. His training started in 1996 with Special Forces

instruction and airborne school, and continued when he was sent to Officers’ Training School

and support operations courses. Mr. Segro resides in Lincoln Park and did two tours of duty in

Iraq as Company Commander. His duty stations were Maintenance Control Officer, Plans Offi-

cer and Assistant Chief of Operations. For his service during the Gulf War, he was awarded the

Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National Defense Medal and the

NCO Professional Development Ribbon. 

He has been a Morris County Sheriff ’s Officer since January 2007. 

RAY SHEPHERD

Colonel Ray Shepherd is an Air Force veteran who became Director of Public Affairs for the

US Central Command during the Iraq war. He says he is honored to have served with the men

and women of the command in 25 different countries. He worked under the direction of General

Tommy Franks addressing the communication needs of senior staff and leading media opera-

tions during the start of the Iraq war. This was the first time the military had witnessed the pow-

er of a 24 hour news cycle and its impact on military operations. The results of his efforts were

seen daily around the world through more than 700 media outlets. Colonel Shepherd, of Morris

Township, also commanded the Department of Defense’s only broadcast facility, overseeing

more than 150 staff members and a $16 million budget. 

He and his wife, Brenda, have been married for more than 30 years, and they have a daugh-

ter, Alexandra. Today he is CEO of the American Red Cross of Northern NJ.

JONATHAN SHAW

Corporal Jonathan Shaw joined the Marine Corps in 2006 after graduation from Jefferson

High School. After Boot Camp and advanced training, he was deployed to Iraq in April 2006,

where he was stationed on the Euphrates River. Corporal Shaw ran patrols from that location up

and down a highway dubbed “Ten Clicks of Death,” which got its nickname from all of the I-E-D

ambushes along that road. After leaving Iraq in November 2006, he did additional training in

Korea before being sent to the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf where he patrolled for en-

emy combatants. Corporal Shaw, of Jefferson Township, received the Good Conduct Medal, the

Combat Action Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Med-

al, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service

Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. 

He attends a county college in Pennsylvania and hopes to transfer to Lehigh University to

study economics. He is married and he and his wife are expecting a child. 

JESSICA VELEZ

Corporal Jessica Velez is a member of the Jefferson High School Class of 2005 who enlisted

in the Marines that year to serve her country during a time of war and to prove to herself and

others that you can make it through anything if you want it badly enough. After Boot Camp she

joined the 6th Motor Transport Battalion 4th Marine Division, and was deployed to Iraq from

August 2009 through February 2010 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, she was a Motor

Vehicle Operator for security vehicles such as mine sweepers, and her job was to provide sup-

plies to other cities in and around Iraq. She was promoted to Corporal in October 2009. Corpo-

ral Velez received the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Sea Ser-

vice Deployment Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. 

She is attending law school in Manhattan and is working toward a career as an attorney. 

GALLERY

AUGUST 11, 2010

JOE DELLOIACOVO

Joe Delloiacovo was 30 years old and working at Tiffany and Company in Parsippany when

he decided to join the Army. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Brigade,

1st Cavalry Division and trained for 3 months to operate the Abrams Tank. The Abrams is the

world’s preeminent tank because of its superior mobility, firepower, controls and armor. Mr. Del-

loiacovo did two tours in Iraq. 

He is a Randolph resident who is extremely proud of his service to his country and he values

his military friendships. His ambition is to become a police officer. 

JOHN J. JANDURA, JR.

John Jandura was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Montville with his family when he

was four years old. He enlisted in the Navy soon after graduating from Boonton High School in

1954. He trained at Great Lakes, Illinois as a machinist mate and served on the Aircraft Carrier

U.S.S. Antietam. After attaining the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer, he was assigned to a Hunter

Killer group a flotilla of ships charged with hunting down enemy submarines in the North Atlan-

tic. Mr. Jandura’s tour of duty during the Korean conflict lasted from 1954 to 1957. 

He is a resident of Towaco and enjoys volunteering at the Whippany Railroad Museum. This

year, he and his wife, Maura, are celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary.

ROY R. J. MABEE

Roy Mabee was born in Birmingham, England and moved with his family to Newton when

he was a child. He was drafted into the Army in 1966 and began a one year tour of duty in Viet-

nam in 1967. He was attached to the Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, and was

involved in numerous fire fights, loosing six friends in battle. When he returned to the States in

1968 he joined the National Guard and served an additional 21 additional years before retiring

as a Master Sergeant. Each year since the end of the Vietnam War, Mr. Mabee, who now lives in

Las Vegas, travels to Kokomo, Indiana, to attend the largest reunion of Vietnam veterans in the

country. 

His daughter, Michelle Rhinesmith, is a private secretary in the Morris County Department

of Information Services. 

GEORGE W. O’DELL

George O’Dell grew up in Roxbury, and after graduating high school in 1968 he was drafted

into the Army and was sent to Vietnam in 1970. He trained as a mortar man but ended up as

a rifleman in a rifle company fighting in the City of Ben Wah. During one battle, he ended up

behind enemy lines and was badly wounded after stepping on a claymore mine. Because of the

location, it took several days before he could be evacuated out. The injuries resulted in the ampu-

tation of Mr. O’Dell’s leg, and he spent eight months in various hospitals in Japan and back here

in the States. His injury has never stopped him from working in the excavation business, doing

the same work that those without his limitations have difficulty doing. His friend, Ray String-

er, who works with him, and who is also here tonight, can attest to that. Mr. O’Dell received a

purple heart, the Vietnam Service Medal and a Campaign Medal that was awarded to soldiers

wounded or killed by the enemy in the line of duty. 

FREDERICK B. OREJOLA

Frederick Orejola enlisted in the Marines in 2001 before September 11th. He said he al-

ways wanted to join the Marines, but he did not realize the full impact until that fateful day that

has become known as 9/11. After boot camp at Parris Island, he was sent to Iraq as a helicopter

mechanic. There, he worked on CH 53s, which are the largest helicopters in the United States

today. These heavy-lift transport helicopters are the work horses of the Marine Corps, carrying

supplies and fuel for ground vehicles. Mr. Orejola, of Long Valley, was discharged in 2006 and

completed his eight year obligation in 2008. His service earned him the Iraq Campaign Med-

al, the Sea Service Deployment Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation Medal and the Navy Unit

Commendation Medal. 

He is employed by a helicopter company in Whippany that manufactures equipment used by

the Coast Guard in rescue operations. 

WILLIE W. RICHARDSON, SR.

Willie Richardson is a native of South Carolina who resides in Morris Plains. He was induct-

ed into the Army after high school during the height of the Vietnam War. In Vietnam he was

with the 25th Infantry Division whose mission was to stop the infiltration of North Vietnam-

ese coming through the country of Cambodia. During one particularly devastating battle, his

division suffered heavy casualties out of 230 men, only 18 returned. On another occasion, they

were set up on the border of Cambodia where they received an engagement of over 4,000 North

Vietnamese and once again suffered heavy losses. In this battle Mr. Richardson earned two of his

four Bronze Stars and was wounded with shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade. He is due to

receive a Purple Heart. 

He serves as a member of a ministry and is involved in opening up a residential facility in

Morris Plains for homeless veterans. 

WILFREDO S. RODRIGUEZ

Wilfredo Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Dover when he was five years

old. He joined the National Guard in 2000 and served in both Germany and Italy as an adminis-

trator from 2005 to 2006. A member of the 328th Military Police out of Cherry Hill, Mr. Rodri-

guez was sent to Iraq in 2008 as a Military Police Specialist. There he was assigned to one of the

largest prisons in Iraq, Camp Cropper, which is a holding facility for security detainees. It is also

the prison that held former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein prior to his execution. Mr. Rodri-

guez has received several recognition awards for his military assignments including the Army

Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Army Service Ribbon

and an Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and he has requested Afghanistan as his next assignment. 

ANGELO SCALO

Angelo Scalo of Morris Plains joined the Navy in 1969 and was sent to Vietnam as a “River

Rat” on the Mekong Delta. Part of a River Rat’s mission was to rescue soldiers in trouble along

the Mekong River. His boat was staffed with seven men and housed two 50-caliber machine guns

along with M-16’s and other weapons. Mr. Scalo lost two of his best friends during fire fights

along the river, and he himself was wounded. He received a number of medals and ribbons for

his service and he is a life member of many military organizations including the Veterans of For-

eign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans and the Navy League of

the United States. 

For the past 16 years he has volunteered his time to the Coast Guard by fund raising for var-

ious Guard activities, and in spite of his war wounds, he was invited by the Coast Guard to par-

ticipate in the cleanup of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Scalo also assists other veterans

in need by helping them complete their disability claims and working through the complexities

of the government system. 

RAYMOND P. SCHMITT

Raymond Schmitt was born in Newark and was drafted into the Army in 1966 after com-

pleting high school. He was sent to Vietnam right after the Tet Offensive and was assigned to

Delta Company 321st 196th Light Infantry Brigade. 

He says one of the problems with many of the battles in Vietnam was the difficulty the

troops had holding the ground they had just taken. Mr. Schmitt, of Parsippany, says they would

repeatedly have to take the same ground over and over again, as there was no way of holding

positions. His Colonel, James Humphries, wrote a book called ‘Through the Valley’ which details

the chaos of this war. The book includes chapters on taking Hill 406 and Hill 104, both of which

were battles in which Mr. Schmitt participated. 

JAMES E. TITUS, SR.

James Titus graduated from Kinnelon High School and joined the Navy at the age of 18. He

completed two tours of Vietnam. He was on a mine sweeper off the coast, and he did river duty,

which involved checking small crafts for contraband and escorting prisoners to and from vari-

ous jails. His military service earned Mr. Titus the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam

Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

He is a retired postal service employee who resides in Pompton Lakes. He has a daughter

and two sons, and his sons are both currently serving military time. 

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

RICHARD BECK

Richard Beck was born in Brooklyn and joined the Marine Corps on New Years Eve,

1965. After basic training at Parris Island, he was sent to El Toro Air Station in California for ad-

ditional training and from there he and 127 other Marines went to Da Nang, Vietnam. Mr. Beck

was assigned to the beach called “Red Beach,” where the first American Marines landed in 1963,

and were shelled every day for 11 months. He eventually participated in the Tet Offensive. Com-

menting about the war, he said “you went over alone, and you came home alone.” He is proud

of his service and his awards, which include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam

Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

Today he is a Parsippany resident who is a Social Worker with the City of New York working

with an AIDS program. He lives in Parsippany and has two children. 

TERENCE M. COLETTA

Terence Coletta was born in Bergen County, and after high school he joined the local fire

department with an interest in emergency medical technician work. Terence’s brother was a

Marine, so Terence went to a Marine recruiter wanting to enlist as a medic. He was told, howev-

er, that since medics were all Navy personnel, he would have to join the Navy, which he did. He

attended boot camp in Orlando and hospital medic training in Great Lakes. He served on the

destroyer, the USS Conyngham, for most of his 4 years, from 1982 to 1986. He was transferred

stateside to undergo some additional medic training at a Naval Hospital. After his discharge, Mr.

Coletta joined the Reserves, 2ND Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, and

was part of Gulf Company at Picatinny Arsenal, doing three deployments in charge of 60 med-

ics. He has received a number of Achievement Medals as well as a Combat Action Medal. 

He and his wife Kathy reside in Parsippany, and he is currently employed by Parsippany

Township. 

THOMAS FRISCHMAN

Thomas Frischman is a Succasunna resident who grew up on Long Island. He joined the

Coast Guard right after graduation from high school. He was stationed on the Coast Guard

Cutter Pontchartrain in 1957, rescuing downed aircraft and ships in distress between Hawaii and

California. After a year and a half, he went to flight school, and was one of nine candidates se-

lected to potentially participate in our Astronaut program. Mr. Frischman patrolled the air space

over the Atlantic between Bermuda and United States coast. Among his medals and citations, he

is most proud of the Air Medal for serving combat support during the Vietnam War. He served

20 years. 

As a civilian, he flew corporate jets for the Loews Corporation. He and his wife, Maureen,

have eight children. 

JOE LAKE

Joe Lake grew up in Morristown and was influenced by his father who was a Navy veter-

an and the recipient of the Navy Cross, the highest medal awarded by the Navy and the second

highest given for valor. He joined the Army in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam with the First

Cavalry. He was trained as a sniper and was a “point man” the entire time he was in Vietnam. A

“Point man” is the lead soldier in a unit, who cuts a path through dense vegetation if needed and

who is constantly exposed to the danger of booby traps or being the first in contact with the en-

emy. Mr. Lake was wounded in an ambush and had to be evacuated out. The day after that inci-

dent, his unit took heavy casualties and lost many of its men. 

Today he stays in touch with his unit through a First Cavalry website, and he uses online

networking to track out-of-touch soldiers who are known as “Lost Boys.” He is a Randolph resi-

dent, and he and his wife, Joan, have a son and a daughter. He’s currently a traffic coordinator for

a large trucking business in New Jersey.

FRANK MIRABELLA

Frank Mirabella was born in Brooklyn and was drafted into the Air Force in 1943. He went

to radar school, had several other Air Force assignments and was then sent to Hawaii to train as

a tail gunner. He ended up boarding a ship that was headed for Iwo Jima where it was attached

by the Japanese. He had to abandon the ship and was picked up by a Marine barge which was

beginning its invasion of Iwo Jima. He became part of the invasion by circumstances, with no

training or experience as a combat soldier. However he participated in the taking of Mount

Suribachi and witnessed the famous raising of the American flag after the Japanese were de-

feated. Mr. Mirabella received the WWII Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic

Pacific Medal and a Bronze Star. He resides in Parsippany and has one daughter, two sons and

eight grandchildren. One of his sons, Paul, played 13 seasons in the major leagues, including

1979 with the Yankees.

HELEN MUTZ

Helen Mutz, the wife of Walter Mutz, joined the WW II-era women-only division of the

United States Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES in 1944. The

word “emergency” implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances

of the war and that at the end of the war the women would not be allowed to continue in a Navy

career. She was schooled as a Pharmacist Assistant at Hunter College in NY, and from there she

trained at a hospital school for the WAVES in Bethesda, Maryland. Her ultimate service was at

the US Naval Hospital at Great Lakes, Illinois. She achieved the rank of Pharmacist Mate, 3rd

Class and she received the American Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. 

She and Walter met at a dance in Elizabeth after they had both been discharged. They have

four daughters, one son, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. WALTER K. MUTZ

Walter Mutz joined the Marines in 1944 when he took the Oath in a 24-hour recruiting sta-

tion in New York City. He did his boot camp at Parris Island and was assigned to the 2nd Marine

Division at Camp Lejeune as a truck mechanic in the motor pool. From there, he was sent to

Camp Pendleton, California, and then on to Okinawa. He was assigned to the 22nd Marine Di-

vision during the invasion of Okinawa and participated in motor transport activities. He remem-

bers picking up many of the wounded and those killed in action during that amphibious assault. 

After his discharge, Mr. Mutz, of Denville, joined the National Guard and completed a total

of 36 years with the military and retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.

GEORGE ONDISH

George Ondish was born in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, and when World War II broke out

he decided to join the Marines rather than be drafted. He did his basic training at Parris Island,

where he won the Sharpshooter Medal and was shipped off to the Pacific where he was assigned

duty in Hawaii. There, he became the main escort of high ranking personnel. While in Hawaii

he suffered an injury that required him to be evacuated to the states and to Philadelphia Naval

Hospital. He received a medical discharge. 

Five months after his discharge, Mr. Ondish took a job with the New Jersey Power and Light

Company as a lineman working out of the Dover office. He and his wife, Joyce, have lived in

Mt. Arlington since 1951. Mr. Ondish has been an active volunteer in the community who has

served in many capacities including as a member of the Board of Health and the Bertrand Island

Protective Association. 

WALTER SULLEY

Walter Sulley left high school at 17 to join the Navy. He scored in the top 10 percent of his

class on his military entrance exams and was assigned to radio mechanics. This eventually led

to a position with the National Communication Authority, the organization that took care of

the communications involving the President of the United States, who at the time was Richard

Nixon and his cabinet members. Walter is a Randolph resident whose most memorable assign-

ment came during the overthrow of Haile Selassie and the Ethiopian Empire. As his organization

was setting up all communications he could hear the tragic events unfolding in that region and

on the people of Ethiopia. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Meritorious

Service Medal for his development of the systemized utilization of available communications

resources. 

After his discharge from the service he worked in the communication field with several

firms including RCA and Texas Instruments. He is married with a son. 

LEONARD VOYTUSH

Leonard Voytush was born in Pennsylvania and was drafted into the Army two days af-

ter graduating from high school in 1943. He was attached to the United States Army Battery C

283rd Field Artillery Battalion until 1946. He saw 268 days of continuous combat during WWII,

part of which was the Normandy invasion and the “Hedgerow Battles” fought after D-Day. Mr.

Voytush also participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and was honorably discharged at the end of

his tour in 1946. 

He has lived in Mt. Arlington since 1960 and was a Customer Service Director for McGre-

gor-Doniger Sportswear in Dover for 20 years. He has been active in the community as a lead-

ership member of his neighborhood community association, a volunteer fire fighter, a rescue

squad team leader, and an active member of his church. He and his late wife, Jeanne, raised three

daughters and a son and he has two grandchildren. 

ROBERT J. WARD

Robert Ward grew up in Hillside, New Jersey, and after graduation from high school in 1943,

joined the Navy. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Conway which saw action in the Philippines. The

ship, which was launched in 1942, also saw action in Korea and Vietnam, and participated in

the “Apollo” space program. While he was in the Philippines, Mr. Ward, of Ledgewood, also

participated in conflicts on other islands surrounding the area. He received the Asiatic Pacific

Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the Philippine

Liberation Medal. 

Following his discharge he earned a degree in pharmacology, and has spent his civilian life

as a pharmacist. He and his wife, Adele, married in 1947 and they have three children a daughter

and two sons. 

EDWARD C. YOUNG

Edward Young is a Lake Hopatcong resident who grew up in Wharton. His military career

spans 43 years with the Army National Guard and the active duty Army. He joined the National

Guard in 1955 with the 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor Division, and served until 1978. He then

joined the active duty Army as a “Master Gunner” with the Armor and Cavalry Division until

1985. When he retired from this, he rejoined the National Guard until retiring in 1998 as a Ser-

geant Major. His knowledge of tank armor earned him the highest operational medal of the U.S.

Armor Association, called the “Order of St. George.” Saint George was the patron saint of all the

armor and cavalry branches of the Army. The United States Armor Association issues its Noble

Patron award to an individual as recognition of outstanding achievement. 

MARCH 9, 2011

ROBERT W. RUPPERT

Robert Ruppert of Morristown enlisted in the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in 1943

while he was a junior at Union High School. 

He entered active service in 1944 going to Fort Dix and then Keesler Field in Biloxi, Missis-

sippi. He qualified for ‘pilot’ school and spent time in flight schools in Texas, Georgia and Illi-

nois.

After the service he took advantage of the G.I. bill and attended Newark College of En-

gineering where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and went on to work for McKier-

nan-Terry Corp., in Dover. There, he became project engineer for a number of projects, includ-

ing the development of the flight simulator used to train our first seven Mercury Astronauts.

He later founded his own firm and continued to design and build human centrifuges for the

Navy and Air Force.

All this time, and up until two years ago, he was an avid pilot owning two single engine

Cessnas. He also held a private license for gliders, and he is a proud member of the United Flying

Octogenarians as he continued to fly into his early 80’s. 

JOSEPH NOONAN

Joseph Noonan joined the Navy in 1956 when he was 19. He went to Radar School and

served on the USS Vigil off the coast of Lebanon in 1958.

The Vigil was a radar picket ship that was used to increase the radar detection range around

our forces to protect them from surprise attack.After discharge, Mr. Noonan of Florham Park

worked in the electronics field.

He is a member of American Legion Post 43 in Florham Park and he is also a member of the

Mission of Honor. The Mission of Honor is made up of volunteers from various veteran orga-

nizations and non-profit groups whose mission is to locate, identify and inter the abandoned

cremains of American veterans. 

Once identified, they are given a full military burial at the Brigadier General William C.

Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. If they are from the northern part of the state, they

are given a State Police escort.

Mr. Noonan and the Mission of Honor volunteers provide honor and respect to those veter-

ans who have served this nation in both times of conflict and peace.

LEO E. RABINOWITZ 

Leo Rabinowitz was drafted into the Army in 1952 at the age of 19 and sent to Fort Dix, NJ

for sixteen weeks of intensive infantry training and then to NCO school for eight more weeks. 

He served in Korea as a member of the 82nd anti-aircraft artillery unit of the battalion self

propelled 2nd division. It was there that he met a South Korean who was assigned to guard duty

and who taught him how to speak the Korean language. 

One of his most memorable events while overseas was seeing Marilyn Monroe when she

came to visit the troops. 

Mr. Rabinowitz, of Whippany, received the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Ser-

vice Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation from the

Republic of Korea. 

Returning to the states, he became a buyer in New York City’s garment center and later

bought the company for which he worked. He is married, has three children and five grandchil-

dren.

RONALD WELCH

When he was 23, Ronald Welch joined the Navy…following in the footsteps of his older

brother who was a 20 year Navy veteran. He also has a twin brother who served 10 years in the

Navy. 

After boot camp and Hospital Corps School he served aboard the USS Ranger CV61…a

Forrestal-class super carrier, and the USS Emory S Land AS 39, a submarine tender. 

He is a Navy trained hospital corpsman, an emergency medical technician, an emergency

vehicle operator and a basic and advanced biomedical equipment repair technician. 

Mr. Welch, of Lake Hiawatha, has worked at hospitals and clinics from Italy to Califor-

nia. He was assigned to Fleet Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, and served in Iraq and Kuwait. 

Currently he is an electronic technician working at Keller Army Community Hospital in

West Point, and he is pursuing a degree in Information Technology. He has four children and

four grandchildren.

DONALD W. SCHULD 

Donald Schuld was born in Staten Island, and his family moved to Hopatcong in 1949. He

joined the Navy and after basic training in 1958, he reported aboard the USS Little Rock which

was the Navy’s latest guided missile cruiser. 

After leaving the Navy, he went to work with Metropolitan Life where for 21 years he served

as an insurance agent and sales manager. 

In 1991, he and three other crew members founded the USS Little Rock Association, an or-

ganization of more than 1,000 former crew members of his ship. He served as the organization’s

president for seven years and received the “President’s Award” for exceptional meritorious ser-

vice to the Navy and Marine Corps Veterans of the Association. 

A Flanders resident, Mr. Schuld is on the board of directors of the New York Commandery

of the “Naval Order of the United States,” and has three times been awarded the Commander

General’s Medal for outstanding service to the Naval Order. 

He has served as Vice President of the Roxbury Chamber of Commerce and President of

the Roxbury Rotary Club, and in 1998 the superior court appointed him to the Roxbury Juvenile

Conference Committee, which hears and resolves cases outside of the courtroom. He and his

wife live in Flanders and have a son and daughter and three grandchildren.

ROBERT BLASZAK 

Robert Blaszak was raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, and counted John Kennedy

and Mickey Mantle as his role models. One day, while at the Jersey Shore, he ran into a friend

who was on leave from the Marines and he thought to himself that he’d “like to look and feel

like” his friend. A few weeks later in September 1965 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. 

He did his basic training at Paris Island and was later stationed at Camp Lejeune, North

Carolina. He served a tour of Vietnam in 1966 in an operation at Hue Phu Bai. He spent a month

traveling there on the USS Guam. 

During his last few months in Vietnam he was in communications, sending and receiving

encrypted messages. The training he received while in the service was a valuable asset, because

after his discharge, he got a job with Bell Telephone and had a 34 year career with Ma Bell. Mr.

Blaszak is a resident of Wharton who is retired and who has three sons and six grandchildren. 

DIETER ROSELLEN 

Dieter Rosellen came to the United States from Germany in 1956 aboard a converted B-17

Bomber, refugee flight. He was five and was accompanied by his parents and three-year-old

brother. 

He graduated Sparta High School in 1970 and enlisted in the Navy. After basic training, he

attended submarine school in Connecticut on the advice of his father who had been on a Ger-

man U-Boat during WWII.

He ended up serving on three ballistic missile submarines and from there went on to attend

Navy Dive School in Key West. He made eight cold war deterrent patrols during his four years in

the Navy, the locations of those dives still being top secret. 

He received the National Defense Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and wears the

Submarine Dolphins Divers Badge and the Fleet Ballistic Missile Patrol Pin with 8 stars. 

After active duty he joined the Naval reserves and served as a diver in Harbor Clearance

Unit 2 in Coconut Grove, FL. 

Mr. Rosellen is a Morris Plains resident who is active in the American Legion and VFW and

serves as Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 3401 in Morris Plains. 

He retired after 33 years as a Field Service Engineer with Honeywell Aerospace and is mar-

ried with three children. 

RICHARD GAMSBY 

Richard Gamsby was the third of seven boys and grew up in Montville. He loved the out-

doors as a boy and when he was a teenager he got a job working for a boarding kennel and start-

ed to show Norwegian Elkhounds. 

In August 1969 he was drafted into the Army and after boot camp at Fort Dix, he was sent

to Fort Gordon, Georgia for basic training and then to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for eight

weeks of engineering training. 

He was then sent to Vietnam where he served until March 1971 building roads and fire bas-

es.

After discharge he used the GI bill to continue his education, and since his return to the

states he has been breeding and showing Norwegian Elkhounds, producing many champions in

the past 43 years. 

He is a member of the VFW and he was in Washington, DC with many other veterans for

the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. Mr. Gamsby is also active in the local Kiwanis club. He

is married and he and his wife, Pat, have three children.

JAMES AURIEMMA 

James Auriemma grew up in Morris Township and was drafted into the Army when he was

19. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, and advanced training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, for air de-

fense artillery. 

He was trained in the Vulcan, a 20 millimeter high explosive Gatling gun, and the

side-winder missile system. His battalion was sent to Korea, rather than Vietnam, along the

DMZ to protect the valley leading to Seoul. 

He observed Korea as a nation of extreme poverty and realized how blessed we are in the

United States. Mr. Auriemma was honorably discharged in 1972 and received the National De-

fense Service Medal.

After his return to the States, he became an apprentice in the Bricklayers Union and ended

his career as a Mason Superintendent. He joined the VFW Post 3401 and now has the position of

service officer. He devotes his time to serving other veterans and their families and helps guide

them through the complex Veterans Administration system.

ROBERT C. OEHLEY

Robert Oehley enlisted in the Army in 1971 and after boot camp at Fort Dix, he was sent to

Fort Rucker, Alabama. There, he was assigned to flight status and trained in helicopter mainte-

nance. 

He served in Vietnam and was a door gunner on a Huey helicopter. The Huey was produced

in 1952 and 7,000 out of the 16,000 produced worldwide were used for the first time in combat

operation in the Vietnam War. 

The Huey held a crew of four…the pilot, co-pilot, gunner and crew chief. Mr. Oehley func-

tioned as both crew chief and door gunner. For his service, he received the Air Medal along with

many other Vietnam service medals. 

He was discharged out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma and worked for Halliburton in that city. He

eventually made his way back to Morristown and is the Commander of VFW Post 3401, Morris

Plains. He is married and has three sons. 

VINCENT NASILLI 

Vincent Nasilli is a Morristown resident who served three tours in Vietnam. He was a mem-

ber of the 173rd Airborne Brigade which fought the Battle for Dak To and Hill 875. 

During 21 days of fighting, the 173rd Brigade suffered 272 killed, more than 900 wounded

and some 60 missing in action. It was some of the bloodiest fighting of Vietnam, with the 2nd

and 4th Battalions of the 503rd Infantry also suffering major casualties while fighting for Hill

875. 

When he returned to Fort Bragg after each of his first two deployments, he said he felt com-

pelled to return to the battlefield---thus his serving three tours. In addition to many service

medals, Mr. Nasilli received an Air Medal and a Bronze Star.

He has visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington four times over the years, and he’s also

visited the New Jersey Memorial to honor those who were lost during the war. 

He has served three terms as Commander of the VFW Post 4301, and he spent most of his

working years in the construction business. 

MARSHALL “Mark” VAN DYKE 

Mark Van Dyke joined the Navy in 1969 in St. Louis, where he grew up. He said he joined

because he felt a duty to serve his country and, also because his aunt was a retired World War II

Lt. Commander of the Navy. 

He was first stationed in Coronado, Colorado, and requested to serve in Vietnam. He had to

make the request three times before his request was granted and he received orders to serve on

the USS Krishna. 

He was an E4 Petty Officer 3rd class and his ship operated out of the Bassac River at Bein

Thuy. His first tour ended and he was discharged, but he decided to re-enlist two years later and

then served on the USS Oriskany. He was trained in radio communication, firefighting and dam-

age control onboard ship.

Mr. Van Dyke received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and

a Meritorious Unit Commendation. 

His radio skills led him to become a ham operator sending and receiving Morse code. A Par-

sippany resident, he is trained in emergency management and is called upon to assist police with

communication during natural disasters. He is married with two children. 

JAMES GERVASIO 

James Gervasio was raised in Morristown and joined the Marines right after high school in

1999 because he said his father was a Marine who served in Vietnam. 

In 2002 his unit was sent to the Arabian Gulf to provide security for Navy Seals looking for

al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. His unit, Charlie Battery 1st Battalion 10th Marines was

part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that was involved in the first invasion of Iraq. 

The unit’s first enemy contact was in the city of Nasiriyah, and as they began their assault on

the city they came upon an Army Convoy…the one that included Jessica Lynch…that had taken

a wrong turn and was ambushed by Iraqi forces. 

They secured the convoy and continued into the city on their way to secure 3 bridges that

would be used to get to Baghdad. They lost 23 Marines in less than six hours trying to take the

bridges and that battle would become the largest single-day loss of US lives in combat since Viet-

nam. 

It ended with a special mission to assist Army Special Forces to rescue Lynch, who had been

injured and captured by Iraqi forces. That Task Force was later awarded the Presidential Unit

Citation. 

After his discharge in 2003 he earned a degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern stud-

ies and worked for a time in the financial world in New York City, and is now looking for other

opportunities. He has been appointed to the VFW State Legislative Committee which lobbies

congress for Veteran’s rights. 

A proud Marine, he visits the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington D.C. every year

to honor those 23 men who were lost in battle.

MAY 25, 2011

JESUS BARRIO

Staff Sergeant Jesus Barrio is a Dover resident who joined the Army National Guard in 1984.

He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and his service to our nation has earned him several

medals and awards. They include the Joint Service commendation Medal, 3 Army Achievement

Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, 2 National Defense Medals, the Global War on Terrorism

Service Medal, an Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mo-

bilization Device. 

LUIS LAYME

Sergeant First Class Luis Layme was born in Lima, Peru. He entered military service in Jan-

uary 1997 and has been deployed three times. He’s served in Bosnia-Herzegovina during Opera-

tion Joint Guard in 1997 & 1998; and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and

2005, and again in 2008 and 2009. His service to our nation has earned him several medals and

awards including the Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign stars, 4 Army Achievement Med-

als, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces

Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on

Terrorism Service Medal, 2 Armed Forces Reserve Medals with Mobilization Device, the NATO

Medal, a Combat Action Badge, a Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Wheeled Vehicle

Clasp, and the New Jersey State Active Duty Ribbon.

ANDY JOSE MARTE

Staff Sergeant Andy Jose Marte joined the Army National Guard in January 2004. He is a

Dover resident who was deployed twice and who was stationed in Germany and Iraq. He has

been awarded 2 Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Award, a Good Conduct

Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the

Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. 

SAVARY METELUS

Sergeant Savary Metelus is a native of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. His military service with the

Army National Guard began in March 2001. He was stationed in Iraq and his commenda-

tions and medals include the Army Commendation Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, 5 Army

Achievement Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Good Conduct

Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. 

EDDIE MOLINA

First Lieutenant Eddie Molina joined the Army National Guard in April 1999. His service

to our nation includes a deployment to Iraq where he was stationed in Baghdad. He has been

awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the

National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Cam-

paign Medal with a Campaign Star, The Army Service Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon, and

the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device. 

LUIS RUA

Sergeant First Class Luis Rua is a resident of Dover. Deployed twice, he was stationed in

Bamberg, Germany and Baghdad, Iraq. He entered military service in February 2000, and his

service to our country has earned him 2 Army Commendation Awards, 4 Army Achievement

Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an

Overseas Service Medal, an Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Reserve Component

Achievement Medal. 

LUIS A. SANCHEZ

Sergeant Luis A. Sanchez was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He has been in the

Army National Guard since April 2004. When he was deployed to Iraq, he was stationed at

Camp Cropper a facility near Baghdad International Airport that held security detainees, includ-

ing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein prior to his execution. Sergeant Sanchez was award-

ed the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

CASSAN B. TAYLOR

Sergeant First Class Cassan B. Taylor began his service with the Army National Guard in

July 1999. Since that time, he has been deployed twice to Iraq. He has been awarded 3 Army

Commendation Medals, 2 Iraqi Campaign Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global

War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and a Na-

tional Defense Medal. 

JOHNNY L. THOMAS, JR.

A Morristown resident, Sergeant Johnny L. Thomas, Jr. entered military service one week

before Thanksgiving in November 1997. Twice he’s been deployed to Iraq, where he was sta-

tioned in Baghdad. His medals and awards include the Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign

Stars, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Ser-

vice Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and an Overseas Service Medal.

LUIS R. TRENCHE

Staff Sergeant Luis R. Trenche is a native of Puerto Rico. He has been in the U.S. Army Na-

tional Guard since August 1998 and is a veteran of two deployments to Iraq. His service to our

nation has earned him the Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign Stars, the Bronze Star Medal,

2 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commenda-

tion, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal;

the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, 2 Humanitarian

Service Medals, and 2 Armed Forces Reserve Medals with Mobilization Device. 

AUGUST 10, 2011

JOHNNY ANDINO

Johnny Andino joined the National Guard in October 2000. His unit was BRAVO Company

2nd Battalion 113th Infantry Division out of Newark. A Budd Lake resident, he and his division

were sent to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Army Commendation

Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on

Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Medal and the Overseas Service Medal. 

He is married with one daughter and is a police officer in Belleville, NJ.

JOE BARRELLI

Joe Barrelli is a Navy veteran who enlisted in 1957 and was assigned to the USS Turner out

of Newport, Rhode Island as a radio operator. During the Lebanon crisis in 1958, when the Unit-

ed States intervened to protect regimes it considered threatened by Communism, his ship served

as a picket ship one equipped with radar that was used to protect our forces from surprise attack.

After the service, Mr. Barrelli, of Towaco, became successful in the banking industry and

then retired after a 42 year career. 

JAMES CAMMARANO

James Cammarano considers his stint in the Air Force a blessing in that he was not sent to

Vietnam and did all of his duty in the states. He was a ground radar technician at Keesler Air

Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and also served at Fortuna Air Station in North Dakota. An Oak

Ridge, Jefferson Township resident, he attained the rank of Sergeant and was able to play drums

in a Country band that toured North Dakota, Montana and Saskatchewan Providence, Cana-

da. His last military assignment was with the 702nd Radar Squadron in Savanna, Georgia. 

He is married to Mary Lou and they have one son. 

LEO R. COLOMBO

Leo R. Colombo joined the Marines in 2003 after graduating from Boonton High

School. From 2004 to 2006 he served as a section leader of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security

Team in Cuba which monitored all Cuban activities. He then attended leadership courses and

became proficient in martial arts and became an infantry supervisor. He prepared Marines in

weapons, physical fitness and military tactics. As a first degree black belt martial arts instructor

he taught a variety of defense techniques to Marines at the Second Marine Division in North

Carolina. 

TERRANCE S. COZZA

Terrance Cozza of Parsippany is an Army veteran who entered the service in 1960. He was

stationed at Fort Knox, and served as secretary to the Post Commander. In 1962 he was deployed

to Korea and assigned to the Korean Military Group. After his duty overseas he re-enlisted and

served as a recruiter. When he left the service, he worked in the insurance business, he then

opened his own business in 1985 and sold it in 1991. 

He is married with three children and six grandchildren. 

FRANCIS L. NARDI

Francis Nardi of Rockaway joined the Army in 1943 and trained as a medic. He and his crew

of medics were sent to England via the Queen Elizabeth which was converted to a troop trans-

port ship during World War Two. He was assigned to the 68th General Hospital taking care of

the troops who were wounded on D-Day. He says it seemed like the number of wounded coming

in would never end. Some of them were sent back to the front and some were sent home. He says

his greatest memory was coming home through the New York Harbor and seeing the Statue of

Liberty. 

He is married to Lorraine and they have seven children, one of whom has been disabled

since birth, and Mr. Nardi has devoted much of his efforts during retirement to giving a voice to

the disabled. In fact, Governor Jim Florio appointed him to the NJ Council for the Disabled and

he later became its chairman.

ROBERT PILKINGTON

Robert Pilkington was drafted into the Army in 1966 and deployed to Vietnam. He was a

Specialist 5 Commander of an Armored Personnel Flamethrower vehicle in the 11th Armored

Cavalry. His mission was to destroy enemy locations and support mechanized line troops. The

flamethrower vehicle had a driver, the commander and 250 gallons of pressurized napalm ca-

pable of firing up to 100 yards. For his service, Robert Pilkington, of Long Valley, received the

Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 

He is married and he and his wife, Patti, have two sons.

JOHN SCAGNELLI

John Scagnelli of Morris Plains joined the Merchant Marines and then the Navy after the at-

tack on Pearl Harbor, and served on destroyers and transport ships. He was on the USS Eagle in

1945 when that ship was torpedoed with 80 crew and 60 officers on board. The ship went down

and he was the only surviving officer. While in the freezing water he made a pact with God that

if he survived he would devote his life to helping others. He received the Purple Heart for his

injuries that day. 

After the service, he kept his part of the bargain. He spent many years as an official with the

Boys Club of America. He was also Executive Director of The Association for Retarded Citizens

or ARC and worked with four governors drafting legislation to protect those with intellectual

and related developmental disabilities. He also received special recognition at the White House

from President Kennedy. While there, President Kennedy, himself a Navy man, gave Mr. Scag-

nelli his PT 109 tie pin. Mr. Scagnelli is married to Bernice and he and his wife have three chil-

dren.

BEN SUNTAG

Ben Suntag of Rockaway, served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. After basic training at

Camp Kilmer and at Camp Gordon, Georgia, he was sent to Fort Monmouth Signal School to

learn microwave radio electronics. His orders sent him to Korea and Germany with the 14-19th

Company B, 315th Signal Battalion. For his service, he was awarded the Army of Occupation of

Germany Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 

Ben has two sons, his wife, Charlotte, passed away after 54 years of marriage. He writes and

performs for the Repertory Theater at Fox Hills and received the 2008 author of the year award

from the Theater for excellence in Satire Humor and the Art of Spoofing.

THOMAS L. WEISENBECK

The Honorable Thomas L. Weisenbeck is an Army veteran who was a ROTC graduate of the

University of New Hampshire and was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the Adjutant Gen-

eral Corps upon graduation in 1967. He served in Vietnam between October 1968 and October

1969 with the 1st Logistical Command in Danang. He received the Army Commendation Med-

al, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

He is presently the assignment judge for the Superior Court in the Morris-Sussex Vici-

nage. He was nominated to the bench by Governor Richard Codey. He is a former Assistant

United States Attorney and most recently he was nominated by the Chief Justice to the Supreme

Court’s Committee on Access and Fairness. He is married to Adeline and they have two adult

children.

NOVEMBER 11, 2011

BERNICE HAYDU 

They flew 60 million miles for the US Army Air Corp between November 1942 and Decem-

ber 7, 1944, flying every air corps aircraft in use at the time. They received the same training as

the male pilots and their work allowed more men to participate in aviation combat roles. Of the

more than 1,000 women who joined the WASPs, 38 were killed during duty and 300 are alive to-

day. They attained veteran status in 1977 and the groundbreaking steps taken by Bernice Haydu

and the WASPs paved the way for generations of female military pilots.

In 2009 President Barack Obama signed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the

women of the WASPs.

The award is the highest and most distinguished award that congress can award to a civilian. 

JOHN BUDZINSKI

Mr. Budzinski grew up in Newark and studied electronics and aviation at Essex County Vo

Tech. He joined the Air Force and served from 1961 – 1965. He was stationed in England and

Tripoli, and between his military service and his occupation after the service, he worked on the

F-16 Jet Fighter Aircraft and the Trident submarine.

But he wanted to earn a college degree, so he studied hard to prepare himself for college

work, and he is now enrolled in the County College of Morris taking engineering courses, where

his younger classmates look up to him as veteran. 

Mr. Budzinski is a Lake Hiawatha resident who also volunteers with the literacy program of

Morris County assisting other men and women as they prepare for college.

JOSEPH RICHARDSON

Joseph Richardson joined the Army after graduation from college and served active duty

from 1958 to 1968. During this period he served as an Infantry Company Commander in Viet-

nam from 1978 to 1989. He served in the NJ Army National Guard and retired as US Army

Major.

Mr. Richardson graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College as a jun-

gle warfare expert, a jump master and senior paratrooper.

He now resides in Kinnelon with his wife, and he is the Northern New Jersey Military Offi-

cers Associates President and advisor to the NJ Counsel of Military Officers Association of New

Jersey.

DONALD LETTS

Donald Letts of Parsippany was inducted into the Army in 1951 and after basic training at

Camp Rucker in Alabama he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. He was sent to Korea at

the height of the Korean War and participated in combat operations that included the Battles of

Heartbreak Ridge and Bloody Ridge. He was injured in February 1952 and airlifted to an Army

Hospital in Japan. He was then reassigned to Fort Dix and performed escort duty to bring sol-

diers who were killed in action back to their home towns. He as awarded the Combat Infantry

Badge and the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Star and was discharged n 1956.

After the war, Donald returned to New Jersey working with M&M transportation. He and

his wife, Peggy, have three children and four grandchildren.

ROBERT FRANKLIN LEFFERTS V

Robert passed away unexpectedly in July 30, and his medal will be accepted by his mother,

Joan Lefferts.

Robert Franklin Lefferts V graduated from Parsippany Hills High School in 1984 and joined

the Army where he proudly served until his retirement as a Sergeant First Class. His adventures

in the Armed Forces led him from Germany to Iraq during Desert Storm, to the 62nd Army

Band at Ft. Bliss where he met his wife, Liliana. He then came back to New Jersey where he was

awarded many distinctions as a recruiter.

Robert Lefferts was a proud soldier but was even more proud of his children, Robert and

Crystal. He is also survived by his wife, Liliana, his brothers Keith and Scott and his mother

Joan, who is a retired employee of Morris County’s Human Services Department. He was prede-

ceased by his father, Robert Franklin Lefferts IV.

COL. WILLIAM EVERS

William Evers had a total of 30 years of military service on active duty and with the New

Jersey National Guard. He entered the military in 1965 and took advanced individual train-

ing. While in the National Guard he went to Officer Candidates School and was commissioned a

2nd Lieutenant. During his career in the NJ National Guard he was a commander of a company

and battalion and was promoted to colonel. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff

College and US Army Inspector General School, US Army.

In his civilian life, William Evers was with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and retired

in 1995 as Detective Sergeant. He now lives with his wife in Butler.

SHIRLEY A. TAPPEN

Shirley Tappen joined the Women’s Army Corp in 1951 after graduating from high school in

East Orange. Her family was very patriotic and instilled that attitude in their children. The WAC

organization consisted of 11,000 women. They were interviewed, fitted for uniforms, assigned

to companies and barracks and inoculated all on the first day. The recruits were all in top physi-

cal condition and their motto was “To replace men and be ready to take over.” General Douglas

MacArthur called the members of WAC his “best soldiers,” adding that they worked harder,

complained less and were better disciplined than men. The WAC was disbanded in 1978.

Shirley Tappen attained the rank of Colonel and served in Fort Lee, Virginia for three

years. After leaving the service, she worked for the Veterans Administration in Newark.

A resident of Parsippany, she and her husband have one son.

THOMAS H. WESTFIELD

Thomas Westfield of Whippany joined the Marine Corp’s officer program while at St. Fran-

cis College in New York. But he decided he’d rather be an enlisted Marine instead so, after basic

training he was sent to Marine Aviation at Pensacola, FL. He was deployed to Vietnam as a Port

Side Gunner on helicopters and flew approximately 100 missions. His friend, Jim Childers, was

killed on this type helicopter. After leaving the service, Mr. Westfield became a police officer

with the Port Authority of NY and NJ. He retired after 28 years and then he decided to follow a

childhood dream of becoming an attorney. He went to NY Law School in Manhattan and then

became a prosecutor for Washington Township and for Hanover.

He and his wife have with three children.

JIM WALSH

At the ago of 18, Jim Walsh wanted to serve his country during World War II, so he joined

the Marines. He enlisted in Newark, and after Boot Camp at Paris Island, he was sent to Cher-

ry Hill, NC and then from there on to the Pacific. He was involved in the Battle of Iwo Jima in

which the United States fought for and captured that island…and he was also part of our war

efforts in China. 

After the war he worked for Bethlehem Steel for 30 years and ran one of their divisions. Mr.

Walsh, of Morristown, is married to Theresa and they have two children.

LEWIS G. OSBUN

Lewis Osbun was born in Patterson and was drafted into the Army at the age of 19 during

the Vietnam War. After boot camp at Fort Dix and advanced training in Oklahoma, he was

deployed to Vietnam. Assigned to the 1st and 92nd Artillery Unit of the U.S. Army, his main job

was to deliver ammunition to battle fields that were in need. During his tour of duty, Mr. Osbun

witnessed combat at Firebase 6, Artillery Hill, Pleiku and Cambodia. He was discharged as a

Non Commissioned Officer, and after his military service he had a 38-year career with the Dry-

wall, Tapers and Finishers Union. A Stockholm resident, he and his wife, Joanna, have a daugh-

ter and two grandchildren. 

GEORGE LEE

George Lee joined the Navy in 1959 when he was 19, and his first duty station was in Ber-

muda servicing Navy sea planes. He spent 18 months on the island and then became an air traf-

fic controller at one of the busiest air fields in the country, Floyd Bennett Field in South Brook-

lyn. It was the busiest because every branch of the service used this air base…the Coast Guard,

the Navy, the Army, the Marines, all of the Reserves and the New York City Police. Just five miles

away was JFK Airport, servicing commercial traffic, so many of our best air traffic controllers did

duty at Floyd Bennett Field.

After his military, Mr. Lee, of Lake Hopatcong, was employed at New Jersey Bell Telephone

Company where he worked for 27 years. After retirement he purchased a second home in Key

West, where he does lots of fishing in winter. He is married to Lorraine. He has two sons and two

grandchildren.

MARCH 14, 2012

ROBERT W. RUPPERT

Robert Ruppert of Morristown enlisted in the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in 1943

while he was a junior at Union High School. He entered active service in 1944 going to Fort Dix

and then Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi. He qualified for ‘pilot’ school and spent time in

flight schools in Texas, Georgia and Illinois. 

After the service he took advantage of the G.I. bill and attended Newark College of En-

gineering where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and went on to work for McKier-

nan-Terry Corp. in Dover. There, he became project engineer for a number of projects, including

the development of the flight simulator used to train our first seven Mercury Astronauts. He

later founded his own firm and continued to design and build human centrifuges for the Navy

and Air Force.

He was an avid pilot owning two single engine Cessnas. He also held a private license for

gliders, and he is a proud member of the United Flying Octogenarians as he continued to fly into

his early 80’s. 

JOSEPH NOONAN

Joseph Noonan joined the Navy in 1956 when he was 19. He went to Radar School and

served on the USS Vigil and was sent off the coast of Lebanon in 1958. The USS Vigil was a radar

picket ship that was used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from

surprise attack. 

After discharge, Mr. Noonan of FlorhamPark worked in the electronics field.

He is a member of American Legion Post 43 in FlorhamPark and he is also a member of the

Mission of Honor. The Mission of Honor is made up of volunteers from various veteran organi-

zations and non-profit groups whose mission is to locate, identify and inter the abandoned cre-

mains of American veterans. Once identified, they are given a full military burial at the Brigadier

General William C. Doyle MemorialCemetery in Wrightstown. Mr. Noonan and the Mission of

Honor volunteers provide honor and respect to those veterans who have served this nation in

both times of conflict and peace.

DIETER ROSELLEN

Dieter Rosellen came to the United States in 1956 aboard a converted B-17 Bomber, refugee

flight. He was five and was accompanied by his parents and three year old brother. 

He graduated Sparta High School in 1970 and enlisted in the Navy. After basic training, he

attended submarine school in Connecticut on the advice of his father who had been on a Ger-

man U-Boat during WWII. Served on three ballistic missile submarines and from there went

on to attend Navy Dive School in Key West. He made eight cold war deterrent patrols during his

four years in the Navy. 

He received the National Defense Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and wears the

Submarine Dolphins Divers Badge and the Fleet Ballistic Missile Patrol Pin with 8 stars. 

After active duty he joined the Naval reserves and served as a diver in Harbor Clearance

Unit 2 in Coconut Grove, FL.

Mr. Rosellen is a Morris Plains resident who is active in the American Legion and VFW and

serves as Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 3401 in MorrisPlains. 

He retired after 33 years as a Field Service Engineer with Honeywell Aerospace and is mar-

ried with three children. 

LEO E. RABINOWITZ

Leo Rabinowitz was drafted into the Army in 1952 at the age of 19 and sent to Fort Dix,

NJ for sixteen weeks of intensive infantry training and then to NCO school for eight more

weeks. He served in Korea as a member of the 82nd anti-aircraft artillery unit of the battalion

self propelled 2nd division. It was there that he learned how to speak the Korean language. One

of his most memorable events while overseas was seeing Marilyn Monroe when she came to visit

the troops. 

Mr. Rabinowitz, of Whippany, received the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Ser-

vice Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation from the

Republic of Korea. 

Returning to the states, he became a buyer in New York City’s garment center and later

bought the company for which he worked.

He is married, has three children and five grandchildren.

RICHARD GAMSBY

Richard Gamsby was the third of seven boys and grew up in Montville. He loved the out-

doors as a boy and when he was a teenager he got a job working for a boarding kennel and start-

ed to show Norwegian Elkhounds. 

In August 1969 he was drafted into the Army and after boot camp at Fort Dix, he was sent to

Fort Gordon, Georgia for basic training and then to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for engineer-

ing training. He was then sent to Vietnam where he served until March 1971 building roads and

fire bases.

After discharge he used the GI bill to continue his education. He has been breeding and

showing Norwegian Elkhounds, producing many champions in the past 43 years. 

He is a member of the VFW and he was in Washington,DC with many other veterans for the

dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. Mr. Gamsby is also active in the Kiwanis club.

He is married and he and his wife, Pat, have three children. 

RONALD WELCH

When he was 23, Ronald Welch joined the Navy…following in the footsteps of his older

brother who was a 20 year Navy veteran. He also has a twin brother who served 10 years in the

Navy. After boot camp and HospitalCorps School he served aboard the USS Ranger CV61…a

Forrestal-class super carrier, and the USS Emory S Land AS 39, a submarine tender. He is a Navy

trained hospital corpsman, an emergency medical technician, an emergency vehicle operator

and a basic and advanced biomedical equipment repair technician. 

Mr. Welch, of Lake Hiawatha, has worked at hospitals and clinics from Italy to Califor-

nia. He was assigned to Fleet Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, and served in Iraq and Kuwait. Cur-

rently he is an electronic technician working at Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point,

and he is pursuing a degree in Information Technology.

He has four children and four grandchildren.

JAMES AURIEMMA

James Auriemma grew up in Morris Township and was drafted into the Army when he was

19. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, and advanced training at Ft. Bliss,Texas, for air

defense artillery. He was trained in the Vulcan, a 20 millimeter high explosive Gatling gun, and

the side-winder missile system. His battalion was sent to Korea, rather than Vietnam, along the

DMZ to protect the valley leading to Seoul. He observed Korea as a nation of extreme poverty

and realized how blessed we are in the United States. Mr. Auriemma was honorably discharged

in 1972 and received the National Defense Service Medal. 

After his return to the States, he became an apprentice in the Bricklayers Union and ended

his career as a Mason Superintendent. He joined the VFW Post 3401 and now has the position

of service officer. He devotes his time to serving other veterans and their families and helps to

guide them through the complexities of the Veterans Administration system.

DONALD W. SCHULD

Donald Schuld was born in Staten Island, and his family moved to Hopatcong in 1949. He

joined the Navy and after basic training in 1958, he reported aboard the USS Little Rock which

was the Navy’s latest guided missile cruiser. 

After leaving the Navy, he went to work with Metropolitan Life where for 21 years.

In 1991, he and three other crew members founded the USS Little Rock Association. He

served as the organization’s president for seven years and received the “President’s Award” for

exceptional meritorious service to the Navy and Marine Corps Veterans of the Association.

A Flanders resident, Mr. Schuld is on the board of directors of the New York Commandery

of the “Naval Order of the United States,” and has three times been awarded the Commander

General’s Medal for outstanding service to the Naval Order. He has served as Vice President of

the Roxbury Chamber of Commerce and President of the Roxbury Rotary Club, and in 1998 the

superior court appointed him to the Roxbury Juvenile Conference Committee, which hears and

resolves cases outside of the courtroom.

He and his wife live in Flanders and have a son and daughter and three grandchildren. 

ROBERT C. OEHLEY

Robert Oehley enlisted in the Army in 1971 and after boot camp at Fort Dix, he was sent to

Fort Rucker, Alabama. There, he was assigned to flight status and trained in helicopter mainte-

nance. He served in Vietnam and was a door gunner on a Huey helicopter. The Huey was pro-

duced in 1952 and 7,000 out of the 16,000 produced worldwide were used for the first time in

combat operation in the Vietnam War. The Huey held a crew of four…the pilot, co-pilot, gunner

and crew chief. Mr. Oehley functioned as both crew chief and door gunner. For his service, he

received the Air Medal along with many other Vietnam service medals. 

He was discharged out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma and worked for Halliburton in that city. He

eventually made his way back to Morristown and is the Commander of VFW Post 3401, Morris

Plains.

He is married and has three sons. 

ROBERT BLASZAK

Robert Blaszak was raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, and counted John Kennedy

and Mickey Mantle as his role models. One day, while at the Jersey Shore, he ran into a friend

who was on leave from the Marines and he thought to himself that he’d “like to look and feel

like” his friend. A few weeks later in September 1965 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He did

his basic training at Paris Island and was later stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He

served a tour of Vietnam in 1966 in an operation at Hue Phu Bai. He spent a month traveling

there on the USS Guam. During his last few months in Vietnam he was in communications,

sending and receiving encrypted messages. The training he received while in the service was a

valuable asset, because after his discharge, he got a job with Bell Telephone and had a 34 year

career with Ma Bell.

Mr. Blaszak is a resident of Wharton who is retired and who has three sons and six grand-

children. 

VINCENT NASILLI

Vincent Nasilli is a Morristown resident who served three tours in Vietnam. He was a mem-

ber of the 173rd Airborne Brigade which fought the Battle for Dak To and Hill 875. During 21

days of fighting, the 173rd Brigade suffered 272 killed, more than 900 wounded and some 60

missing in action. It was some of the bloodiest fighting of Vietnam, with the 2nd and 4th Bat-

talions of the 503rd Infantry also suffering major casualties while fighting for Hill 875. When he

returned to Fort Bragg after each of his first two deployments, he said he felt compelled to return

to the battlefield---thus his serving three tours. 

In addition to many service medals, Mr. Nasilli received an Air Medal and a Bronze Star.

He has visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington four times over the years, and he’s also

visited the New Jersey Memorial to honor those who were lost during the war. He has served

three terms as Commander of the VFW Post 4301, and he spent most of his working years in the

construction business. 

JAMES GERVASIO

James Gervasio was raised in Morristown and joined the Marines right after high school in

1999. In 2002 his unit was sent to the Arabian Gulf to provide security for Navy Seals looking

for al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. His unit, Charlie Battery 1st Battalion 10th Marines was

part of a Task Force that was involved in the first invasion of Iraq. The unit’s first enemy contact

was in the city of Nasiriyah, and as they began their assault on the city they came upon an Army

Convoy…the one that included Jessica Lynch…that had taken a wrong turn and was ambushed

by Iraqi forces. They secured the convoy and continued into the city on their way to secure 3

bridges that would be used to get to Baghdad. They lost 23 Marines in less than six hours trying

to take the bridges. It ended with a special mission to assist Army Special Forces to rescue Lynch,

who had been injured and captured by Iraqi forces. That Task Force was later awarded the Presi-

dential Unit Citation.

After discharge from the Marines in 2003 he earned a degree in Political Science and Middle

Eastern studies and worked for a time in the financial world in New York City. He is now looking

for other opportunities. He has been appointed to the VFW State Legislative Committee which

lobbies congress for Veteran’s rights. 

He visits the Marine Corps War Memorial in WashingtonD.C. every year to honor those 23

men who were lost in battle. 

MARSHALL “MARK” VAN DYKE

Mark Van Dyke joined the Navy in 1969 in St. Louis,Missouri where he grew up. He joined

because his aunt was a retired World War II Lt. Commander of the Navy. He was stationed in

Coronado, Colorado, and requested to serve in Vietnam. His request was granted and he re-

ceived orders to serve on the USS Krishna. He was an E4 Petty Officer 3rd class and his ship

operated out of the Bassac River at Bein Thuy. Two years after his first tour ended he re-enlisted

and served on the USS Oriskany. He was trained in radio communication, firefighting and dam-

age control onboard ship.

Mr. Van Dyke received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and

a Meritorious Unit Commendation. His radio skills led him to become a ham operator sending

and receiving Morse code. A Parsippany resident, he is trained in emergency management and is

called upon to assist police with communication during natural disasters. 

He is married with two children. 

MARCH 23, 2012

RICHARD BARRY

Richard Barry was born in Morris Plains into a family of 15, six of them Marines. He served

in the Marine Corps between 1960 and 1964.

In 2001 he joined Rolling Thunder, New Jersey Chapter 3, which is a non-profit organization

that promotes POW/MIA awareness programs and supports veterans from all wars. He speaks

at school programs about the organization’s purpose. He is also chairman of “Trikes 4 Vets,” a

project to build three wheeled motorcycles that are equipped for a veteran who has lost the use

of a limb or limbs while deployed in U. S. service. 

Mr. Barry is a past Commander of American Legion Post 164 and a member of a band that

travels to VA Hospitals to bring some cheer to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress dis-

order.

Mr. Barry received the Legion of Honor Award presented by the Chapel of Four Chap-

lains. The organization was formed as a result of four clergy who gave their lives to save soldiers

aboard the United States Army Transport ship Dorchester sunk in WWII by a German U-boat.

KEITH G. BYARD

Keith Byard of Chatham enlisted in the Marines in 1981 with the intention of becoming

one of the world’s finest fighting men. After infantry training he was assigned to the 1st Marine

Division.

An excellent high school wrestler, he made the Marine’s base team and went on to win the

All Navy South Pacific Championship. He also made the All Marine Wrestling Team at Quanti-

co, Virginia, and that squad won five U.S. Open National Championship titles. Mr. Byard and his

teammates traveled throughout the United States and the world as ambassadors of the Marine

Corps. 

After leaving the Marines, he decided to utilize his skills to help others reach their optimum

health. He conducted large group exercise events to raise money for causes such as AIDS, cancer

and the Special Olympics. 

He volunteers as a coach at his former middle and high schools, and his fitness and positive

attitude provide an exemplary role model for students to follow. 

RICHARD W. EASTMAN, JR.

Richard Eastman was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army in 1964. He completed his

training at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland and graduated from the Army’s Ord-

nance Guided Missile School in Alabama. His army reserve duty included service as a computer

systems officer and support command with the Pentagon. He returned as a Lieutenant Colonel. 

His volunteer activities are a result of his awareness of the needs of post WW II veterans in

need of housing. His father was a military policeman who served under General MacArthur in

Japan. Following the war, there was a shortage of housing for returning troops so his family first

lived on a houseboat and then became beneficiaries of the New Jersey veterans housing program. 

A Morristown resident, Mr. Eastman’s volunteer activities include chairing the NJ National

Guard State Family Readiness Council, which supports military families; NJ Civilian Aide to the

Secretary of the Army; Morris County Support to Military Families; the county’s Disaster Recov-

ery Committee; Educational Outreach Programs with an emphasis on building peace through

learning; and volunteering with the Bickford Theater Advisory Committee. 

DAVID STRACENER

David Stracener is a Marine Staff Sergeant stationed at Picatinny Arsenal. He is an inspec-

tor instructor who makes sure that reserve units throughout NJ and the rest of the nation are in

compliance with military orders. This position is assigned only to Marines who have excelled in

various duty stations. He also coordinates the Toys for Tots campaign, which raised more than

$140,000 in donations to help needy children during the Christmas holiday. Sgt. Stracener’s

coordinates the Toys for Tots campaign that distributes toys throughout 7 counties, including

Morris. 

FREDRICK J. WIEDENMANN

Staff Sergeant Frederick Wiedenmann is also stationed at Picatinny Arsenal. He is an admin-

istrative chief who interprets military orders to ensure that all Marine Reserve units are in com-

pliance with same. It is a very specialized area and given only to those marines who have demon-

strated skill in legal matters. 

Staff Sgt. Wiedenmann volunteers his time assisting the Toys for Tots program by buying

toys which are then distributed to needy youngsters during the Christmas season. He says his

goal is to deliver a message of hope, which will in turn aid in building the youngsters’ self-es-

teem. Over the 62 years of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have

distributed more than 400 million toys to over 188 million needy children.

WILLIAM S. BLAHER

William Blaher was sent to France on December 7, 1944, and was attached to the 106th

Infantry Division. The Battle of the Bulge began on December 16 that year, and three days later,

7,000 of his division were captured by German forces and sent to various concentration camps

all over Europe.

He was liberated in April 1945 and remembers all too well the horrors of being a prisoner

of war. He left camp weighing only 100 lbs., suffering from dysentery and numerous other ail-

ments. His history has been recorded in the “Oral History Program” at Rutgers University.

Today Mr. Blaher volunteers his time with a POW support Group at Lyons Veterans Hospi-

tal. There, he helps other military personnel suffering from the stress of being captured. 

He speaks to student groups about the war and asks that they give back to their country. He

also participates on a regular basis in Battle of the Bulge meetings at Picatinny Arsenal.

LAWRENCE E. OPPEL

Lawrence Oppel joined the Navy in 1963 and participated in several conflicts including

those in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. After his discharge he joined the (Bernays

Apgar American Legion Post and over the next 46 years served in numerous leadership positions

with the posts including Commander. He is also a volunteer with the Long Valley Fire Depart-

ment and has been secretary of the Fireman’s Relief Association for the past 20 years. In May

1979 he, along with other Vietnam veterans, was awarded the Outstanding Community Achieve-

ment Award from the President Jimmy Carter. 

In 2005 Mr. Oppel was part of a committee that worked to bring back the remains of local

veteran Sergeant Larry Maysey, who had been killed in action in November 1967 during the

Vietnam War while flying a rescue mission over Laos.

His remains were recently found and his friends from high school raised funds and erected

a bronze likeness of him in his home town of Chester. The memorial is dedicated to not only Sgt.

Maysey, but to all those from Chester who died in that war.

JERMAINE DUNHAM

Captain Jermaine Dunham joined the Marine Corps in 1991, and served in the Marine

Reserves until 2001 as a field artillery scout or forward observer. He was commissioned in the

Army in 2002 and was sent to Iraq as a platoon leader. In 2007 he became the company com-

mander and his unit supported efforts in Iraq, Croatia and Romania.

He was involved in an accident in June 2009 that almost resulted in the loss of his right

hand. After about a year of rehab Captain Dunham of Dover attended a course offered by the

military on business planning. He enjoyed it so much that he requested a transfer into the Ac-

quisition Corps for business administration. This is the management and procurement process

that deals with our nation’s investments in technologies, programs and products to achieve our

national security. As an example, the Manhattan Project involved more than 130,000 people at a

cost of $24 billion. 

Captain Dunham now raises funds for many local and national military organizations, and

he also volunteers as a mentor to children who have a mother or father on active duty.

VINSON MORRIS

After earning a BS degree from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, Major

Vinson Morris completed infantry officer training and ranger school at Ft. Benning. He was

assigned to the 2nd battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment in the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Air-

borne Division, at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He was deployed to Afghanistan where he served

in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Growing up in South Carolina, he did a great deal of hunting and fishing as a child. Drawing

on that background, he decided to start a program at Picatinny Arsenal for veterans who were

wounded and disabled in the current conflict, but who wanted to continue their outdoor activi-

ties as hunters and fisherman. 

With the support and guidance of General Jonathan Maddux and Lieutenant Colonel

Charles Koehler, he was able to start a ‘Hunters Helping Heroes’ program for disabled vets, de-

signed to provide them with outdoor recreation opportunities. 

Local businesses such as Home Depot assisted and provided materials to construct facilities

needed to support the outdoor activities.

JAMES B. SMITH

James Smith grew up in Dover…joined the Army in 1977...and was assigned to the Naval

Explosive Ordnance School in Indian Head, MD. His military service took him to Korea; Wash-

ington, D.C.; Giessen, Germany; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and Picatinny Arsenal before retiring

after 20 years. 

He participated in a number of task forces in countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Ethiopia and Ku-

wait. Mr. Smith is currently the Commander of American Legion Post 91 in Wharton. This post

raises approximately $50,000 to support local soldiers in need, military support programs, schol-

arships and New Jersey Boys State. He has volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Fund, Toys

for Tots and numerous other veterans programs. His American Legion Post 91 also provides

needed transportation and assistance to veterans throughout the family assistance process. 

LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES H. KOEHLER

Lieutenant Colonel Charles “Herb” Koehler is a 1992 distinguished military graduate from

Ohio University. He has served as a platoon leader, company commander, battalion operations

officer and most recently the Executive Assistant to the Director of Defense Logistics Agency.

He is currently Commander of the U.S. Army Garrison at Picatinny Arsenal. He has been

honored with the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Meritorious Unit Cita-

tion and the Honorary Order of Saint Christopher. 

Lieutenant Colonel Koehler is an active member of the community, and he is a member of

Leadership Morris and the Army Emergency Relief Campaign. He is a supporter of the Wound-

ed Warrior Project and is often heard on radio talk shows and at schools and community events

discussing issues regarding military life.

JOSEPH LEAL

Joseph Leal enlisted in the Marines on June 29, 1959, and was attached to the 2nd Marine

Division. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis while aboard the USS Mulipen.

After his honorable discharged he went to work with the United States Postal Service, where

he spent 20 years.

Since 1995 he has been actively involved with Freemasonry and their charitable work. In

2002 he was president of this organization, which raised money for 22 hospitals that help chil-

dren with burn and spinal problems.

Mr. Leal is legally blind and a member of the Blind Veterans Association. As such, he volun-

teers his time at Lyons Veterans Hospital training visually impaired veterans how to function in

their daily lives. In April of this year he and the Blind Veterans Association sponsored a “White

Cane Day,” to reach out to veterans experiencing visual problems.

KEVIN M. HILTON

Kevin Hilton of Florham Park joined the National Guard in 2003 and was deployed once to

Iraq and once to Kuwait. He is subject to recall.

While in Kuwait he volunteered with the Catholic Church as a music minister. Between de-

ployments and while back here in the United States, he volunteered to assist the National Guard

in patrolling the U.S. Border between Mexico and the state of New Mexico. His other volunteer

work while in the service was recognized by his being awarded the Military Outstanding Volun-

teer Service Medal.

He volunteers as an EMT in Florham Park, and being a former Eagle Scout, he remains ac-

tive with the Boy Scouts as an advisor.

Sgt. Hilton will remain with the National Guard until his enlistment runs out in November,

and he is beginning a new career with the Phillips Companies.

MARCH 3, 2013

ROBERT DE BLASI

Robert DeBlasi of Rockaway enlisted in the Navy and served from 1955 to 1959, doing tours

from Norman, Oklahoma to Lakehurst, New Jersey.

He is what’s known as an atomic veteran. While aboard the USS Rehoboth he participated

in the atmospheric nuclear testing program in “Operation Hardtack” at the Eni-we-tok Proving

Grounds in the Marshall Islands. There, he witnessed 10 detonations of atomic and hydrogen

bombs.

He was present for 10 kiloton atomic explosions, which were placed 500 feet under water to

observe the effects on submarines, surface vessels and mines. Detonations were also conducted

on barges and balloon launches. This duty exposed Mr. DeBlasi and the crews to ionized radia-

tion and radioactive fallout, hence the term atomic veteran.

After the service he used the GI bill to receive a degree in education, and he taught in the

Paterson School district for 35 years.

CAROL DE MEO

Carol Kenefick De Meo joined the Army through the nursing program while enrolled at

Mount Sinai School of Nursing in Milwaukee. She was assigned to the Fitzsimons Army Hos-

pital in Denver, Colorado, where many of her patients were soldiers returning from Vietnam to

recover here in the States.

The more she spoke to nurses who had returned from Vietnam, the more she knew she had

to enlist for another 13 months, but this time in Vietnam itself. She was assigned to the 85th

Evacuation Hospital in South Vietnam that prepared the wounded to be sent to larger hospi-

tals. She was an Army Captain in the Army Nurse Corps and her hospital was close to the TET

Offensive, and though she could have requested safer quarters in another facility, she decided to

stay for the troops she was caring for.

Her involvement in support of women in the military over the years has been written up in a

number of publications including USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.

She and her husband, Paul marched in the first Vietnam Veterans parade in New York City in

1983. They will be celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary on March 29.

PAUL DE MEO

Paul De Meo grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania and was drafted into the Army in May of

1966 during the week of his final exams in his senior year in college. He graduated college in

June and was inducted in the army in July.

He was sent to Vietnam in 1968, the year the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launched the

Tet Offensive against South Vietnam and United States and allied forces. Mr. De Meo, who is a

Rockaway resident, served a year in Vietnam, and he says when he came back to the states, it felt

as if the entire country was against the returning troops, with protests and demonstrations ev-

erywhere.

He did, however, meet his wife, Carol Kenefick, in Vietnam.

GEORGE JOHNS

Morristown resident George Johns is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who

served in World War II and in the Korean War as a fighter pilot.

In World War II he volunteered for dangerous assignments knowing the chances of return-

ing safely were slim. He received the first of three distinguished flying crosses for bravery for

one of these assignments.

The next two distinguished flying crosses were received while serving in the Korean War.

While flying a night mission over the front lines he was shot down. He was able to eject, but his

parachute forced him into some cliffs where he was badly wounded.

He was rescued by a squad of soldiers…recuperated for five months and was sent back into

combat, but his squadron didn’t know this, and thought he was missing in action. In addition

to the three distinguished flying crosses he received five air medals. Today he is an architect in

Morristown.

WILLIAM F. KOCH JR.

William Koch Jr. has been a self-described free spirit since graduation from Morris Hills

High School. After graduation in 1967, he joined the Marines where he specialized in electrical

repair work.

He trained across the country from California to North Carolina and he was also stationed

in Okinawa, Japan. After discharge and being influenced by the books of one of America’s great-

est writers, Jack London, Mr. Koch, of Rockaway, continued to move from town to town.

He hitchhiked across the country working at jobs that ranged from driving an eighteen

wheeler to welding as a pipe fitter to working as a machine operator. He said he was a man who

believed in self knowledge and experience. After 30 years of living in Texas, he came home to

New Jersey.

EDWARD MATERA

Edward Matera is an East Hanover resident and an Army veteran who went from Ft. Dix

in 2003 to Kuwait. His 331st Military Intelligence Company was reassigned to various units in

Kuwait to build up staffing shortages in intelligence and military police.

He stayed in Iraq until February 2004, and after returning he was promoted to staff sergeant

in 2006. He completed the Warrior Leader Course and the basic non-commissioned officer

course and he was discharged in 2007.

For his service to our country, Mr. Matera received the Army commendation Medal, the

National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the

Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon as well

as other Unit awards.

PAUL J. MUELLER

Paul Mueller and his seven sisters and one brother grew up in Virginia but moved frequently

because his father was a 26-year career army veteran. He joined the Coast Guard in 1971 and

attained the rank of Chief.

He retired after 20 years, but to this day he says he would prefer to be in the Coast Guard

during a hurricane instead of working in corporate America. As a career Coast Guard man,

his duty stations were from Japan to Governor’s Island, N.Y. He had the privilege of being the

lead cutter for the 1976 (Operation Sail Tall Ships) which ushered in hundreds of ships through

New York Harbor to celebrate our Bicentennial.

In 1986, he participated in the Salute to the Statue of liberty, in which he was recognized

personally by President Reagan. He has worked with horses since he was a young man and to-

day teaches massage therapy for horses…one of only a few people in the country doing this kind

of therapy. He is also in the organic farming business and for the last eight years he has been

chief engineer for the Hamilton Park Hotel in Florham Park.

CHRIS SECULA

Chris Secula, of Lake Hopatcong, enlisted in the Army in 2001. After graduating from

airborne school he was deployed to Afghanistan, and after that tour he was deployed to Iraq in

2004 in support of combat operations in the Fallujah area.

He was discharged in 2005 and in the summer of 2006 he joined the National Guard. In

2007 he transitioned back to active duty and in 2009, his orders sent him to Afghanistan for the

third time to help train the Afghan National Army. He received the Army Commendation Med-

al with a “V” for Valor twice; the Commendation Medal five times; and the Army Achievement

Medal two times. He also received the Iraq Campaign Medal with Battle Stars, the Italian Para-

chute Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Mr. Secula has decided to publish a book about his military experiences in hopes of healing

others who experienced combat and to heal himself. While he says personal relations in his own

life have been fractured, he also says he is on the road to recovery.

ANTHONY J. SERRA

Riverdale resident Anthony J. Serra is a Marine veteran trained in Aviation Hydraulic Me-

chanics who worked on the Huey and Cobra gunships.

In 1995 he conducted major exercises in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emir-

ates, and then covered the withdrawal of the U.N. Multinational Force from Somalia. During

this event, his Huey crew was under constant fire. After that, he was assigned to the U.S. Border

Control in Arizona to assist the Drug Enforcement Administration in its anti-drug smuggling

efforts. In 2001, while training for deployment to Afghanistan, he was injured in a helicopter

accident and was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2002, after serving more than nine

years.

His service to our nation earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with

two Gold Stars, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Medal, the Armed

Forces Extraordinary Medal with a Bronze Star, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze

Stars, a United Nations Somalia Medal, two certificates of commendation and two certificates of

appreciation.

Mr. Serra is currently enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

EDWIN VEGA

Edwin Vega joined the Army at the age of 32 and was attached to the 101st Airborne Divi-

sion. His unit - the 187 Rakkasans, or “Death from Above,” took its name from the 101st that

fought the Japanese during World War II.

He was sent to Iraq in 2005 and searched for weapons of mass destruction and patrolled for

Improvised Explosive Devices. Those searches also uncovered mass graves of Iraqi soldiers and

family. His unit lost a number of soldiers to combat incidences. A combination of that strenu-

ous duty and his age was cause for him to be discharged as disabled. Mr. Vega enrolled in the

Wounded Warrior Program. He is now a Criminal Justice student at the County College of Mor-

ris.

For his dedicated service to our nation, he received the Army Commendation Medal, the

Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Army Ser-

vice Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

VANESSA L. VICHENGRAD

Vanessa Vichengrad of Kenvil was motivated to join the Army by her father. Her first day in

boot camp, she was 17 years old. She says that experience challenged her and defined the person

she is today.

She was deployed to Iraq, where she made life long friends. She also lost friends in the war.

For example, while on a mission, her vehicle ran over an improvised explosive devise, killing her

partner, Tyler. Ms. Vichengrad was evacuated to a medical facility in Germany and she is still re-

covering from the many injuries she sustained. She was discharged as a retired disabled veteran

at the age of 21.

He first child was named after her friend Tyler who lost his life from that IED explosion.

She recently graduated from Berkley College and she completed an internship at the Morris

County Sheriff’s Office. She is currently a legal secretary at a local law firm. She is a member of

the Wounded Warrior Project where she also serves as a volunteer.

MAY 24, 2013

EUGENE BOZZA

Eugene Bozza of Rockaway was inducted into the Army in December 1953, and served in

Korea. He was discharged as a medic on November 30, 1961.

As a medic, he remembered all of these big brave inductees coming into the induction cen-

ters for their shots…but passing out once they saw the needle. While serving in Korea he told of

seeing the beautifully landscaped burial grounds of deceased soldiers and other citizens.

Mr. Bozza was a graduate of Newark College of Engineering, now NJIT, and he worked at

Picatinny Arsenal for 30 years.

He was a big sports fan and enjoyed watching his grandson play hockey. He had two sons

and a daughter, and he and Nancie were married for 46 years when he past away at the age of 80.

JOHN D. “JACK” CALLAHAN

John Jack Callahan was drafted twice…once by baseball’s Boston Red Sox Organization…

he also played for the then Kansas City Athletics...and then by the Armed Forces during the

Vietnam War. He joined the Navy and became a Marine Corp Pilot. He served two nine-month

tours aboard the USS Forrestal, where he conducted night bombing runs to Vietnam and also

flew refueling runs to assist aircraft needing assistance. This is the type of flying that required

quick reflexes…and the young pilots landing on aircraft carriers whether day or night required

steady nerves.

Mr. Callahan, a Montville resident, recently attended the memorial service in Seattle, Wash-

ington, of a pilot friend who was shot down over Vietnam and was listed as missing in action

until his body was discovered in 2006.

He has been married 42 years and has two daughters.

JOSEPH JAMES DE MAUX

Joseph DeMaux was born in Paterson and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam

War. He was sent to Guam to be deployed to Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade…

the epitome of the U.S. Army Infantry units 700 men were killed in action in the 199th from

1966-1970… more than 4,500 were wounded…and four medals of honor were earned by the

unit including one by the brigade chaplain in 1967. He was just the fifth military chaplain in

military history to receive the Medal of Honor.

Mr. DeMaux, of Riverdale, volunteered to extend his duty in Vietnam because the unit was

short of manpower. He did this knowing full well the losses already incurred. For his service

to our nation, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Medal and the

Vietnam Campaign Medal.

A disabled combat vet, he is married to Katherine for 34 years. They have three children, 1

adopted son and two foster children.

CHARLES D. FERRY ll

Charles Ferry is a retired major with the United States Air Force. He joined in 1956 through

the Officer Candidate School and was trained as a pilot.

He flew the C-135, which was used as a mid-air refueler for the fighting aircraft in Vietnam

and the C-130, which was used for bombing the North Vietnamese. He remembers the awful

destruction of the heavy bombs dropped over Vietnam…one bomb fit the entire C-135 aircraft.

He dropped a total of three, and they were called “Daisy Cutters”.

Mr. Ferry, of Montville, was also responsible for flying the North Korean delegation to Sai-

gon to sign the peace agreement at war’s end. He received numerous medals including 187 air

medals.

He was discharged in 1976, but even as a major and a college graduate, he, like many Viet-

nam vets, was not offered work. He took a job as a janitor…persevered and eventually rose to

success in the medical field.

PHILIP J. GIGANTE

Philip J. Gigante joined the Navy after graduating college under the Officer Candidate

School Program. He was stationed on the USS Escape doing rescue salvage work. He volun-

teered for Vietnam duty and became the youngest fleet line officer in the Navy. His assignment

was protecting the rivers and harbors around Nhatrang. That meant keeping his men safe, pro-

viding security and checking for contraband.

Like other military personnel who served in Vietnam, Mr. Gigante of Montville suffers from

Agent Orange-related illnesses. He also realizes the Vietnamese people suffered as well. He

remembers coming home to no fanfare or thank you’s, but says he is still proud of his service to

his country.

He is married with four children and seven grandchildren.

ARNOLD HOKINS

Arnold Hokins is a Franklin resident and an Army veteran who served in country in Viet-

nam He remembers arriving at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, and seeing all the negative television

publicity about Vietnam and the casualties. Within minutes of landing and after deplaning he

and the others began taking incoming fire. He thought to himself: Welcome to Vietnam.

One of his jobs was to inventory the personal effects of those soldiers killed in action,

wounded or missing in action. He would also off load wounded soldiers who were hurt in fire

fights to Lonh Binh Army Base for medical care.

Mr. Hokins was also within 10 miles of the Cambodian border where they were subjected to

B-52 bombers dropping their pay loads on enemy soldiers. Reporting back after the destruction

was another part of his job.

He received the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National

Defense Service Medal.

WILLIAM MUSE

William Muse is an Army veteran who served in the Korean War. He grew up in Maine in a

house that had no heat or electricity…but he says that enabled him to endure the 40-below tem-

peratures in Korea.

As a young man who joined the Special Forces…one of 34 who made it out of 150 recruits.

He saw action at the battle of Pork Chop Hill where many casualties occurred and men were

suffering battle fatigue, but it was his special forces training that allowed him to calm his men.

Mr. Muse, of Budd Lake, received a number of awards and commendations including the Bronze

Star for Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge.

He has been active in Boy Scouts most of his life and received that’s organization’s highest

award given to a civilian, the Silver Bear Award.

He is married with four children and is a volunteer with the Mt. Olive School District spe-

cial needs children.

JOHN J. NATALUK

John Nataluk of Rockaway was born in Harrison, New Jersey and when he was 20, he was

granted a deferment from the World War II draft because he worked for a company that made

bombs. However, he wanted part of the action so he joined the Army and was attached to the

116th AAA Gun Battalion which entered combat June 7, 1944…D-Day Plus 1…at Utah Beach

and Normandy under the command of Col. James Shearouse. After landing at Utah and Nor-

mandy, his Battalion stormed through Paris, then marched to Belgium, Holland, and eventually

to Germany. He fought battles in the Ardennes, Central Europe and the Rhineland.

He was proficient in all infantry maneuvers and trained with weapons such as 90 millimeter

guns and 50 caliber machine guns. He received the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Con-

duct Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

After serving his country, he worked for Maxwell House Coffee for 29 years. He has a son

and a daughter.

JAMES FRANCIS NOCERA

James Nocera was born in Brooklyn in 1915 and is a veteran of World War II. He joined the

Army at 27 after it seemed like everyone else had been drafted.

He served under Gen. George Patton who was given the command of the 3rd U.S. Army.

Mr. Nocera remembers Patton sweeping across France capturing town after town. Patton’s di-

rection to his troops was “keep on advancing, whether we go over, under, or through the enemy”.

Patton liberated Germany from the Nazi’s in 10 days.

Mr. Nocera chose to stay in the lower ranks of service rather than to advance to the ranks of

non commissioned officer. One of his responsibilities was processing dead soldiers for proper

burial and ceremony. He received five battle stars for his combat duty.

After the service he worked for the N.Y. Transit Authority and received a commendation

letter form Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia thanking him for his service to his country. At the age of

70, Mr. Nocera, of Succasunna, was still working in Morris county Court System.

RICHARD PORZIG

Richard Porzig is a Vietnam veteran who had to sign a waiver to join the Marine Corps be-

cause he was taller than the maximum height allowed. His unit in Vietnam provided protection

for various fire bases and filled in for shortages in other units from Danang to Khe Sahn. He

also provided protection for a priest who traveled from unit to unit offering the Christian Eucha-

rist to soldiers. It was because of Chaplain Huston who risked his life to offer a moment of peace

to fighting marines, that Mr. Porzig says he is who he is today. The Chaplain Huston lost his life

after returning to the United States.

Mr. Porzig resides in Mountain Lakes, and is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America

and the Disabled American Veterans. He is dedicated to the Mission of Honor, which puts to

rest the remains of deceased soldiers who were previously unidentified. He is also instrumental

in ceremonies for Gold Star Mothers, air shows and arranging for flyovers.

He has designed memorial plaques for fallen comrades in the war and a special one in place

at Lyons Hospital for his friend Chaplain Huston.

JOHN D. “JACK” REED SR.

Jack Reed is a Scranton native, who along with his three brothers, joined the service at a

young age during World War II because they did not wait for the draft. John joined the Navy

Seabees at 17 and was assigned to active duty on February 24, 1943.

Mr. Reed and one of his brothers were sent to fight in Algeria, Naples, and southern France,

and was there for D-Day.

His service to our country earned him the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific

Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippines

Occupation Medal.

After his discharge, he worked for the New York Times for 28 years. A Hackettstown resi-

dent, he and his wife have 9 children.

ROD RIDOLFO

Rod Ridolfo was drafted into the Army in Newark when he was 21 and trained as Airborne

Infantry, attaining the rank of staff sergeant in 18 months.

His platoon served in Vietnam where it lost half of its men. He was asked to be platoon

leader and remembers continuous body counts that were conducted after every search and de-

stroy mission. He also remembers the race riots in Newark, while his unit was fighting in Viet-

nam, and he says he came back to that same America he saw on television…very disturbing to

most Vietnam vets.. A Montville resident, Mr. Ridolfo earned two air medals, a bronze star and

the combat infantry badge, together with many unit citations while fighting for his country.

He has succeeded in the business world, owning a number of salons and skin care distribu-

torships. He has two children and is married to Louise for sixteen years.

ANTHONY F. SEMIZ

Anthony Semiz of Hopatcong is an Army veteran who served his country from June 1953 to

February 1954 and received the National Defense Service Medal.

He served during the Korean War, and after his discharge from the Army, he pursued his

dream of becoming a professional bowler. You may know him by his bowling name…Teata

Semiz. He was a Grand Master who won more than 50 national tournaments. He has bowled

over 50 games scoring a perfect 300 and toured with and bowled against the likes of Dick Web-

ber and Earl Anthony, and appeared numerous times on ABC Sports..

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

WILLIAM J. CARROLL IV

Mr. Carroll has served in the Armed Services for the last 18 years. During his first 5 in the

Marines he was an enlisted infantry machine gunner with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He at-

tended Marine Corps security guard school and was assigned to various U.S. embassies through-

out the world.

He joined the National Guard in May 2001 and was later activated to Ground Zero to guard

New York City Bridges and Tunnels. Mr. Carroll went to Officer Candidate School and was

commissioned a Second Lieutenant, being deployed to Afghanistan and trained with the Afghan

National Army. He also was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a military

swat member and sniper and has earned a number of commendations including the Bronze Star,

a Combat Action Ribbon, an Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars, a Navy Meritorious

Unit Commendation and an Air Assault Badge.

A former Federal Marshall, he is now a Jefferson police officer who is also active in the com-

munity as a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, VFW, and the Jefferson

Fire Department.

MARSHALL E. COLLINS

Marshall Collins grew up in the Bronx and went to Manhattan College where he enrolled in

the ROTC program.

After graduation he was assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas

for flight training, training that was so difficult than 30% of the trainees never made it through.

He did and flew C141 cargo planes from McGuire Air Force Base to Vietnam to carry supplies.

He was also assigned to EC-47’s which were World War II prop planes, which he flew doing sur-

veillance to spot the enemy. He would call in to base for potential air strikes information about

where enemy soldiers were gathered.

He spent four years in the Air Force and received a number of commendations including the

Air Medal which he received four times, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is awarded

for bravery and outstanding service.

A Mountain Lakes resident, he became a commercial pilot and flew for Eastern Air Lines for

15 years, and flew another 15 years for U.S. Airlines.

THOMAS J. DAVENPORT

Thomas Davenport was born in Newark, graduated from high school in 1964 and enlisted

in the Army. He is a third generation of Army soldier to see combat. His father served in World

War II and his grandfather in World War I.

After basic training at Fort Dix and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he

and his Battalion of 900 men were sent to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam in 1965. The Battalion’s mis-

sion was to complete a 10,000 foot air strip. Mr. Davenport became a heavy equipment operator

working with explosives for land clearing demolition. His Company A, 62nd Engineer Battalion,

received the Army Meritorious Unit Citation for being involved in 14 military campaigns. He

also received the National Defense Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal,

the Vietnam Campaign Medal and an Expert M14 Rifle Medal.

After leaving the Army, he worked in the commercial heating business. He resides in Pomp-

ton Plains with his wife Janice and they are the parents of three children.

ORLANDO DE PASCALE SR.

Orlando DePascale was born in Italy on August 8, 1925 and came to the United States with

his family at the age of 4. His service with the United States Army began in 1946 at Ft Dix with

the 269th Engineer Combat Battalion, 69th Infantry Division.

His battle campaigns were in Central Europe and Rhineland. He also served in the Euro-

pean-African Middle Eastern Theatre. His Battalion cleared mines and rebuilt brindles leading

the way for a successful attack on the Siegfried Line. The Battalion then supported the division’s

attack on Leipzig, Germany. Mr. DePascale also participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He re-

ceived the European-African Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Ameri-

can Campaign Medal.

After the Army, he married Madeline Esposito and settled in Wharton. They have four chil-

dren, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is retired from the Dover Advance

newspaper after 30 years as production manager.

THOMAS D. DRESDNER

In addition to being a veteran, Thomas Dresdner is also a citizen soldier who served 22 years

in the New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Army National Guard. He began his career with the

Guard when, at the age of 17, he enlisted with Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion - 112th Field Ar-

tillery, in Morristown in 1986. He was accepted into the Army Officer Candidate School Pro-

gram…He was appointed as a Warrant Officer…attended flight school and qualified to fly the

Huey and Blackhawk helicopters. He was activated during Operation Noble Eagle which mobi-

lized thousands of National Guard and Reserve personnel to perform security missions on mil-

itary installations, airports and bridges, power plants and ports. Captain Dresdner, a Chatham

Township resident, deployed to overseas duty stations.

He received several military awards including a Senior Aviator Badge, a State Active Duty

Ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Since his discharge, he has devoted his time to an organization he founded called N.J. Fallen

Soldiers Foundation, which provides support to homeless and at-risk veterans. He is also in-

volved with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to hire veterans.

DAVID R. GRAVEL

David Gravel of Madison joined the Marines when he was 18 and was deployed to Vietnam

in 1969, just after the Tet offensive. He flew Jets and Huey Helicopters in combat and says the

motto in his air wing was 90% boredom and 10% stark terror. Only one in five of his marine

buddies survived the war.

He is proud to have earned The National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign

Medal and the Cross of Gallantry, which is issued by the South Vietnam government while in

combat with the enemy.

Mr. Gravel is a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association which has 10,000

members. They have made 16 trips to the Vietnam Memorial since its inception to honor lost

marine veterans.

David is married with four children.

ELLIOT E. HOLDER IV

Elliot E. Holder grew up in East Orange and makes his home in Morristown. He joined the

Air Force after high school at the urging of his uncle, who was in the Air Force.

His job description in the Air Force was security forces and he served in Japan and Afghan-

istan. Soldiers wounded in action were flown to his location in Afghanistan. And, that was also

where those who were killed in action were brought for fallen soldier ceremonies, before they

were flown back to the U.S. for final burial. Mr. Holder earned the National Defense Service

Medal, an Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

and various hazardous materials awareness ribbons.

In addition, he was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and a Good Conduct

Medal.

TIMOTHY H. MASKER

Timothy Masker grew up in Mine Hill and after graduating from Dover High School, he

went on to Rutgers University. A few years later, he and a friend joined the Marines. He was

with the 2nd Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina that was deployed to Iraq. He

was assigned to rifle squad doing security and combat patrols and was nominated for the Naval

Achievement Medal.

Mr. Masker was in Iraq for 13 months before being deployed to Japan for multinational

exercises with Australia, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. He is a Randolph resident who

received the Marine Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, a Sea Service Deployment

Medal and a Letter of Appreciation three times.

Today, after 5 years with the Marines he is back in the private sector in Information Systems.

ALBERT J. MAZZATTA

Albert Mazzatta served in the Army’s 1st Calvary Division during the Korean conflict. Born

in Troup, Pennsylvania, he was one of three brothers and two sisters. His brothers were both

veterans…one served in the Navy during World War II, and the other was a veteran of the Coast

Guard who served during the Korean conflict.

Mr. Mazzatta of Dover was discharged in 1952, and passed away from a war injury shortly

afterward, on April 11, 1953.

For his dedicated service to our nation, he received the Good Conduct Medal, the National

Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Cita-

tion.

DOMENICK MISSAGGIA

Domenick Missaggia is a Vietnam veteran who grew up in Parsippany. He joined the Navy

and volunteered for submarine duty. He was assigned to the USS Spadefish, which participat-

ed in anti-submarine warfare and which conducted independent exercises as a ballistic missile

submarine. When they were at sea, the operation would last for three months at a time. The

ship had 95 enlisted men and 15 officers, and their prime responsibility was monitoring Russian

submarines in the Bering Sea.

Every two years the men of the submarine have a reunion at Norfolk, Virginia. There, they

honor their fallen shipmates with what is called their “eternal patrol”.

Mr. Missaggia of Denville had hoped for a 20-year career with subs, but was medically dis-

charged with an injury after 10 years.

He is married to Barbara and they have two sons.

F. EDWARD “TONY” RAMIREZ

Tony Ramirez of Rockaway is a Vietnam veteran who was born in New York and grew up

in Dover. After high school he joined the Navy and completed his education at the Armed

Forces Institute. His first tour of duty was on the USS Kitty Hawk off the coast of Vietnam

with 7,500 sailors on board. It was stressful duty with 30 days of continuous flights off the deck

known as “Alfa Strikes”.

He was seriously injured in an intense on-board fire below deck, which lasted about 36

hours. He describes Navy career work as the most dangerous in the world. He did say that

while loading bombs on an aircraft, he felt a sense of pride when he saw the label “Made at Pica-

tinny Arsenal, Dover, New Jersey. He went on to serve aboard the USS Constellation and then to

the military police.

He received a number of military awards and ribbons for meritorious duty including the

Navy Unit Commendation and the Presidential Unit Citation.

He is a member of the VFW and the Denville American Legion Post 390 and has been their

Adjutant for the past 22 years. Just this past Sunday he played taps at the Morris County’s 9/11

Ceremony.

He is married to Dona Jean and they have two grown daughters.

ANTHONY F. SEMIZ

Anthony Semiz resides in Hopatcong. He is an Army veteran who served from June 1953 to

February 1954.

He received the National Defense Service Medal, and after his discharge, he pursued his

dream of becoming a professional bowler.

He was a Grand Master, winning over 50 national tournaments, bowling a perfect 300 game

more than 50 times, appearing on ABC sports on a regular basis and touring with the likes of

Earl Anthony and Dick Weber.

His professional name was Teata Semiz, and in 1998, he was inducted into the PBA Hall of

Fame, and that was followed two years later by his election to the United States Bowling Con-

gress Hall of Fame.

ANTHONY D. SHAW

Anthony Shaw is a Morristown resident who joined the Marine Corps in 1996. He served in

various capacities until 2000.

His last duty station was with the 8th Marines, 2nd Marine division. He received the Na-

tional Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Mast.

The Meritorious Mast is a Navy tradition of gathering the crew around the main mast of the

ship to deliver the awards. In the modern Marine Corps it is written recognition of work well

done. The Meritorious Mast is held in the highest regard by those who receive it.

Mr. Shaw is pursuing his studies at Morris County School of Technology.

JAMES VIALARD

Not waiting to be drafted, which was the way most Vietnam soldiers entered the Armed

Services, James Vialard of Denville enlisted in the Army in 1967. He said he felt an obligation to

this country, because his father was a WWII veteran who died in 1961 and his mother received a

pension because of his military service…a pension that kept him, his sister and his mother from

enduring hardship during his high school years.

He served in Vietnam for more than 2 years of intense battle, and even after returning to the

States he refused to remove his uniform, saying he was proud of what he and his men accom-

plished. His service to our nation earned him the Vietnam Service Medal with seven Campaign

Medals.

He says he’s always had a soft spot for veterans. He has been Post Commander for the VFW

9238, and the Post Commander for American Legion Post 175. He was State Commander of

the American Legion as well, and was awarded the American Legion Life Membership award in

1982.

He continues to assist Morris County veterans and in particular the Morris County Service

Officer for the last 10 years.

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

HUNTER ALARCON

Hunter Alarcon grew up in Chester--joined the Marine Corps in 2007—and was trained as

a machine gunner with the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines. He was deployed to Iraq and saw combat

in Fallujah and Garma. He was discharged in 2011 and was awarded a number of ribbons and

medals and is proud of his Presidential Unit Commendation.

He is a Morristown resident now attending Centenary College under the G.I. Bill.

IAN ALLOWAY CULVER

Ian Alloway Culver is a 2004 graduate of Randolph High School who graduated from the

Coast Guard Academy with honors in 2008, graduated from Naval Flight school in 2010 and is

now a Lieutenant, O3, commissioned as a Coast Guard MH 65 Delta helicopter pilot and aircraft

commander.

During his three years at the Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco, he has conducted

flight rescue operations that saved 30 lives and assisted in saving more than 100 lives in total. He

also leads coast guard missions in counter-drug and counter-terrorism, law enforcement, envi-

ronmental protection, and national defense efforts.

FRANCIS J. DESMOND

Frank Desmond was drafted into the Army in 1965 and was sent to Vietnam, where he lost

many friends in battle. He himself was wounded and received the Purple Heart, the Coveted

Award of the Combat Infantry Badge, the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign

Medal.

After the service, Mr. Desmond, of Wharton, served as a corrections officer in the state’s

Prison System. He remembers each of his friends killed in action when he visits the Vietnam

Memorial and he gets together with his unit buddies as often as possible.

NICHOLAS GILETA

Nicholas Gileta started college in 1967 on scholarship, but a year later, after hearing of the

“Tet Offensive” in Vietnam, he gave up the scholarship and his draft deferment to join the Ma-

rines and serve his country.

He served in Vietnam, rose to the rank of Sergeant, and earned a “Meritorious Medal” for

outstanding performance of his duties through the return of his battalion from Vietnam.

Mr. Gileta went back to college part-time after active duty and remained in the Marine

Corps Ready Reserve until October 1974. He is a Morristown resident who manages his own

Management Consulting business.

CHRISTIAN HORMAZA

Christian Hormaza joined the Marines in 2008. He was deployed to Afghanistan as a squad

leader and attained the rank of Corporal.

He received a number of decorations for his duty, earning both the Campaign Medal and the

Combat Action Ribbon.

He is a Morristown resident who now attends the County College of Morris and has a desire

to re-enter the service as a Navy Seal.

WILMAR HORMAZA JR.

Wilmar, like his brother Christian, joined the Marines because he wanted to serve his coun-

try. He was deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom from September

2010 through March 2011.

He received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, a Sea Service Deployment Medal, and a Navy

Unit Commendation.

DOUGLAS A. KOEPPEN

Douglas Koeppen of Port Murray joined the National Guard in 1966 for a six year tour, and

when that obligation was over he re-enlisted for another three years.

He was a police officer who became Chief of Police in Washington Borough, Warren Coun-

ty, and when he was 40, he joined the reserves again, saying he missed the National Guard ac-

tion.

He has three sons, all in law enforcement.

JOSEPH A. SERINO

Joseph Serino joined the Navy in 1966 and served aboard the USS Duluth, an amphibious

transport docking ship that was the last ship to be launched from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It

supported operations in Vietnam both off the coast and on the Vietnamese Rivers, receiving

commendation medals for this support and for bringing on board Vietnamese villagers in need

of protection. The ship was also used by our Marines who came on board to rest in between

battles.

Mr. Serino was discharged in 1968 and began a career with UPS. He resides in Morris Plains

and is now retired.

MATTHEW E. VILLEGAS

Matthew E. Villegas of Rockaway grew up in New York. He served in the Marine Corps

from 1994 until 2012. He was a Landing Support Specialist who rose through the ranks from

Private to Gunnery Sergeant. He did two tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq and also

served aboard the USS Ponce. He was deployed to support operations in Bahrain, Kuwait and

Djbouti and received 15 medals and ribbons for his service to our nation.