The N.J. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Veterans Programs recently held an awards ceremony in which 282 veterans were presented with the New Jersey Korean Service Medal.
To be eligible for the Korean Service Medal, veterans must be a current resident of New Jersey and have resided in the state for the past five years. They must also be combat veterans who served on active duty on or after June 23, 1950 and on or before Jan. 31, 1955, in Korea, Japan or contiguous waters or airspace thereof; served one or more days with an organization directly participating in or supporting military operations or on temporary duty in contiguous areas for 30 consecutive days and 60 nonconsecutive days.
They must also have an honorable discharge or be currently serving in the military. Posthumous awards can be awarded if a surviving spouse or immediate family member applies for it.
The following veterans from Lake-wood were honored:
Pfc. John Z. Balla, Army; Pfc. Edmund L. Davenport, Army; Airman 1st Class Edmund L. Davenport, Army; Pfc. James R. DeLigny, Air Force; Pfc. David Finlayson, Army; Sgt. 1st Class Adolph S. Garcia, Army; Cpl. Elmer A. Hettich, Army; Cpl. Alfred F. Hodges, Army; Cpl. Warren S. Johnson, Army, posthumous; Cpl. Thomas A. Lands, Army; Sgt. Lawrence J. Lazzaro, Marine Corps; Sgt. George M. Monarque, Army; Airman 1st Class Bobby M. Nakashian, Air Force; Pfc. Henry C. Nungesser, Army; Patternmaker 2nd Class Robert Senkowsky, Navy; Cpl. Jack G. Takakjian, Army; and Cpl. Billy R. Woolbright, Marine Corps.
The following veterans from Jackson were honored:
Staff Sgt. William J. Blekeski, Air Force; Cpl. Earnest W. Carr, Army; Sgt. Joseph P. Daniels, Marine Corps; Cpl. Francis G. Domanic, Army; Cpl. B. Louis Femiano, Army; Cpl. Douglas Hicks, Army; Cpl. John F. Lenhart, Army; Pfc. Philip J. Sciscione, Army; Quartermas-ter Markham R. Simon, Navy; and Sgt. 1st Class Ernest O. St. Laurent, Army.
Also honored were Pfc. Raymond J. Carroll, Marine Corps, of Howell; and Cpl. Ernest E. Martin, Marine Corps, of New Egypt.
Those interested in applying for the New Jersey Korean Service Medal should send a written request for an application to NJDMAVA, Attn. Kathy Burek, P.O. Box 340, Trenton 08625-0340. They should include a full name, home address and a daytime phone number.
E-mails should be sent to [email protected]. Phone calls can be made to (800) 624-0508, press 7. Online application requests can be made to http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/awards/forms/application.pdf.