A veteran receives a medal recognizing his service to the nation during ceremonies marking Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day on May 7. State military awards were presented to nearly four dozen veterans for their service in World War II and Vietnam. The ceremony was held on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL MCMAHON HOLMDEL — Veterans of the Vietnam War and World War II were awarded New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal during Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day ceremonies at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel on May 7, the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Recipients of the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal include SPC Four Robert J. Baldwin Jr. of Long Branch (with Cluster); SPC Four Michael L. Blackman of Tinton Falls; SN Roland M. Boone of Asbury Park (posthumous); Engineman Third Class Donald W. Brewer of Point Pleasant (posthumous); Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Harry L. Brewer of Point Pleasant (posthumous); SPC Four Harry T. Brewer of Point Pleasant (with Cluster, posthumous); LCpl Carmelo Burgaretta of Shrewsbury; SPC Five Richard M. Carty of Mount Holly; PFC Dewey Comer of Lanoka Harbor; SPC Four Lawrence A. Cross III of Mount Laurel;
SPC Four Ernesto Danio of Manalapan; SN Michael G. Ellis of Elberon; SN First Class Dennis D. Estes of Morganville; Technician Fourth Grade Charles P. Franck Jr. of New York (posthumous); SSgt. Gerald A. Gale (with Cluster); SSgt. Frederick C. Gasior of Newton; SPC Five John L. Hall (with Cluster); SPC Five Michael T. Harm of Colts Neck; SPC Four Alan A. Howardell of Rahway (posthumous); SPC Four Daniel Kellaway of Burlington;
SPC Four Louis G. Loso of Hopelawn; Sgt. John Maksymowicz Jr. of Marlton; SPC Four Benny Marino of Freehold; Maj. John J. McGowan of Red Bank (with Cluster); Sgt. Vincent J. Messina of Shamung; PFC Christopher P. Monaco of Middletown; SPC Four Saleem R. Muhammad of Newark; LCpl. Michael J. O’Brien Jr. of Neptune City; SPC Four Joseph C. Ogden III of Asbury Park; SPC Five Peter M. Pfeiffer of Oakland;
PFC Woodrow Robinson of Jersey City; Sgt. John R. Samson of Maple Shade; SSgt. Elias J. Schmitt of Cedar Grove (posthumous); SPC Four John J. Schmitt of River Edge; LCpl. Bernard F. Scott of Toms River (with Cluster); SPC Four Richard L. Smallwood of Neptune; Sgt. Ludwig Stiegelmayer Jr. of South Plainfield (with Cluster); SPC Four Kent Taylor of Roselle; Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Nelson A. Tyler of Camden;
SPC Five David P. Walters of Moorestown (with Cluster); MSgt. Lawrence Webre Jr. of Browns Mills; Sgt. First Class Roger A. Wilson of Neptune; Sgt. Thomas T. Winckler of Milford; and Sgt. Ronald A. Ziegler of Midland Park (with Cluster).
Recipients of the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal include Lt. (Junior Grade) Ralph D. Meade of Wall and SPC Four Edward J. Roman of Union.
The recipient of the New Jersey POW/MIA Service Medal is PFC Dewey Comer of Lanoka Harbor.
Recipients of the New Jersey Vietnam Service Medal include: SPC Four Robert J. Baldwin Jr.; SPC Four Michael L. Blackman; SN Roland M. Boone (posthumous); Engineman Third Class Donald W. Brewer (posthumous); SPC Four Harry T. Brewer (posthumous); LCpl Carmelo Burgaretta; SPC Five Richard M. Carty; SPC Four Lawrence A. Cross III; SPC Four Ernesto Danio; SN Michael G. Ellis; SN First Class Dennis D. Estes; SSgt. Gerald A. Gale; SSgt. Frederick C. Gasior;
SPC Five John L. Hall; SPC Five Michael T. Harm; SPC Four Alan A. Howardell (posthumous); SPC Four Daniel Kellaway; SPC Four Louis G. Loso; Sgt. John Maksymowicz Jr.; SPC Four Benny Marino; Maj. John J. McGowan; Lt. (Junior Grade) Ralph D. Meade of Wall; Sgt. Vincent J. Messina; PFC Christopher P. Monaco; SPC Four Saleem R. Muhammad; LCpl. Michael J. O’Brien Jr.; SPC Four Joseph C. Ogden III; SPC Five Peter M. Pfeiffer;
PFC Woodrow Robinson; SPC Four Edward J. Roman of Union; Sgt. John R. Samson; SPC Four John J. Schmitt; LCpl. Bernard F. Scott; SPC Four Richard L. Smallwood; Sgt. Ludwig Stiegelmayer Jr.; SPC Four Kent Taylor; Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Nelson A. Tyler; SPC Five David P. Walters; MSgt. Lawrence Webre Jr.; Sgt. First Class Roger A. Wilson; Sgt. Thomas T. Winckler; Cpl. John J. Zampino of Neptune; and Sgt. Ronald A. Ziegler.