Area Veterans Receive State’s Top Military Award

OCEAN CITY— Ray Zawacki, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, on Tue., July 6, presented the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal and other state military awards to three dozen veterans mostly from Atlantic and Cape May counties.
The Veterans were honored for their service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and; Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The presentation took place at Ocean City Music Pier.
This ceremony marked the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs outreach bringing benefit information to ‘those who served’ across the state.
Cape May County residents who received the award:
Sgt. Major Ib Anderson, Vietnam, Villas.
Sgt. Joseph Caserta, World War II, Ocean City.
Cpl. James Collier, Korean, Ocean City.
Spc.4 Robert Henzy, Vietnam, Seaville.
Staff Sgt. Richard Mathers, Korean, Ocean City.
Sgt. David Mc Michael, OEF, South Seaville
Capt. Daniel Mullin, World War II, Ocean City.
Spc.4 Thomas Rock, Vietnam, Ocean View.
Merchant Marine John Seubert, World War II, Cape May.
Seaman Joseph Smith, Lebanon, Sea Isle City.
PO3 Edward Whalen, Vietnam, Marmora.
Lt. Martin Wilson, Vietnam, N. Cape May.
The N.J. Distinguished Service Medal was originally issued in 1858 for those who distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia. In 1988 the State of New Jersey was looking for an appropriate way to honor all of these returning combat veterans and acknowledge the debt the state owed them for their service. The N.J. DSM was then authorized for that purpose, It is New Jersey’s highest military award.
In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Service Medal you must meet all the following criteria: currently be a resident of New Jersey, have been a resident of New Jersey at the time you entered into military service, have been honorably discharged and have proof of having served in combat while on active duty during wartime
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General Information
Eligibility: Honorably Discharged Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in time of war or national emergency and meet the following criteria:
Criteria:
– Current resident of New Jersey or who was a resident at the time of entry into military service or who has been a resident of this State for at least twenty years in the aggregate.
– Served in combat theater while on active duty during wartime or National emergency.
– Must have received an Honorable Discharge (General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions).
– Those recipients whose service was recognized by the award of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal or equivalent medal receive NJ DSM with a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.
– Posthumous award authorized. The surviving spouse or immediate family member of any resident of the State meeting the above requirements for a medal and who was killed while on active duty or died after receiving an honorable discharge from the armed forces may apply for a posthumous awarding of the medal. Request must include copy of the veteran’s death certificate and proof of relationship as father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother or sister. (Proof may be copies of birth, marriage, baptismal certificates which clearly show relationship, or notarized certificate.)
Application: Individuals applying for the award must forward a completed NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Application for Award /Program form or a similar request in writing along with a copy of the service members WD Form 53 or DD Form 214 ( Separation from Active Duty) attesting to the fact that an Honorable Discharge was granted.
Note: No person shall be entitled to more than one award of the medal.
All Requests should be mailed to:
NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs
ATTN: DVS-VBB(Medals)
PO Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340
For additional information contact:
Telephone: (609) 530-6980
Fax: (609) 530-6970