Hometown Heroes Gallery

SERGEANT BERT ALLEN, JR.

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Sergeant

Dates of Service

1952-1960

Conflict Served

Korean War

Medals and Honors

National Defense Service Medal

SPECIALIST E4 ROGER G. CHUPIK

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Specialist E4

Dates of Service

1963-1965

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

Army Commendation Medal, AFEM, Sharpshooter

BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT S. DUTKO, ST.

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Brigadier General 0-7

Dates of Service

1954 - 1996

Conflict Served

Cold War - Vietnam

Medals and Honors

Lifetime SQF Distinguished Service Medal  - Legion of Merit Medal

JOSEPH F. GACHETTI II   

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy  

Rank

SN

Dates Served

2024-Present     

Honors and Medals     

Sharpshooter, Recruit Honor Ribbon

SERGEANT CHARLES W. HEENAN

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Sergeant

Dates of Service

April 1966 - June 1972

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

Purple Heart X2

SPC E4 FRANK T. KOWNACKY

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

SPC E4

Dates of Service

1991-1995

Conflict Served

Gulf War

Medals and Honors

• Army Commendation Medal,
• Army Achievement Metal,
• Army Good Conduct,
• National Defense Service,
• Sharpshooter Markmanship Qualification with Rifle Bar,
• Army Lapel Button,
• Army Service Ribbon,
• Overseas Ribbon

SERGEANT RONALD A. MITTELSTAEDT

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Sergeant

Dates of Service

10/1968 to 10/1972

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

E5 Joseph RYCZKOWSKI

Served in

U.S. Coast Guard

Rank

E-5, Petty Officer Second Class, Aviation Electronicsman, AL2

Dates of Service

4 Nov 52 to 5 Sep 56

Conflict Served

Korean Era

Medals and Honors

Good Conduct, National Defense

CAPTAIN SHANE J. SMITH

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Captain

Dates of Service

January 6, 2017 - Current

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS CLIFFORD L. STEWARD

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Private First Class 

Dates of Service

5/27/44- 10/5/47

Conflict Served

World War II Rhineland Central Europe Campaign

Medals and Honors

• Good Conduct Metal,
• Army of the Occupation Medal,
• WWII Victory Metal

SERGEANT ALBERTHA W. WALDRON

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Sergeant

Dates of Service

1990 - 1998

Conflict Served

Iraq Conflict

Medals and Honors

• Army Service Ribbon
• Army Lapel Button
• National Defense Service Medal
• Marksmanship Badge

RADIOSEAMAN KIMBERLY M. YOUNG

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

Seaman

Dates of Service

Active 1984/1986 | Reserves 1989-1995

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BERT ALLEN, SR.

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Private First Class

Dates of Service

11/43 - 12/45

Conflict Served

WWII

Medals and Honors

Purple Heart

FIRST LIEUTENANT PAUL D. DOWNEY

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

First Lieutenant

Dates of Service

Jan. 31, 1952 - March 26, 1962

Conflict Served

Korean War

Medals and Honors

Korean Service Medal, U.S. Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal

SGT ROBIN E (WAYNE) ERVIN   

Served in        

U.S. Army    

Rank

Sergeant E-5  

Dates of Service

1984-1993    

Conflict Served

Desert Storm

Medals and Honors

• Army Commendation Medal,
• Army Achievement Medal,
• Kuwait Liberation Medal          

SPECIALIST ROBERT D. GRAY

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Specialist E5

Dates of Service

1966-1968

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

• Purple Heart,
• Combat Infantry Badge,
• Army Commendation Metal,
• Vietnam Service Metal,
• Vietnam Campaign Medal,
• Nation Defense Service Medal

AMS3 (E4) JOHN E. KANE, III

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

AMS3 (E4)

Dates of Service

June 1962 - August 1966

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

National Defense Medal

STAFF SERGEANT EUGENE F. LANZONI, SR.

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Staff Sergeant

Dates of Service

March 2, 1941 - December 20, 1945

Conflict Served

WWII, Pacific Theater

Medals and Honors

Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Service Medal, World War II Vitctory Medal

SA VIRGIL T. NELSON

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

Seaman apprentice

Dates of Service

1972-1978

Medals and Honors

National Defense Service Medal 

COLONEL RICK RYCZKOWSKI

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Colonel

Dates of Service

Jan 1986 to March 2015

Conflict Served

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Medals and Honors

• Legion of Merit,
• Bronze Star,
• Meritorious Service,
• Army Commendation (4),
• Army Achievement (2),
• National Defense with Gold Star,
• Global War on Terrorism Service,
• Iraqi Campaign with Campaign Star,
• Overseas (2), Army Service ribbon, (2).
• Combat Action Badge,
• Parachutist Badge,
• Air Assault Badge, Air
• Crewman Badge,
• Canadian Parachutist Badge

DAMAGE CONTROLMAN PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS JOHN P. STEMLER, JR.

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

DC3 E4

Dates of Service

4/23/1069 - 1/4/1971

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

National Defense Service Medal

SERGEANT E5 RUDOLPH A. ULAK 

Served in

U.S. Army, U.S. National Guard

Rank

Sergeant

Dates of Service

July 8, 1964 - July 7, 1970

Medals and Honors

• Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Marksman (Rifle M14)

STAFF SERGEANT PATRICK R. WESNER

Served in

U.S. Marine Corps

Rank

Staff Sergeant

Dates of Service

1986-1997

Conflict Served

Panama Operation Just Cause |  Desert Shield/Dessert Storm | Somalia Operation Restore Hope

Medals and Honors

• Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster,
• Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars,
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one bronze star,
• National Defense Service Medal,
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Somalia),
• Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service stars,
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star,
• United Nations Medal,
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia),
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait),
• Rifle Expert Badge (Third Award),
• Letter of Appreciation (2)

E6 TIMOTHY O. YOUNG

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

Intelligence Specialist First Class E6

Dates of Service

1981-1989

Conflict Served

Urgent Fury | Grenada | Beirut

Medals and Honors

• Navy Expeditionary Medal (2) ,
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,
• Navy Unit Commendation,
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 3 Bronze stars,
• Navy Battle E Ribbon,
• Good Conduct Medal (second),
• Navy Achievement Medal,
• New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal

PFC WILLIAM H. AYRES

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Private First Class

Dates of Service

Nov 21,1942-Nov 7, 1945

Conflict Served

World War II- Pacific Arena

Medals and Honors

Purple Heart

AIRMAN SECOND CLASS CHARLES E. DOWNS

Served in

U.S. Air Force

Rank

Airman Second Class

Dates of Service

Active service - 1954-1958; plus four years inactive service

CORPORAL GEORGE G. FERROGINE

Served in

U.S. Marine Corps

Rank

Corporal

Dates of Service

1966 - 1969

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

•  Purple Heart w/2*,
• National Defense Service Medal,
• Vietnamese Service Medal,
• Vietnam Campaign Medal,
• Presidential Unit Citation

SERGEANT WILLIAM "BUCKY" hALL

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Sergeant E5

Dates of Service

September 6, 1967 - September 5, 1969

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

Purple Heart

MSG E8 EDWIN KORTRIGHT

Served in

U.S. Aarmy, Air National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, retired

Rank

MSG E8

Dates of Service

1954-1997

Medals and Honors

Guard Cadet, Police Medal Army - Paratrooper Wings, Physical Security School, Police School

SPEC E5 ROBERT A. LITZ

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Specialist E5

Dates of Service

1967-1970

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

Bronze Star

SPECIALIST BRIAN A. RAFFERTY

Served in

U.S. Army, Army National Guard

Rank

Specialist

Dates of Service

2013-2020, 2024-present

Conflict Served

War in Afghanistan

MAJOR LOUIS F. SIWY

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Major

Dates of Service

9/23/62-7-27-67 Active 7/27/67-9/24/2002 Reserves

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

BOATSWAIN'S MATE SECOND CLASS (LC) JOHN P. STEMLER, SR.

Served in

U.S. Navy

Rank

Boatswain's Mate Second Class (LC)

Dates of Service

3/12/43-2/19/46

Conflict Served

WWII

Medals and Honors

• American Theatre Medal,
• European (2 Stars) Theatre Medal,
• Victory Medal,
• Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal (1 Star),
• Philippine Liberation Medal (1 Star)

AIRMAN 3RD CLASS PHILIP P. URBANO

Served in

U.S. Air National Guard

Rank

A/3C

Dates of Service

3/1/51 to 7/3/52

Conflict Served

Korean War

PRIVATE FREDRICK W. WILSON

Served in

U.S. Army

Rank

Private

Dates of Service

1953-1955

Conflict Served

Korean War 

CORPORAL DENNIS J. YUYHASZ, SR.

Served in

U.S. Marine Corps

Rank

Corporal

Dates of Service

1967 - 1969

Conflict Served

Vietnam War

Medals and Honors

Purple Heart