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Staff Sgt. Jason M. Butkus
34
West Milford
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1st Lt. Salvatore S. Corma
24
Wenonah
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Forward Operating Base Bullard, Afghanistan
4-29-2010
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Lance Cpl. Curtis A. Christensen Jr.
29
Collingswood
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Operation Iraqi Freedom
1-11-2008
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Spc. Michael L. Gonzalez
20
Spotswood
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Sgt. James W. Harvey II
23
Toms River
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Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
6-20-2011
Harvey enlisted in the Army at the age of 21, went through basic training in Kentucky and was deployed to Andar province in January. Harvey, whose specialties included Airborne and Airborne Assault, relieved the 101st Airborne in January. James known to his family and friends as “Jimmy” worked in his civilian job at Public Service Electric & Gas. He worked in the Metro Division underground as a cable splicer helper and as a substation operator. He said officials told him they were looking to promote him into management. The Army awarded posthumously a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
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Sgt. Eric J. Hernandez
26
Waldwick
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Baiji, Iraqi
12-4-2007
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Lance Cpl. Jon T. Hicks Jr.
20
Atco
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Anbar Province, Iraq
9-10-2007
He enjoyed football and followed the Philadelphia Eagles. He liked playing video games and loved playing paint ball. He had seen the Marines as a pathway to law enforcement. He wanted to be a policeman badly, and believed if you've been in the Marines, you'd be the first chosen to be on the force. That's why he went into the Marines.
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Lance Cpl. Francisco R. Jackson
24
Elizabeth
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Helmand Province, Afghanistan
10/19/2010
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 13, 2009. This was his first combat deployment. His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He attended the William F. Halsey House, part of Elizabeth High School, before transferring to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools in March 2002. He decided to enlist last year, partly because he had plans to become an engineer, and hoped the Marines would guide him to a better life
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Spc. Kareem R. Khan
20
Manahawkin
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Sgt. Michael D. Kirspel Jr.
23
Hopatcong
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Spc. Steven R. Koch
23
Milltown
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Staff Sgt.
Andrew T. Lobosco
29
Somerville
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Sgt. John A. Lyons
26
Seaside Park
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Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
10-26-2011
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1st Lt. Jason D. Mann
29
Woodlynne
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Col. John M. McHugh
46
West Caldwell
| John attended St. Aloysius Grammar School, graduated from James Caldwell High School in 1982, and was a member of the graduating class of 1986, United States Military Academy at West Point. John was the loving husband and a devoted father of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael McHugh, U.S. Army, and his wife, Angela, Kelly Rose, Kristen, Maggie, and David, and grandfather of Abigail Lynn. He also leaves behind his parents, James and Mary Ann McHugh of West Caldwell; his sister, Mary Kate Edwards; brothers, James B. McHugh and Frank McHugh; in-laws, Jeff Edwards and Donna McHugh, and loving niece and nephews, Jim, Tom, Tim, Katie and Brian. John began his military career by attending the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he graduated as a UH60 Blackhawk Helicopter pilot. He served in the first Gulf War in 1990, and distinguishably served for 24 years at numerous bases throughout the United States and overseas, most recently being deployed for 15 months to Udairi Army Airfield in Kuwait. He was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations from the United States Army, including the Legion of Merit Award, the Purple Heart, and a second Bronze Star. A natural born leader, John was the head of his athletic teams, both at Caldwell High School, where he excelled at soccer and baseball, and at West Point, where he was goalkeeper for the Army Soccer Team. He continued his love of sports throughout his life, volunteering to coach soccer for his children.
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Pfc. Benjamin G. Moore
23
Robbinsville
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Staff Sgt. Jorge M. Oliveira
33
Newark
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Pakitika Province, Afghanistan
10-19-2011
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Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott
23
Manchester
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Helmand Province, Afghanistan
8-10-11
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Sgt. Alessandro L Plutino
28
Pitman
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Piktika Province, Afghanistan
8-8-11
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Maj. John P. Pryor
42
Moorestown
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Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard
25
Colonia
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Helmand Province, Afghanistan
1-19-2012
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Spc. Stanley J. Sokolowski, III
26
Ocean
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Lance Cpl. Jeffery S. Stevenson
20
Newton
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1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez
25
Hamilton
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Maj. James M. Weis
37
Toms River
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Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick Jr.
30
Blaistown
| Ron Wildrick grew up in Byram, New Jersey and was a graduate of Lenape Valley Regional High School in Stanhope where he was a member of the baseball team. He was a popular, well-known figure in high school, known as "Big Ron" because of his long, lean frame. Everybody knew him well because he was well over 6 feet tall and he looked like a string bean. Every single person he came across just loved him. I don’t think he ever had one single enemy in his life, ever, ever. He was just a really good guy. Ron was the type of person that there was never a dull moment. We could be sitting having a cup of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts, and it would be etched in our memory forever. Ron was a very good young man. He was a loving father to his daughters and a good husband. This is just a hard time for us. Spc Ronald H. Wildrick, Jr enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 18, 2008, as an infantryman. He had one year left on his four-year enlistment and was studying to become an electrician for his return to civilian life. He moved to Blairstown with his ex-wife, Stephanie Kasper, when the two started their family. The couple separated before he left for Afghanistan. Ron gave me two of the most precious gifts in this world ... our daughters! I will forever be thankful for that. He didn't deserve this and it breaks my heart that his daughters won't get to really know their father, but I will make sure they know he is a hero for what he did and will always know how much he loved them! They said Wildrick was known for his height. He was very well liked. The thing most guys will tell you about him is he's really tall. Just a good guy, family guy, couple of kids. Loved New Jersey. Spc. Wildrick served with the U.S. Army's honor guard in Washington, D.C., which has duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington National Cemetery. Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick, Jr.'s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Basic Parachutist Badge. Posthumous awards include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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These are the names of our FALLEN HEROES. If you have any information how this HERO lived, please email the information and a picture in jpeg to us and we will add it to the name.
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