Fallen Long Valley Military Heroes Honored At Football Game

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Attendees at the West Morris Central High School football game this past Friday and a veterans’ group, honored those from Long Valley who lost their lives serving with the U.S. Military.

Corporal James “Jamie” Smith of West Morris Central High School’s Class of 1990, as well as PFC Stanley Pfrommer of the Class of 1962; Lt. Allison Speirs Berry of the Class of 1964; SFC Larry Maysey of the Class of 1965; and PFC John Lindaberry of the Class of 1966, were all remembered at the high school’s football game on Oct. 1.

Before the start of the game between West Morris Central and Randolph, with West Morris Central taking the game 35-0, the American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776, presented the colors. There was a moment of silence for Smith, Pfrommer, Speirs Berry, Maysey and Lindaberry.

This past Sunday, Washington Township also remembered Smith - who had played varsity football and lacrosse at West Morris Central - on the 28th anniversary of his passing, with Oct. 3 designated both Corporal Jamie Smith Day and Sergeant Dominic Pilla Day in New Jersey.

Smith and Pilla, who was from Vineland, were remembered for their bravery on Oct. 3, 1993 during “Operation Restore Hope” in Mogadishu, Somalia. It was here that a mission, only expected to take one hour, dragged on for approximately 18 hours after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down over hostile territory. Smith and Pilla came to their aid, with Smith - an Army Ranger - shot in the femoral artery on his thigh. Smith perished at the site, after fellow Rangers couldn’t transport him from there.

Until the time of the 2004 Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation Restore Hope became know as the battle that shed the most blood of U.S. Troops since the Vietnam War.

Smith, 21, was posthumously honored with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster.

His valiant final act is memorialized in the book by Philadelphia Inquirer Reporter Mark Bowden, who penned, “Black Hawk Down, A Story of Modern War,” as well as the movie “Black Hawk Down.”

Smith is remembered as well in Long Valley, by the street named after him, Cpl Jamie Smith Drive.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.