PHOTOS: Morris County Freeholders Salute 10 Local Veterans

MORRISTOWN, N.J.– The Morris County Freeholders on Wednesday honored 10 local veterans in an hour-long ceremony in Morristown.

“To all of our veterans, we have a simple, yet heartfelt message: Thank you, all of you, for your service to our country,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “We want you to know that your example serves
to inspire others who follow in your footsteps. Thank you for your service in peacetime and war, here in this nation and throughout the world.

• Louis Golia of Rockaway: Served in the United States Army from March 1953 to March 1955, during the Korean War. He was a division clerk typist, assigning incoming troops to various units according to their
  MOS. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the CCC Medal Germany.
• Donald Seath of Wharton: Served in the U.S. Navy from July 1956 to July 1962. He was a Quartermaster 2nd Class for Communication and Navigation. He was deployed with the Pacific Fleet, serving in Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Marshall Islands, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He received the Good Conduct Medal.
• Richard Yobs of Denville: Served in U.S Navy from November 1960 to July 1964 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was an Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer 3rd Class. His deployments included submarine service aboard theUSS Sculpin and the USS Sam Rayburn.
• Gennard "Jerry" Napolitano of Denville: Served in U.S. Army from 1966 to June 1969 during the Vietnam War. He was an E-5 Construction Surveyor and was deployed to Vietnam from March 1967 to March 1968. Service awards include a Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a National Defense Service Medal.
• Edward Hunter of Rockaway Twp.: Served in the U.S. Army from June 1973 to June 1976, during the Vietnam War era. He was a Spec. 4 Supply Specialist and was deployed in Europe for 2.5 years. He received
  the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal, and also was awarded the Marksman M16 Badge and the Sharpshooter Hand Grenade Badge.
• John Kessler of Randolph: Served in the U.S. Air Force and Army National Guard from 1966 to 2006. He was an Airman 1st Class with the U.S. Air Force Transportation and Para Rescue, and was a Second Lieutenant with the National Guard, stationed at Cape Kennedy, OCS Sea Girt, and Woodbridge. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Marksmen Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Achievement and Army National Achievement Medals.
• Brian Francis McGuire of Long Valley: Served with the U.S. Marines from Jan. 1986 to Jan. 1992 during Operation Desert Storm. He was an 0311 Rifleman, Sergeant, and Squad Leader assigned to Infantry Perimeter Security, Restricted Security at the Weapons Depot, and Naval Aviation. His deployments included Naval Air Station Bermuda; Western Pacific 1989; and Western Pacific/Desert Storm in 1991 with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. He received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal,South West Asia Service Medal with 1 Star, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and Expert Rifle & Pistol Award.
• Joshua Marchal of Florham Park: Served in the U.S. Navy from July 1998 to May 2002 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was a Boatswains Mate 3rd Class, who supervised the deck crew. He was deployed with the Atlantic Cruise in 2000 on the USS Detroit and for various operations on the USS Raven MHC-61. He received the Surface Warfare Navy Achievement Medal, NationalDefense Service Medal, Service Deployment Ribbon, the 1999 Junior Sailor of the Year, and a Letter of Commendation.
• Drew Elliot Hanna of Mine Hill: Left for active duty with the U.S. after graduating from high
  school in Nov. 2004. He trained as an Operations Specialist, spent a year at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2 before being sent to the USS Ramage. He served 2 deployments to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom and earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal.
• Jon Karl Hanna of Denville: Drew's father served in the N.J. Army National Guard from 1969 to 1975. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 112th Artillery, 50th Armored Division in Morristown in 1969 and transferred to N.J. National Guard Division Headquarters in Trenton. As a Warrant Officer, he was in charge of the ground surveillance radar unit at Headquarters and oversaw three Battalion weapons support radar units, earning a promotion to Chief Warrant Officer Second Class.

“Our veterans are our heroes because they have repeatedly triumphed over adversity," DeFillippo said. "They know what it is like to stand guard in the chill of the night while others sleep. They understand the meaning of hardship; standing watch at freedom's frontier far from loved ones. They have seen the horrors of conflicts and wars. Yet they endure, and it is this devotion to duty that gives us strength, and that inspires today's young men and women to serve.’’

The unique medal each man received was designed by a special committee of county veterans, with some variations in medals and ribbons for various conflicts and military eras, according to Morris County Communications and Digital Media Manager Larry Ragonese.

Pictured: (L-R) Back row: Drew Hanna, John Kessler, Jon Hanna, Brian McGuire, Richard Yobs, and Donald Seath

Front row: Jerry Napolitano, Louis Golia, Joshua Marchal and Edward Hunter

Images courtesy County of Morris