FALLEN MEN POST VIETNAM OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ MAY 27, 2019 1 NOTES This Booklet was prepared on behalf of the Burlington County War Memorial Committee. It is interrelated to the Post-Vietnam Monument that was originally dedicated October 21, 2010. Additional names have been added since that time. The photo on the cover was taken by Sgt. Richard D. Stephens The other photos and biographical information are the property of NJ Run for the Fallen. It is used herein with written permission. Prior to using any of the photos/biographical information, YOU must obtain written permission from the NJ Run for the Fallen. Additional information on the Men may be found on the NJ Run for the Fallen web site. The Burlington County War Monument Committee disbanded on May 27, 2019. The Post Vietnam monument was installed in Freedom Park, October 21, 2010, next to the Vietnam War Monument. It was funded by proceeds of a 5K run which was held on Memorial Day weekend and organized by the Medford Returning Veteran’s Committee (MRVC) and Marlton Assembly of God. Initially, there were 12 names of Burlington County’s fallen inscribed on the granite memorial. The chairman of the MVRC stated “We selected Freedom Park because of the existing monument”. He added. “Adding the new monument centralizes the park as the location within Burlington County for anyone who would like to honor soldiers from Vietnam through present day.” Over the years, the number of names inscribed rose to 16. On Memorial Day 2019, an additional 3 names were added. 2 The Post-Vietnam Monument is one of 6 that are located in Freedom Park, 86 Union St, Medford, New Jersey. The monuments and dedication dates are; World War I November 4, 2017 World War II May 27, 2019 Korean War May 27, 2019 Vietnam War June 15, 2007 Post-Vietnam October 21, 2010 Battle Field Cross May 27, 2019 3 Hometown: Browns Mills, New Jersey, Unit: Army, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Birth: Dec 20, 1978 Death: Nov 15, 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Age: 24 Baker enlisted in the Army after graduating from Pemberton High School in 1997. Because his father had served in the Navy, Baker believed military life would suit him. After basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Baker was assigned to the elite airborne division at Fort Campbell, Ky. In Iraq, Baker performed maintenance on the helicopters the 101st Airborne Division uses to ferry troops from flash point to flash point. When his helicopter was airborne, Baker's job was to man a machine gun mounted at the aircraft door. The position on the helicopter gave Baker a bird's-eye view of some of the war's heaviest fighting. He told his uncle: "War is an ugly business, it's not what you see on TV." The helicopter crew position also put Baker shoulder-to-shoulder with VIPs who visited the combat zone. Army Spc. Ryan T. Baker came home to Burlington County from Iraq to bury his father, Dane Baker. Baker returned to his job as a helicopter mechanic and gunner with the 101st Airborne Division with these parting words to his family: "Don't worry." Just after 10 p.m. Saturday, an Army major and a chaplain arrived at Victoria Baker's house to tell her that her 24-year-old son's helicopter had collided with another chopper near Mosul and that he was among 17 soldiers killed. Burial: Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, New Jersey 4 Hometown: New Egypt, NJ. Unit: 1-101st Aviation Regiment, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Birth: March 29th, 1990 in Trenton, New Jersey Death: April 6, 2018 Age 28 James “Jimmy” J. Casadona, Jr, went to be with the Lord on April 6, 2018 as a result of a training accident with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. He enlisted on February 13th, 2012 in the United States Marine Corps where he served for four years. During his last year in the Marine Corps, he successfully applied to become an Army Aviator. After receiving his discharge from the United States Marine Corps, he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Upon graduation, he was stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he served as a Pilot in the 1-101st Aviation Regiment. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, US Army Service Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge, US Army Aviator Badge and the Army Commendation Medal. 5 Hometown: Fort Dix, New Jersey Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. Birth: Feb. 8, 1972 Death: July 17, 2006 in Afghanistan; Operation Enduring Freedom. Age: 34 Robert was the son of an Army staff sergeant and spent part of his childhood in Germany and Georgia before settling in New Jersey. With his father stationed at Fort Dix, he graduated from Pemberton Township High School, Burlington County in 1990 and shortly afterward, the family moved to Woodbury, Gloucester County. In October 1991, he joined the Army and his first post was Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He had served in the 82d Airborne Division. Army Staff Sgt. Chiomento was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana. Robert was attached to a unit that wouldn't be deploying soon, but he didn't like remaining behind while his fellow soldiers/friends were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Even though he didn't look forward to combat, he transferred to an infantry unit heading to a hot spot in March 2006. He was serving on Task Force Warrior, which was involved in clearing the region of resurgent Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan. Chiomento died when his patrol encountered enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and mortars in Khwaya Ahmad. Some of his numerous military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Army Achievement Medal. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia 6 Hometown: Collingswood, New Jersey, U.S. Unit: Marines, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C Birth: Oct. 6, 1978 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Death: Jan. 11, 2008 Al Anbar, Iraq Age: 29 Marine Lance Cpl. Christensen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Curtis was born at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and attended Delran High School in New Jersey but was currently a resident of Collingswood, New Jersey. On his 28th birthday, he told his family of his plans to join the Marines and dedicated himself to making it work. Six months before boot camp, he stopped smoking, drinking, ran every day and joined the gym. Curtis never did anything half way and his dedication paid off. Upon graduation from boot camp, he was presented an award for earning the highest marks in physical training – not bad for someone who was the "grandpa" of the group. When he joined the Marines on October 16, 2006, he was trained as a machine gunner and was promoted to lance corporal on December 1, 2007. But his real dream was the hope of joining a special operations team similar to the Navy SEALs. Curtis was an avid photographer and outdoorsman – remembered as fun-loving and caring. Burial: Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey 7 Hometown: Medford Lakes, NJ. Unit: 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division Birth: February, 19, 1999 Ft. Campbell Kentucky Death: March 30, 2019 Fort Greely, Alaska, Age: 20 SPC. Nicholas Peter DiMona III, 20, of Medford Lakes, New Jersey, died during a live- fire training exercise at the Donnelly Training Area, according to a statement from the Army on Monday. DiMona was an infantryman assigned to the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. He joined the Army in 2017 and had been stationed in Alaska since April 2018. He grew up in Medford Lakesand graduated from Shawnee High School in 2017. Nick was a beloved member of YMCA of the Pines. Nick practically grew up at the Y, starting out as a camper and then joining the staff as a junior counselor, counselor, lifeguard and member of the School's Out staff. He volunteered here whenever he was on leave from the U.S. Army. His mother, Melissa, has been a beloved member of our year- round staff and his sister is a longtime camper. “Nick was an outstanding paratrooper with an infectious personality and an uncanny desire to excel no matter the challenge,” brigade commander Col. Jason Jones said in the release. “He will be missed by the entire Spartan Brigade. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family.” SPC. Nicholas Peter DiMona III was himself a Gold Star family member as his Father, Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas P. DiMona II, died in a crash of his Apache Longbow helicopter, during a nighttime training session at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, on June 22nd, 2004. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. 8 Hometown: Delran, New Jersey/Philadelphia, Pa. Unit: 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Birth: September 23, 1986, Elkins Park, PA. Death: Aug. 28, 2009, Udine Hospital after being medevacked from Gias, Italy Age: 22 SSGT Inglés DosReis died tragically on August 28, 2009, while serving at Aviano Air Base in Italy. He enlisted in the Air Force in February of 2005, immediately following his graduation from high school.