New Banners Honor Brick's Fallen Military Heroes

BRICK, NJ — If you drive down Princeton Avenue, you've no doubt noticed the light poles that line the front edge of Windward Beach Park.

Those light poles have gained a new feature: banners and plaques that honor men from Brick Township who gave their lives in military combat zones.

On Saturday, the banners were unveiled for the first time at a ceremony for Brick's Fallen Heroes, which highlighted the work of William Duffy, a Brick Township resident and veteran who has made it his mission to make sure their names and sacrifices are not forgotten.

"I moved to Brick in 2012," said Duffy, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8867 on Adamston Road. He attended at Memorial Day ceremony at the township's War Memorial, in front of town hall, where the names of those who were killed in combat are memorialized. But when he started asking questions about the men who were being honored, no one had answers.

Duffy was determined to find out who they were and what they sacrificed, and to share their stories.

"I had done something similar in Clark," he said. "I should have been a historian."

Last year, the VFW hosted a ceremony to honor the men whose stories he had tracked down. That led to an effort, spearheaded by Councilwoman Lisa Crate, to do more to honor the men who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"I was lucky," Duffy said. "I came home. They didn't."

"We can never forget their sacrifice," he said.

The ceremony highlighted 18 men who served, dating back to the Civil War, up through Operation Iraqi Freedom, and included family members from both ends of the timeline.

Joe Brower got up and spoke about Joel Hulse, who served as a private in the Union Army in the 9th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Brower, whose grandmother was Hulse's half sister, told of how Hulse enlisted at the age of 15 and died at the age of 18 in 1864. His regiment was ambushed by Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Deep Cree, Virginia. Hulse took a bullet to the shoulder that shattered his collarbone but insisted on walking back to camp rather than riding the ambulance cart. He ended up dying a week later of blood poisoning.

Also in attendance were the wife and son of U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Duffy, who was killed when his convoy came under attack in 2004. Duffy, who is not related to organizer William Duffy, also is survived by his father and sister. Duffy's wife and son unveiled the banner honoring Christopher Duffy hanging on the light pole.

In addition to the banners, plaques at the base of the poles commemorate each man's sacrifice.

William Duffy, who researched and found 18 names, said those honored were from Brick and died in combat zones or of combat injuries.

"We want to make sure their sacrifice is never forgotten," he said. The following are the men honored. See more photos below:

CIVIL WAR

John Curtis, Union Army, Private, Co. D, New York 48th Regiment Volunteer Infantry. According to the records of the New York State Archives, Curtis was taken prisoner on 18 July 1863 during an attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, and eventually died of heart disease on 28 January 1865 at Hilton Head, South Carolina. However, according to a former neighbor in Squan Village (the private’s former residence prior to Herbertsville): "Curtis died 17 January of chronic dysentery. The disease was caused principally by starvation." As of this time, it is unknown as to the whereabouts of his remains. Curtis resided at 589 Herbertsville Road. He was survived by his parents and four brothers and sisters.

Aaron Elmer, Union Army, Corporal, Co. E, 28th. New Jersey Volunteer Regiment. Elmer died at the Douglas U.S. Army Hospital, Washington, D.C., on 8 February 1863 of wounds received in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, which took place from December 12-15, 1862. He is buried at the Methodist-Prostestant Cemetery East at the corners of Arnold Avenue and Highway 88 in Point Pleasant. Elmer resided on River Road (now Princeton Avenue) and later with his wife’s family at 580 Herbertsville Road. When Elmer enrolled, his wife Mary Tilton was deceased. He was survived by two daughters.

Henry C. Havens, Union Army, First Sergeant, Co. F, 14th New Jersey Volunteer Regiment. Havens was Killed in Action on 9 July 1864 at the Battle of Monocacy, Maryland. He was buried in a mass grave, at the battlefield site, with many other Union dead. His mother erected a memorial stone in the churchyard of the First Baptist Church of Laurelton, on Route 88, Brick. Havens resided at the present day intersection of Rt .70/Rt. 88. He was survived by his widowed mother and two brothers.

Joel Hulse, Union Army, Private, Co. D, 9th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Hulse died at the Balfour U.S. Army Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 8 March 1864 of wounds received in action at the Battle of Deep Creek, Virginia, which took place on 1 March 1864. He is buried at the Osbornville Protestant Church, Mantoloking Road, Brick. Hulse resided near the present day intersection of Mantoloking Road and Adamston Road. He was survived by his father, 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

Peter Layton, Union Army, Private, Co. A, 14th New Jersey Volunteer Regiment. Layton died on 29 November 1863 from a bacterial infection at the Ward U.S. Army Hospital, Newark, New Jersey. He is buried at the Old Wooley Cemetery (Gravelly Graveyard) on Fairview Way, Brick. Layton resided in the Burresville Section (later Laurelton). As of this time, it is unknown on survivors.

WORLD WAR I

Joseph J. Clifton, U.S. Army, Private,Co. M, 311th Infantry, 78th Infantry Division. Clifton died on 28 October 1918 when he was Killed in Action by a German artillery shell while participating in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, the same battle as Charles Miller. His remains were not recoverable and he is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. Clifton resided on Bay Avenue, West Point Pleasant section of Brick Township. He was survived by his mother and four brothers.

Charles Miller, U.S. Army, Private, Co. D, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Miller died on 28 September 1918 when he was killed in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France. This final Allied offensive of the war stretched along the entire Western Front and eventually forced the Germans to surrender. He is buried at the Osbornville Protestant Church, Mantoloking Road,
Brick. Miller resided on Mantoloking Road across from the present day Adamston Drrve. He was survived by his parents and two brothers.

WORLD WAR II

Robert H. Folsom, U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant, 844th. Engineer Aviation Battalion. Folsom died on 16 June 1945 from a kidney infection at Halloran General Army US Hospital, Staten Island, New York. Folsom had served in Europe since 1943, was stricken in England and brought back to the
states for further treatment. He is buried at the First Baptist Church of Laurelton on Route 88, Brick. Folsom resided on Parker Avenue. He was survived by his wife, parents, two sisters and one brother.

VIETNAM

Robert Crouter, U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant, Co. D, 2nd Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade. Crouter died on 20 May 1968 as a result of non-hostile action, when he was in a motor vehicle accident while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt. Crouter resided at 702 Cherry Lane. He was survived by his parents and an older brother.

Raymond Dege, U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class, 149th Maintenance Co., 62nd Maintenance Battalion. Dege died on 7 May 1970 as a result of non-hostile action, when he was in a military
vehicle on a military mission while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River. Dege resided at 28 Fairview Avenue. He was survived by his parents, five sisters and one brother.

Don R. Harger, U.S. Army, Warrant Officer1, 18th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion. Harger died on 17 August 1967 as a result of non-hostile action when he was a co-pilot of a military aircraft, which departed on a mission and did not reach its destination while
serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the Maplewood Memorial Cemetery, Freehold. Harger resided at 119 Roosevelt Drive. He was survived by his wife and two sons.

Carl Lamberson Jr., U.S. Army, 1st Lieutenant, E Co., 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade. Lamberson died on 2 July 1969 as a result of non-hostile action, when as a platoon leader, he was given a mission to rescue a helicopter crew that had crashed near a river while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle. Lamberson resided at 5 Princeton Avenue. He was survived by his wife, parents, three brothers and three sisters.

James Lospinuso, U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant, E Co., 20th Infantry. Lospinuso died on 10 January 1972 as a result of non-hostile action during his 2nd tour of duty while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. As of this time, it is unknown on what street Lospinuso resided. However, his son Jurgen does confirm that it was in fact in Brick. He was survived by his wife, two children, parents and 12 brothers and sisters.

Donald Marshall, U.S. Marine Corps, Lance Corporal, H/S Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Marshall died on 8 September 1967 when he was Killed in Action by enemy hostile rifle fire while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Toms River. Marshall resided at 5 Cross Trees Road. He was survived by his parents, one brother and one sister.

James Nash, U.S. Marine Corps, Private First Class, L Co., 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines,
1st Marine Division. Nash died on 24 July 1966 when he was Killed in Action engaging against enemy forces, while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt. Nash resided at 701 Cherry Lane. He was survived by his parents and a brother.

Cornelius Ram, U.S. Marine Corps, Major, H/S Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Ram died on 10 January 1971 when he was Killed in Action while coming to the aid of
fellow Marines who were engaged against enemy forces while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River. Ram resided at 191 Cartegena Drive. He was survived by his wife and six children.

Thomas Yohn, U.S. Army, Private First Class, Hqs. Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (The Screaming Eagles). Yohn died on 8 June 1966 when he was Killed in Action while engaged against enemy forces in hostile ground action while serving in Vietnam. He is buried at the First Baptist Church of Laurelton on Route 88 in Brick. Yohn resided at 535 Barber Avenue. He was survived by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

Christopher Duffy, Army National Guard, Specialist, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery. Duffy died on 4 June 2004 when he was Killed in Action by insurgents, who were attacking his convoy using improvised explosive devices and rocket propelled grenades while serving in Iraq. He is buried at the Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River. Duffy reside at 966 Linden Avenue and Brick Boulevard. He was survived by his wife, son, father and sister.

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