Civil War ☆ WWI ☆ WWII ☆ Korea ☆ Vietnam ☆ Iraq I ☆ Iraq II ☆ Afghanistan
| Name | Narrative | Branch and Rank | Unit and Specialty | Conflict/Arena | Born/Died |
| Louis Berger, Jr. | Louis Berger Jr. was born in 1936, the son of Louis Berger, Sr. He grew up in Bridesburg in Northeast Philadelphia working at Ward chocolate on Margaret Street in Bridesburg for 25 years before he moved to Delanco with his family in 1963. The family lived on Washington Street in Delanco. Lou served in the US Army during the Vietnam War attaining the rank of Sergeant. He married Laura Maduzia; Three sons: Louis III, Leonard and Lawrence. Lou and Laura worked for many years at Holy Cross High School in Delran so that Len could attend school there. Lou worked in maintenance and Laura worked in the cafeteria. Laura died in 2009 and Louis was killed February 11, 2010. Lou and Laura are buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Riverside. | US Army, Sgt | Unit? | Vietnam | 1936 – 2010 |
| Gary A. Boche | Gary Allen Boche was born on D-Day, June 6, 1944 in Delanco. He attended Riverside High School and married Patricia shortly after graduation. He enlisted in the US Army in 1967 and was sent to Vietnam. He attained the rank of SP4. He was killed in Binh Long Province on May 10, 1968 and is buried in Beverly National Cemetery. | US Army, SP4 | Unit? | Vietnam | 1944 – 1968 KIA |
| Mason R. Buker | Mason R. Buker was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on October 6, 1950. He joined the US Air Force in 1969 at age 19, serving in the 514th Air Mobility Wing based in McGuire Air Force Base. His duty took him from New Jersey, to North Carolina and Kansas. He served on active duty from September 9, 1969 until September 7, 1973. He then served in the reserves from September 16, 1973 to October 1, 2006, covering the period of the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. He earned the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. He was highly decorated, earning a Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals, Outstanding Unit Award with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Device, Good Conduct Ribbon with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Reserve Air Force Meritorious Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with 1 Silver Oak Leaf and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon. Mase went on to work at McGuire Air Force Base as an Air Reserve Technician from September 1973 to June 1985, then worked for the Navy at the Naval Inventory Control Point in Northeast Philadelphia as a Logistics Management Specialist from June 1985 until he retired in October 2010. At the same time, Mase continued his education, graduating from Burlington County College with an Associate of Applied Science degree on August 12, 1980 and graduating from Rutgers University, University College-Camden with a Bachelor of Science degree on May 23,1985. Mason and his wife Cassie live on Third Street in Delanco. | US Air Force, Sr MSgt USAF Res, Sr MSgt US Navy | 514th Air Mob Wing Air Reserve Tech Log Mgmt Spec | Vietnam, Desert Storm McGuire AFB North Carolina, Texas McGuire AFB Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia | 1950 - |
| Winston I. Chafin | Winston Chafin was born in 1942 in Houston, Texas. He served in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. He married Joyce Yanarella and was a resident of Delanco since 1971. Winston was employed as an electrical engineer by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for 26 years. He was active with American Lagion Post 115 in Beverly. Winston died March 25, 2022 at the age of 80 and was buried in Monument Cemetery in Edgewater Park. | US Navy | ? | Vietnam | 1942 - 2022 |
| Wayne Clark | Wayne Clark was born about 1951, the son of James F. and Sadie Clark; brother of James M. Clark. The family lived at 404 Maple Ave in Delanco and Wayne graduated from Riverside High School in 1969. Wayne served in Vietnam. It is reported that he died from cancer in the 1990s, likely due to the lingering effects of Agent Orange. | US Navy | ? | Vietnam | C1951 - 1990s |
| James P. Coady | James Patrick "Jimmy" Coady was born in Philadelphia November 1, 1950 to George J. and Ann Coady. He later lived on Union Avenue in Delanco with his family. He joined the US Marine Corps, trained at Paris Island, then served in Vietnam. He married Roseanne M. O'Brien and moved to Riverside. Jim worked for RCA/GE/Lockheed Martin. Jim and Roseanne later moved to Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Jim died November 9, 2016 at age 66 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. | USMC, Rank? | ? | Vietnam | 1958 - 2016 |
| Wayne R. Collins | Wayne R. Collins was born in Philadelphia in 1950. He proudly served in the US Army in the Vietnam war. Later he was employed as a printer for Smith, Edwards; Dunlap in Philadelphia. He and his wife Diane had two children and resided in Delanco in later life. He died April 21, 2019. | US Army, Rank? | ? | Vietnam | 1950 - 2019 |
| Robert A. Cox, Jr. | Robert Allen Cox, Jr. was born in 1922, either in Coumbus or Delanco to Chauncey D. and Martha B. Cox, Sr; one of 8 siblings, including Delanco veterans Chauncy, Eugene and Charles.The family moved to Delanco from Columbus, initially living in the tenant farmhouse on the Chant Farm then several other places in Delanco before moving to 400 Poplar Street. His family was active at Dobbins Memorial Church in Delanco and enjoyed vacations in Cape May. Robert served in A Co, 69th Combat Engineers in Europe during WW II building pontoon bridges from 1966 to 1969 . Robert died February 9, 2004. He was cremated and his ashes spread in Cape May. | US Army, Pfc | A Co 69th Armor Inf | WWII, Europe/Germany Vietnam | 1922 - 2004 |
| David A. Dennison | David A. Dennison was born in Delanco in 1937 and moved to Florence at age 5. He graduated from Florence Township High School and Mercer County Community College. He enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard in 1954 at age 17 at the start of his Junior Year of high school. He continued his military career in the US Army until 1990, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. In 1988 he began work as a real estate broker and the the Township of Florence from 1994 until his retirement in 2013 as Welfare Workforce Director, Housing Inspector and finally as Recreation Director. He married Patricia Ann Sexton in 1964, with whom he had three children. Patricia died in 2008. David died November 12, 2020 at age 83 and was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Burlington. | NJ Nat Guard US Army, Lt Colonel | Korea Vietnam | 1937 - 2020 | |
| Eugene "Gene" DiFilippo | Eugene DiFilippo was born in Trenton April 14, 1943. His family moved to Florence, then Burlington, where he went to school. Gene served as an electrician for US Pipe in Burlington and was Vice President of his Union. He became Loadmaster in the USAF Reserve with the rank of 2nd Lt. He was honorably discharged July 1,1967. He established Topaz Marine Transport, which he ran until 2009. He married (1st) Marci: two children; and (2nd) Pauline Ziccone: three step-children. Gene became a part-time officer with the Beverly City Police Department in 1972. On April 16, 1974, he became a permanent full-time Patrolman. The Beverly City Police Department received a commendation in 1975 from the Township of Mount Holly, for their assistance in apprehending a sniper and rescuing wounded police officers, in which he participated. On November 15, 1976, he was promoted to Sergeant, then to Lieutenant on April 12, 1979. Gene was appointed Chief of Police on August 11, 1982. He retired as Chief on February 16, 1989, to pursue his boat hauling business. He was an active Rotarian. He died in 2009 and is buried in Monument Cemetery. | USAF Res, 2nd Lt | Unit? | Vietnam | 1943 – 2009 |
| William H. "Bill" Dillenbeck | William "Bill" Dillenbeck was born in 1934 and grew up in Willingboro. When he graduated high school in 1951 he was recruited directly into the USAF. He served in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War, retiring from the service in 1976. Bill married Karen and they moved to Delanco in 1991. Bill joined Delran and Delanco Emergency Squad in 2000. He trained as an EMT. Bill joined Washington Fire Co, serving for many years. Bill was also elected to Delanco Town Council and served for 16 years. He served as Deputy Mayor and Mayor. Bill and Karen, bought a house in Loris, South Carolina in 2015, traveling back and forth to New Jersey. They retired to Loris permanently in February of 2017. Bill died in 2019. | USAF. Rank? | ? | Korea, Vietnam | 1934 – 2019 |
| Donald E. Erlston, Jr. | Donald Earl Erlston, Jr. was born in March of 1954 in Danville, Pennsylvania. Don joined the US Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. Dan married Diana L. Volpert. He worked as a mechanical Technition at Consarc in Westampton. He lived at several locations in Delanco over the years, Burlington Avenue and Union Avenue. He also lived for 30 years on Bridgeboro Street in Riverside. Dan died at his home on Harbour Boulevard in Cinnaminson on May 20, 2019 at age 65. He is bruied in Beverly National Cemetery. | US Marine Corps ? | ? ? | Vietnam | 1954 - 2019 |
| John T. "Johnny" Estelow | John Theodore ‘Johnny’ Estelow was born on August 3, 1942 to Ethel and Clinton Estelow. He was raised in Beverly and was a member of the drum and bugle corps, Johnson Memorial Cadets of Bordentown. John joined the US Army in 1967 and served as a Specialist in South Vietnam until 1968. While serving overseas in 1968, John got word from home that the group was about to lose its meeting hall because of urban renewal. So he sent a quick letter to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Federal wheels began to move and Secretary Robert C. Weaver of HUD informed him that everything would be looked after – the youngsters of the corps would not have to disband after all. On return from Vietnam, John was selected to serve on President Nixon’s Inauguration Guard in Washington D.C. on January 20, 1969. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant. He moved to Delanco in 1996. He married Betty Fink and they had four children. John passed away quietly on May 11, 2013 in Gettysburg, PA at age 70. | US Army, Sgt | Specialist | Vietnam | 1942 - 2013 |
| Thomas H. Fitzpatrick, Jr. | USAF, SGT | 7th/2nd Air Force Strategic Air Command | Vietnam | 1947 - | |
| Gerard "Jerry" Fuerle | Gerard "Jerry" Fuerle was born on June 20, 1940, in Philadelphia. He joined the US Army about 1959 after the Korean Conflict with an eighth-grade education. His specialty was Field Artillery, Fire Direction, and Intel. His service was almost all stateside. He attained the rank of E4 and earned the 2nd Infantry Division Certificate of Achievement. He was honorably discharged, before Vietnam, but remained in the Army Reserve for the remainder of his commitment. During his service, Jerry got his GED and an earned an associate degree from the US Armed Forces Institute. After his service, he returned to Philadelphia. He attended St. Joes & Villanova for 1 year each and then studied finance at Penn's Wharton School for 3 years. Jerry worked for IBM in computer systems and marketing. He holds an early patent for a computer network interface. Jerry also spent seven interesting years working in Las Vegas as a professional Blackjack player. Before he moved to Delanco in 2011, his closest connection to this area was powerboating and water skiing on the Rancocas, which he did for a number of years. He currently lives at the Zurbrugg Mansion. | US Army, E 4 Regular Army | Various. At the time of discharge his unit was: A bat, 1st Rkt Bn, 12th Art, 2nd, Inf, 3rd Army/ Field Artillery Fire Direction Intel | Vietnam Stateside Classified | 1940 * |
| Texas R. Getz | Texas Richard Getz was born in Philadelphia on Leap Year Day, February 29, 1944 to Fredrick S. and Christine Stumpfe Getz. He appears to be the youngest of 24 children. The family did not appear in the 1940 Census for Delanco, but was living converted boathouse on the Rancocas Creek at 139 Rancocas Ave in Delanco for the 1950 Census. There were 12 children still living on March 3, 1953 when a fire burned out their home at that location and killed his mother. Texas was led to safety by his father; Older brothers, Frank and Lucky, jumped out a second story window and were seriously injured. Texas joined the US Army and served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam from 1965 – 1967. He earned the rank of Sergeant Major and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He was stationed for a time at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington from January 1993 to January 2004. He died at his residence in Clarksville, Montgomery Co, Tennessee on October 10, 2008 at age 64, and was buried with full military honors in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Christian County Kentucky. | US Army Sgt Major | 173rd Airborne ? | Vietnam, Vietnam | 1944 - 2008 |
| Daniel J. Hagarty | Daniel J. "Dan" Hagarty was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania in 1954. He lived on Kansas Avenue, Hickory Street and Vine Street in Delanco from 1954 - 2016. He served in the US Navy in Vietnam as an Aviation Specialist, a member of the VAQ-131 Hollygreens unit whose mission was Electronic Warfare and Air-to-air refueling in support of Attack Carrier Task Force operations. He was attached to the USS Constellation (CV 64), USS Saratoga (CV 60), and the USS Ranger (CV 61) deployed in the Western South Pacific and Medeterranian Sea. He was honorabley discharged in 1976 with the rank of E-5 - Petty Officer 2nd Class. He went on to work as a software developer for the US Navy and served as a long time youth soccer and Little League coach. He married Lindsay Fullerton in 1977. Dan is an active member of the VFW and American Legion. Dan and Lindsay currently live in Bradenton, Florida. | US Navy E-5, PO 2nd Class | VAQ-131 Aviation Electrician USS Constellation (CV 64) USS Saratoga (CV 60) USS Ranger (CV 61) | Vietnam SW Pacific Mediterranean | 1954 - * |
| Albert E. “Bud” Haley, III | Albert E. “Bud” Haley, III was born in Trenton in 1942 to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Haley Jr. He lived with his family on Burlington Avenue in Delanco where his father ran Haley’s Market, a general store located at 614 Burlington Avenue. Bud served in the US Navy as an electrician from June 1962 to June 1965, seeing service on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland during the Vietnam War. He attained the rank of AE3. After discharge, he married Barbara Ringer and moved to Riverside in 1967. He worked in the building maintenance department for Hoeganaes Co. in East Riverton for 36 years from 1970 until he retired in 2005. | US Navy, AE3 | ? Electrician | Vietnam Patuxent River NAS, Maryland | 1942 - * |
| Edward J. Hinkel | Edward J. Hinkel was born in Nuremburg, Germany about 1953 and became a resident of Delanco. He joined the US Army in 1974 and served until 1994, through the Vietnam War and beyond. After the war he worked at Burlington Coat Factory and Costco in Mt Laurel. He died December 4, 2018 at age 65. Burial arrangements are unknown. | US Army, ? | Unit? | Vietnam | 1953 – 2018 |
| Robert D. Hinkle | Robert D. Hinkle was born in Riverside on June 12, 1929 to the late Laura and Clarence "Pete" Hinkle. Bob graduated from Riverside High School in 1947 where he was an avid basketball and baseball player. After high school, Bob attended college for a time. His first job was with the Riverside Trust Company. He joined the U.S. Army in 1951 at age 22 and served over 28 years beginning with the Korean Conflict. Bob reports that he intended to join the U.S. Navy, but a Navy recruiter was unavailable. It was an Army recruiter who convinced him to join the U.S. Army. He did his basic training at Fort Dix, then Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to the 179th Division in Korea. He later served in the 175th Infantry. Upon graduation he was sent to Korea and served in the 45th Infantry Division. Later in his military career he graduated from the Command and General Staff College, the Air War College, served as an instructor, and, beginning in May 1977, as Liaison Officer for South Jersey to the US Military Academy at West Point. Robert proudly served his country and retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army separating from the service on May 9, 1983. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning. Colonel Hinkle earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart with a Cluster. His Silver Star citation talks of his heroism under fire, protecting his unit even as he was wounded by an enemy grenade. Bob married Joan (nee Brown) in 1954 while he was serving in the military and was happily married for 67 years. In 1964, the Hinkles moved from Delran to Peach Tree Lane in Delanco. In civilian life, Bob was employed by PSE&G Company as an Engineering Plant Supervisor. Bob and Joan have been very active in our Delanco community. He was a member of the Military Officers Association, the T.W. Daly Chapter of the Korean Veterans of South Jersey, VFW Post 3020 of Riverside, Riverside American Legion Post 294 and the Masonic Lodge #107. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Burlington County Country Club for 46 years. He loved most sports and enjoyed the strategy of a good chess game. He was a lifelong member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Riverside. Bob received special recognition for his military service as the Grand Marshall of our Memorial Day Parade in 2003. Bob donated his uniform for display at the Riverside Historical Society Museum. It was later featured in Delanco's Military Salute display. Bob was interviewed by Henry Lopez of the Delanco History Board on April 18, 2018 at the young age of 88. Col. Hinkle died on July 1, 2021 at age 92 and was buried on Patton Drive, overlooking the Pentagon in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on March 6, 2023 with full military honors. | US Army, Col | 179th Div, 45th Inf, 175th Inf Instructor SJ Liaison to West Point | Korea, Vietnam | 1929 - 2021 |
Updated October 30, 2023