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Afghanistan

Col. Kenneth Yeasky, Decorated Army Veteran From NJ, Dies Suddenly (TRIBUTE) Col. Kenneth Yeasky, Decorated Army Veteran From NJ, Dies Suddenly (TRIBUTE)
Col. Kenneth Yeasky, Decorated Army Veteran From NJ, Dies Suddenly (Tribute) Col. Kenneth John Yeasky, of Belvidere, passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2024, his family writes in his obituary on the MacFadden Funeral Home website. He was 60 years old. Ken was born on July 3, 1963 to Mary Ann “Tommie” Tomczyk and the late Edwin Yeasky.  He grew up in Carteret and graduated from Green Brook High School (Somerset County). Ken had a distinguished 38-year military career at multiple levels in different branches. He graduated from Kean University with a bachelor's in industrial engineering, and had graduated from numerous other military schools. "He wanted to be…
‘Enormous, Kind Heart:’ Hunterdon County Native, Devoted Dad TJ Bill Dies, 38 ‘Enormous, Kind Heart:’ Hunterdon County Native, Devoted Dad TJ Bill Dies, 38
‘Enormous, Kind Heart:’ Hunterdon County Native, Devoted Dad TJ Bill Dies, 38 Hunterdon County native and devoted dad Theodore Joseph “TJ” Bill died at his Phillipsburg home on Wednesday, Oct. 25 aged 38. Born and raised at his family’s home in High Bridge, TJ attended Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner before enrolling at the Mechanics program at North Hunterdon Vo-Tech School in Annandale, his obituary says. After graduating, he moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he “felt called” to serve in the military. TJ joined the Echo Company 1/285th “Rogues” division and completed overseas tours in Afghanistan before his honorable discharge in 2010. TJ then worked several posit…
Organs Of NJ Army Sergeant Killed In Motorcycle Crash Will Help Four Others Live Organs Of NJ Army Sergeant Killed In Motorcycle Crash Will Help Four Others Live
Organs Of NJ Army Sergeant Killed In Motorcycle Crash Will Help Four Others Live The organs of a U.S. Army sergeant from the Jersey Shore who was killed in a motorcycle crash will help four other people live. Dennis Andrew Vaccaro, 27, crashed on Tuesday, June 14, in Ocean Township, and was kept alive so he could donate his organs. Further details on the crash were not immediately known. An airborne combat medic in the U.S. Army, Dennis achieved the rank of sergeant, and spent five years in the military, including a tour of duty overseas in Afghanistan, his obituary says. He was apparently a student at Monmouth University, according to a statement published by school o…
NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says
NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says Pete Reed, a 33-year-old New Jersey native and global activist, died helping civilians in Ukraine on Friday, Feb. 2. Reed was "actively aiding in the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians when his evacuation vehicle was hit with a reported missile in Bakhmut," according to Global Outreach Doctors.  Pete Reed helps an elderly woman evacuate in Ukraine.Albert Lores A Bordentown native and US Marine veteran, Reed served as the country director for the nonprofit, and founded Global Response Medicine, a different nonprofit. "The GoDocs team is devastated by this news, as are our humanitarian ai…
'Invincible' NJ Firefighter Who Served In Marines And Law Enforcement Dies 'Invincible' NJ Firefighter Who Served In Marines And Law Enforcement Dies
'Invincible' NJ Firefighter Who Served In Marines And Law Enforcement Dies Vincent Doffont spent much of his life serving and protecting his country as a U.S. Marine and, later, his community in Hudson County as a sheriff's officer, police officer and firefighter. Doffont, 37, died suddenly this weekend, leaving those who knew him in shock and profound grief. "He was one of the hardest men I have ever met," wrote friend Blake Upton. "I always thought of him as invincible." Doffont, indeed, seemed indestructible as a football running back, defensive back and placekicked for the St. Mary's High School Gaels from 1999 through 2002. He was praised for his "speed, s…
Murphy To White House: NJ Welcomes Afghan Refugees Murphy To White House: NJ Welcomes Afghan Refugees
Murphy To White House: NJ Welcomes Afghan Refugees Afghan refugees are more than welcome in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy told President Biden over the weekend. Reacting to the Taliban-driven turmoil in Afghanistan, Gov. Murphy wrote that "New Jersey stands ready to provide safe harbor, support, stability, and peace to Afghan refugees." Gov. Phil Murphy's tweet welcoming Afghan refugees to New JerseyTwitter @GovMurpny Murphy, who announced the letter via social media over the weekend, said he was "making it clear that we welcome these brave individuals and their families to the Garden State." Meanwhile, the U.S. Northern Command @jointb…
Pilot Killed In PA Plane Crash ID'd As Air Force Vet Pilot Killed In PA Plane Crash ID'd As Air Force Vet
Pilot Killed In PA Plane Crash ID'd As Air Force Vet The pilot who died in a plane crash Friday at a Pennsylvania airport has been identified as a 50-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran. Andy Travnicek was heading north in a T-6 Texan when the plane suddenly veered to the left and crashed into the grass and caught fire at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport around 12:35 p.m. Travnicek, the sole occupant of the air craft, was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a commercial airline pilot and a certified flight instructor. The plane was part of the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, which flies World War II-era aircrafts. …
‘Very Proud Veteran:’ Army Cavalry Scout, Phillipsburg Father Of 4 John Hardcastle Dies, 40 ‘Very Proud Veteran:’ Army Cavalry Scout, Phillipsburg Father Of 4 John Hardcastle Dies, 40
‘Very Proud Veteran:’ Army Cavalry Scout, Phillipsburg Father Of 4 John Hardcastle Dies, 40 Army cavalry scout and beloved Phillipsburg father of 4 John W. Hardcastle died at his home on August 1. He was 40.  Born in Mission Hills, CA, Hardcastle served as a cavalry scout with the US Army in Afghanistan, his obituary says. Hardcastle was also a member of the YMIA, the Bernadine-May American Legion Post, and St. Philip & St. James Catholic Church, according to his memorial. Hardcastle loved the New York Giants football team and is remembered as a “very proud veteran.” Hardcastle is survived by Diane M. Huber & Clark F. Saul; his wife, Ashley Lukachek Hardcastle, and …
Special Forces Soldier From Washington Township Killed By Afghanistan Roadside Bomb Special Forces Soldier From Washington Township Killed By Afghanistan Roadside Bomb
Special Forces Soldier From Washington Township Killed By Afghanistan Roadside Bomb Washington Township native and U.S. Special Forces soldier Michael J. Goble was killed in combat in Afghanistan. The 33-year-old U.S. Army Green Beret died Monday of injuries sustained by a roadside bomb in Kunduz Province Sunday, Pentagon officials said. The Taliban reportedly took responsibility for the attack, which remains under investigation. More than $20,000 had been raised as of Monday evening on a GoFundMe for Goble, who leaves behind his daughter, Zoey, and partner, Jen. "I have never met a soldier that was more passionate and patriotic than Mike Goble," campaign founder Li…
Shark Tank Winners, Hunterdon County Army Sisters Launch Holiday Pop-Up Shop Shark Tank Winners, Hunterdon County Army Sisters Launch Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Shark Tank Winners, Hunterdon County Army Sisters Launch Holiday Pop-Up Shop A pair of Hunterdon County sisters who launched their business with help from NBC's "Shark Tank" are holding a holiday pop-up in Flemington. East Amwell natives Paige Dellavalle and Ashley Dellavalle Jung got a $150,000 cash infusion in exchange for a 35 percent share of the business in 2013. The sisters both attended West Point with a major in management and minor in systems engineering.  Although Jung was deployed in Afghanistan between March 2007 and 2008, a sudden shoulder injury kept Dellavelle from serving in a combat zone. When Jung gave her sister an outdated charm bracelet, just…
Former Bergen County Wrestler, 'Rising Star' Paratrooper Matthew Joskowitz Dies In U.S. Army Former Bergen County Wrestler, 'Rising Star' Paratrooper Matthew Joskowitz Dies In U.S. Army
Former Bergen County Wrestler, 'Rising Star' Paratrooper Matthew Joskowitz Dies In U.S. Army Former Bergen County wrestler and rising paratrooper in the U.S. Army Matthew Joskowitz died in North Carolina. Joskowitz's death was not training related and occurred around 9 p.m. on Halloween in his Fort Bragg barracks, division spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Burns said. The non military-related accident is under investigation, Army officials said. Joskowitz, 24, of Hackensack and originally of Fairview, enlisted into the Army in May 2014, and was an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, the U.S. Army said. T…
Newark Man, An Ex-Military Interpreter, Charged With Human Smuggling Newark Man, An Ex-Military Interpreter, Charged With Human Smuggling
Newark Man, An Ex-Military Interpreter, Charged With Human Smuggling A citizen of Afghanistan who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States after working as a military interpreter was indicted Friday for his alleged role in a scheme to illegally bring Afghans into the United States, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.  Mujeeb Rahman Saify, 32,  who has lived in Newark and New York, became a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. in 2009 following a stint as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.  Authorities say that from August 2016 through February 2017, he worked with groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan to bring tw…
Fire Damages Iconic Newark Deli Weeks After 'Sopranos' Prequel Filming Fire Damages Iconic Newark Deli Weeks After 'Sopranos' Prequel Filming
Fire Damages Iconic Newark Deli Weeks After 'Sopranos' Prequel Filming UPDATE: The deli's ownership announced later in the day on Tuesday, July 2 that it will reopen for carryout and delivery orders on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The dining room will remain closed temporarily.  Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant, a staple in downtown Newark for generations, is closed indefinitely following a fire at the business Monday afternoon, the eatery said.  A firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries battling the blaze at the Branford Place eatery, which was reportedly brought under control in about a half hour. None of the dozens of staff and customers were hur…