NJ Vietnam Veteran to Receive Purple Heart Posthumously

A Marine from Elizabeth killed in combat during the Vietnam War will be awarded a Purple Heart Medal posthumously during a ceremony Saturday in Holmdel.

25-year-old Marine LT Glenn John Zamorski was killed in action by friendly artillery fire while piloting a cargo helicopter that was delivering supplies to other marines on the ground in Quang Noah Province in South Vietnam on June 11, 1968, according to a news release about the upcoming ceremony. Two other crew members, CPL Conrad Lerman and SGT Raymond W Templeton, also were killed.

The aircraft broke in two while still in the air and fell to the ground and upside down. Somehow, co-pilot D.N. Jones survived the crash.

LT Zamorski’s brother, John Zamorski  of Cranford, New Jersey, will accept the Purple Heart Medal, on behalf of his older sibling Sat. February 7, at 12:30 p.m.,  during a ceremony at the Vietnam Era Museum, at 1 Memorial Lane in Holmdel, NJ (Exit 116 PNC Bank Arts Center).

“We’re proud of his service to the country and happy that his service and sacrifice are being awarded with this great distinction,” said John Zamorski.

Zamorski  noted his family hopes to spread awareness to other veterans who may be eligible for a Purple Heart after recent regulation changes were made to include friendly fire casualties.

“Accepting a Purple Heart is such an honor for our family and an honor for Glenn,” Zamorski said.

William Linderman, Executive Director of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation in Holmdel , said the Memorial is dedicated to the 1,563 Garden State residents who lost their lives in the war.

“Adjacent to that is the only museum in the country dedicated to the Vietnam Era, so it’s a very special place in New Jersey,” added Linderman.