On Memorial Day, we remember the NYSP members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving in the military, who are listed below.

Tpr. Clarence L. Moe – Troop G – October 7, 1918 – Private Moe  died at Camp Colt in Gettysburg, PA on the morning of October 7, 1918 of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 24.  He was a Camp Man, an original Member of the State Police, having enlisted as a Private on July 9, 1917 and being assigned to Troop G. The United States had declared war on Germany and filling the need to fulfill his patriotic duty, Moe resigned on August 31, 1918 and enlisted in the U.S. Army the following day.

Tpr. Earl R. Wilkinson – Troop G – May 24, 1942 – Second Lieutenant Wilkinson was on active duty with the United States Army Air Corps when his bomber crashed in a swamp near Houlton, Maine. Tpr. Wilkinson joined the Division on June 1, 1929 and was assigned to Troop A.

Tpr. Peter J. Formosa – Troop B – January 13, 1943 – Tpr. Formosa died as a result of a military auto accident at Hempstead, New York. He was assigned to the U.S. Army, 826th Guard Squadron, Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York. Tpr. Formosa joined the Division on July 1, 1940 and was assigned to Troop B.

Tpr. Milton Ratner – Troop C – July 11, 1943 – First Lieutenant Ratner was killed in action over Sicily, Italy, during a bombing mission. Tpr. Ratner joined the Division on July 1, 1940 and was assigned to Troop C.

Tpr. Bryant P. Stickles (BCI) – Troop C – September 11, 1944. – Marine Sergeant Stickles was assigned to coordinate the advances of two combat units on the Island of Saipan and was attempting to reach one unit from the other when he was killed by an enemy sniper. Tpr. Stickles joined the Division on August 16, 1936 and was assigned to Troop C.

Tpr. William O. Johnson – Troop B – April 12, 1945 – Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Johnson was killed in action as a result of a Kamikaze attack while serving aboard the USS Rall in the South Pacific. Tpr. Johnson joined the Division on June 1, 1941 and was assigned to Troop B.

Tpr. Charles E. Hover – Troop G – June 5, 1945 – Lieutenant Hover died in a plane crash over northern Italy. Tpr. Hover joined the Division on July 1, 1940 and was assigned to Troop G.

Tpr. Richard M. Relyea – Troop B – July 11, 1978 – Tpr. Relyea was killed instantly by a lightning strike on July 11, 1978. He and other members of the 479th Engineering Battalion, Massena Army Reserve Unit, Company B were on maneuvers during field training when the storm struck. Tpr. Relyea was a Korean War veteran and a 20 year Trooper, last assigned to SP Canton, at the time of his death. He joined the Division on May 22, 1958.

Tpr. John J. McKenna IV – Troop F – August 16, 2006 – Captain McKenna left a covered and concealed location and attempted to render aide to a fallen Marine when he was killed by enemy sniper fire outside the Iraqi city of Fallujah. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps as served as Platoon Commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. For his actions that day, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Tpr. McKenna joined the Division on February 14, 2005 and was assigned to SP Kingston.

Also, to those former members of the State Police who gave their lives in defense of their country:

Arthur J. Nealon – October 26, 1951- Captain Nealon, a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was killed in action while fighting the enemy in North Korea. He had been a Trooper in Troop B before resigning to join the NYPD – 52 Pct.

Alfred F. Simpson –August 9, 1967 – Marine Lance Corporal Simpson was killed in action in Vietnam. He had been a member of Troop K from 1955 – 56 stationed in Orange County. He was a Korean War veteran and was the recipient of three purple hearts.

Anthony A. Kaiser – March 17, 2007- Specialist Kaiser was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade. He died of wounds from small-arms fire after his unit encountered enemy forces in Baghdad, Iraq. Prior to joining the military, he had been a Trooper in Troop C from 2004 – 05.