NORTH BRUNSWICK — The township added two more names to the honorary street signs it has placed around town to recognize local veterans for their service — Paley Way and Francisco Way.
Robert Alan Paley was born Aug. 12, 1946, in Vineland to George and Virginia Paley.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 1965 and was an active member until December 1968. He started his training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and was first stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, South Dakota, in the 821st Strategic Aero Division Headquarters, from the fall of 1965 to the fall of 1966.
Ellsworth was a Strategic Air Command Base maintaining B-52 Stratofortress Heavy Bombers, which were being painted camouflage for transit to Guam for bombing missions over Vietnam along with the KC-135 Stratotankers.
Paley saw a teletype asking for volunteers for Thailand service, which was not generally known, so he submitted papers for a transfer to Thailand. He was assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in October 1966 and served in the 388th Combat Support Group headquarters until October 1967.
Paley’s last assignment was Bolling Air Force Base Wing, Headquarters Command, Washington, D.C., across the Potomac River from the Pentagon.
He received many medals, including the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period stationed at Korat. He was awarded the State of New Jersey Vietnam 25th Anniversary Commemorative and the State of New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal for service — Vietnam War, Southeast Asiatic Theatre Operations.
Paley has been a member of the American Legion and Clark Moetz Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2319, Milltown, since 1974.
He and his wife, Barbara, have been married for 46 years and have been residents of North Brunswick since 1970. They have three children, William and his wife, Debbie Ann, Debbie and her husband, Tom, and Bobby and his wife, Linda, as well as seven grandchildren.
A sign for Paley Way adorns the existing street signs at the intersection of Cranbury Cross Road and Newton Street.
Jose Carlo Francisco was born on Aug. 27, 1980, in Manila, Philippines. He moved to the United States with his parents and three siblings in 1990. In 1994, his family relocated to North Brunswick where he attended Linwood Middle School and North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS).
In high school, he was president of his graduating class of 1999 and was captain of the NBTHS wrestling team. He then went to Rutgers University where he graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health.
During his high school and college years, Francisco was a coach and mentor for young students. During superstorm Sandy in 2012, he organized a donation to help feed some residents in the community who were without power.
Francisco’s grandfather is the inspiration behind him joining the military. During World War II, the Japanese invaded the Philippines; his young grandparents experienced the carnage of war in Manila. With the help of U.S. forces, the family hid from the Japanese army. His grandfather fought alongside the U.S. Army as a Freedom Fighter under General McArthur’s commander, Major General Valdez. His grandfather was wounded by a Japanese soldier trying to interrogate him.
Francisco was a member of the U.S. Air Force from 2000-2008. He was deployed after Sept. 11, 2001, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He served with the 514 ASTS. His unit was responsible for providing medical services to injured troops and ensuring the safety and well-being of the injured to medical facilities in Europe and the United States.
He was one of three of the 130 members of his unit to be singled out for recognition by the assistant secretary of defense for Health Affairs and was Airman of the Quarter for his unit. He was honored by the German military for service during his stay in Germany in which he provided health services to injured German troops.
Francisco Way will mark the intersection of Commerce Boulevard and North Center Drive.
