Belleville Renames Street for Fallen Vietnam War Hero

Pfc. John Hoar

The township of Belleville, N.J. honored Pfc. John Hoar by renaming Cleveland Street at Dow Street as Pfc. John Hoar Way. Hoar was 20 years old when he was killed in action in Vietnam on Feb. 13, 1966.  

Anthony Buccino made brief comments about Pfc. Hoar who was the second young man from Belleville to die in Vietnam. Both young men were killed in action that week. Helder DaSilva was KIA on Feb. 7, 1966.

In September 2015, High Street at Van Houten Place was named in honor of Pfc. Donald Saunders who was killed in Vietnam May 12, 1969.

In 2006, seven street names in the new residential development at Essex Park on Franklin Avenue were renamed to honor veterans and four of the Belleville heroes who died while in service. Streets were named for Raymond De Luca, Carmine Olivo, Clatie Cunningham Jr. and William Hamilton.

Much of the information leading to the stories of the young men from Belleville, N.J., who perished while in service was gathered from and/or inspired by the Belleville Sons Honor Roll project begun in 2002. 

That project led to the publication of Belleville Sons Honor Roll - Remembering the Men Who Paid for Our Freedom written and edited by Anthony Buccino with Andrea Buccino.