Montgomery Township Committee Honors Local Veteran with Commemorative Street Sign
Nicholas Mistretta
At its regular meeting on April 17, the Montgomery Township Committee unanimously passed Resolution 25-4-133, approving the installation of a commemorative street sign on Community Drive in honor of local veteran Stephen H. Warner, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
The sign, which will be formally unveiled during Montgomery’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 10:00 a.m., was described by Deputy Mayor Vincent Barragan as a small but meaningful gesture — one that will ensure Warner’s sacrifice is remembered for generations to come.
Vietnam veteran Ed Davis spoke during the meeting, recalling Warner’s life and legacy. “Stephen was killed on February 14, 1971 — Valentine’s Day — alongside three members of A Company, 7th Engineers. He was just 24 years old,” Davis shared.
He went on to highlight the extensive exhibit dedicated to Warner at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center in Holmdel, NJ, where many of Warner’s photographs from Vietnam are permanently displayed. The exhibit offers a raw, firsthand glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers during the war — all seen through Warner’s compassionate and unflinching lens.
A graduate of Montgomery High School and standout student, Stephen Warner seemed destined for a career in law and public service. After completing his undergraduate studies at Gettysburg College — where he developed a passion for history and civil rights — Warner was accepted to Yale Law School. But the shadow of the Vietnam War loomed large over his generation, and Warner made his stance clear: he was firmly opposed to America’s involvement.
Despite his beliefs, Warner was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969. He chose not to resist, instead making the difficult decision to serve while remaining true to his anti-war principles. Assigned as a public information specialist — essentially a military journalist — Warner deployed to Vietnam, determined to bring humanity to a war he could not support.
Rather than remain behind the lines, he frequently volunteered to accompany combat troops in the field. His mission: to tell the stories of soldiers on the ground, to illuminate their daily realities, and to honor their experiences through the power of words and images. He believed deeply in documenting truth — even amid tragedy.
On February 14, 1971, while on assignment in Quang Tri Province, the vehicle carrying Specialist Warner and three other American soldiers was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. All four were killed instantly.
His photographs and writings from that time were later compiled into the powerful book Killed In Action. The collection features 22 photographs taken by Warner himself, alongside human-interest articles that reveal rare and poignant insights into the lives of soldiers caught in conflict. His work is marked by deep empathy, sharp intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to bearing witness.
Stephen H. Warner defied easy labels. He was a soldier who opposed war, a law student with a camera in a combat zone, and a man who believed that truth-telling — even in its most painful form — was a moral duty.
Today, his legacy lives on — not only in the pages of Killed In Action, but also in the community that raised him and continues to honor his memory. The new street sign on Community Drive will stand as a permanent tribute to a local son who gave his life in service, and to the ideals of courage, conscience, and compassion he held dear.
Montgomery residents and visitors are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day unveiling ceremony and pay their respects to a man who served, who witnessed, and who gave voice to those who might otherwise be forgotten.
Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com