Obituary of John Herald (Hal) Starr

John Herald "Hal" Starr, 94, of Edison, N.J., formerly of Tinton Falls, N.J., and Orange, N.J., passed away on April 22, 2015, at Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center, Edison. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange, N.J., on Tuesday, April 28, at 10:30 a.m. Interment is in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, N.J. Visitation will be held at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange, on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information or to send condolences, please visit prestonfuneralhome.net. Mr. Starr was born in Newark, N.J., and had lived in Edison for the past 1-1/2 years. He earned a B.A. in graphic arts from Pratt University in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was employed as a graphic designer for Ariston Industries, Hillside, N.J., from 1985 to 1995, when he retired. He also worked for International Paper and Continental Can Co. as a graphic artist. Mr. Starr was the beloved husband of the late Mary Gregory Starr; devoted father of Joan Kosch and her husband, Jim; Carol Boylan and her husband, Tom, and Peter Starr, and loving grandfather of Tim, Molly, Annie, Meghan, MaryKate, and Christopher. Hal served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, during World War II, and was a proud member of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops known as the "Ghost Army," which was a cast of artists, designers, radio operators and engineers recruited and tasked with deceiving the German Army away from locations of larger Allied combat units in preparation for D-Day and later battles. They did this using convoys of fake, inflatable tanks, cannons, and jeeps. This trickery is credited with saving thousands of lives through stagecraft and sleight of hand, all while operating close to the front lines without means of defending themselves. The Ghost Army's mission and tactics were kept secret for over 40 years to protect national security. Recognition of these men has been delayed and there is now an effort to honor these men and preserve their story. Donations to this cause can be made in lieu of flowers to The Center for Independent Documentary, c/o The Ghost Army, 34 Outlook Drive, Lexington, Mass. 02421.