In the Press...

By Alex Dyer
Published September 12, 2025

              TOMS RIVER — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic here is now officially named for late Toms River resident and Point Pleasant Beach High School graduate 2nd Lt. Leonard “Bud” Lomell, a World War II veteran who scaled the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France, in the early morning of D-Day to destroy key German heavy artillery.

              Lomell, who died at age 91 on March 1, 2011, was once described by the late historian Stephen Ambrose as the single individual, other than Dwight Eisenhower, most responsible for the success of D-Day, and he was memorialized in Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Greatest Generation.”

              President Donald Trump had signed the name-change bill in time for the 104th birthday of Lomell’s widow, Charlotte.

              “One of the most decorated Army Rangers of World War II, Bud Lomell served our nation and its veterans with enduring courage and selflessness, and is exceedingly deserving of this posthumous honor,” according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4), who wrote the legislation to name the clinic after Lomell.

              As a 24-year-old sergeant in the Army Rangers’ 2nd Battalion, Lomell and his men scaled the 100-foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy and destroyed a pivotal German gun emplacement, disabling the five 155-millimeter cannons with thermite grenades and breaking the guns’ sights.

              Six months after his efforts on D-Day, Lomell participated in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, receiving a Silver Star for his valor during the battle.

              “Conspicuously leading from the front, Lomell directed the successful defense of the hilltop in the face of a nearly overwhelming German counterattack midday,” according to his Silver Star citation. “Refusing shelter and, at risk of life with blood oozing from his ears, nose and mouth, firing his machine gun cradled in his bandaged left arm with his right hand, he continued to lead his men against another ruthless German assault throughout the entire afternoon.”

              “I am grateful that President Trump has recognized Bud’s heroism by signing this bill into law, and I am thrilled that Charlotte, who turns 104 on Monday, gets to see Bud’s many achievements memorialized in this special way — just in time for her birthday,” said Smith.

              The Toms River VA clinic, 1055 Hooper Ave., was opened in November 2024 and serves Ocean County’s veteran population, which is the largest of any county in the state. The Toms River location replaced the VA clinic previously located in Brick. The new facility provides primary care as well as specialty care, including dental care, women’s healthcare, mental health counseling, physical therapy and lab services.


This article was published on September 12, 2025 and can be found online at: https://starnewsgroup.com/2025/09/12/va-clinic-renamed-for-war-hero-a-point-beach-grad/