TOMS RIVER – A proclamation honoring one of Toms River’s most decorated war heroes brought the Township Council meeting to a pause, as officials recognized the family of Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell and the legacy now tied to the VA clinic bearing his name.
The council presentation connected Lomell’s wartime heroism with a modern-day impact felt just a couple of miles away. Lomell’s name is attached to a facility local veterans now rely on, a clinic on Hooper Avenue that opened in recent years to replace the smaller Brick location and meet growing demand in Ocean and Monmouth counties. The naming came later, when federal legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Smith and signed in 2025 formally designated the site as the “Bud Lomell” VA clinic.
A Hero Remembered At Home
Council members spoke of Lomell not just as a decorated soldier, but as a young man thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
“So we’re talking about a young man, 24 years old, that had to do this,” Council President Dave Ciccozzi said, recalling Lomell’s role in the D-Day invasion. “I couldn’t picture myself doing this, and he was a true hero in our town.”
Lomell, an Army Ranger, was among those who scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc on June 6, 1944, disabling German artillery aimed at Allied forces. His actions helped secure the success of the invasion and earned him some of the nation’s highest military honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
His courage did not end there. He later fought in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge, suffering multiple wounds before returning home.
A Legacy Beyond The Battlefield
The proclamation made clear that Lomell’s story did not end with the war.
After returning to Ocean County, he became the first director of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, helping fellow veterans navigate life after combat. That connection to veterans services was front and center as his daughter, Renee Lomell, accepted the proclamation.
“Ocean County is a very different place today than it was then, and when you needed help, you had to go all the way up to East Orange,” Renee said. “Dad would be so pleased that now here in Toms River, due to the hard work of the town council and mayors of several administrations, people can get the help for PTSD and women’s veterans,” she said, referring to the clinic that now carries his name.
“Dad knew the cost of war and knew the importance of the VA services, and now it’s here, centrally located,” she continued. “On behalf of my mother, Charlotte, and the Lomell family, I would like to thank the town council and the mayor for the honor of this proclamation.”
A Story That Still Resonates
Lomell’s legacy has continued to draw attention in recent years, from historical presentations to national recognition. Historians have described him as one of the most pivotal figures in the success of D-Day, second only to General Dwight Eisenhower.
Closer to home, his story has been shared through local events, exhibits, and discussions that bring together residents, veterans, and historians. Those who knew him often described him not just as a hero, but as a man of humility.
There was no self-promotion and no grand storytelling, just a quiet commitment to doing what needed to be done.
Inside Town Hall, where a portrait of Lomell hangs, that legacy feels personal. The proclamation presented to his family was more than ceremonial. It reflected a recognition that the freedoms discussed in council chambers today were shaped by people like him.
For Renee Lomell, the moment underscored something lasting. Her father’s bravery on the cliffs of Normandy now lives on in a place where veterans seek care every day, in a community that continues to honor him, and in a family that carries his story forward.
And in Toms River, that story is no longer just remembered. It is part of daily life.
