TOMS RIVER – The Veterans Administration clinic just hosted its official naming ceremony, as it will now be known as the Leonard G ‘Bud’ Lomell VA Clinic.
Leonard ‘Bud’ Lomell was a local World War II hero. After his service, he assisted other veterans when they arrived home via his work with the local veterans affairs offices. His impact rippled throughout the local veterans communities in Toms River.
Lomell’s service included the raid on Pointe Du Hoc with the Army Rangers as a part of the D-Day invasion. The Rangers scaled the 100-foot cliffs of their landing zones but could not find the artillery they were sent to destroy at first. Despite being wounded on the field of battle, Lomell was able to successfully scale the cliffs with his comrades. After a tenacious battle, Lomell and his patrol found the artillery that they were looking for. The guns were pointed right at Utah beach and could have jeopardized the entire invasion had Lomell not destroyed them with thermite grenades. He also saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.
He earned several medals for his bravery in combat, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with two Leaf Clusters, and the Legion of Honor.
Upon returning home from the war, he and his wife Charlotte started a family, raising three daughters in Toms River. He became Ocean County’s first Veterans Service Bureau director, and he continued to work with veterans until he died in 2011.
The ceremony featured several guest speakers, including Congressman Chris Smith, who helped open the original Veterans Affairs clinic in Brick in 1991. He also offered the legislation that would see the clinic’s name changed to honor Lomell in July of this year. The bill was then signed into law by President Trump.
“It is only fitting that the new, state-of-the-art, Toms River VA Clinic bear the name of Bud Lomell – one of the bravest and most highly decorated combat soldiers of World War II. Bud’s name will serve as an inspiration to all who walk through its doors, as well as to the Ocean County community at large,” he said.
The final speaker at the ceremony was Lomell’s daughter, Renee. Renee’s speech thanked everyone for showing up and Congressman Smith for helping create the legislation to have the name changed before speaking about the honor on her family’s behalf.
Once Renee’s speech concluded, the cloth was lifted off a picture that shows what the building would look like with Lomell’s name put on the side.
When Renee was asked what it means to have her father honored in such a way, she fought back her emotions while describing how it feels.
“The VA takes care of veterans, that would please him to no end… all I can say is that this is meaningful because it is like a full circle.”
Other guest speakers at the ceremony included J. Mark Mutter, Toms River Town Historian, and former Mayor of Toms River, Admiral Mo Hill.
Other attendees at the event included Lomell’s wife, Charlotte, and John Wardell, an Army Ranger veteran from Point Pleasant who served with Lomell.
After the ceremony concluded, Lomell’s family and the prominent guest speakers gathered in front of the picture of the building to take pictures for the VA office, while guests who attended the event were treated to a luncheon provided by the clinic.
