[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3489-H3491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEONARD G. ``BUD'' LOMELL VA CLINIC
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2170) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based
outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. `Bud'
Lomell, VA Clinic, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2170
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, a
state-of-the-art facility serving the region's largest
veteran population, located at 1055 Hooper Avenue, recently
opened in the Township of Toms River, Ocean County, New
Jersey, in the Fourth Congressional District.
(2) The local community, including veterans, believe that
this facility deserves to be named in honor of Second
Lieutenant Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell, a long time Toms River
and Ocean County resident, who served courageously and
heroically during World War II.
(3) Second Lieutenant Lomell was born in 1920, the adopted
son of Scandinavian immigrant parents living in Brooklyn, New
York, and his family eventually moved to Point Pleasant
Beach, New Jersey.
(4) After graduating from Tennessee Wesleyan College,
Second Lieutenant Lomell was drafted into the Army, serving
first with the 76th (Liberty Bell) Infantry Division. When
the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed in April 1943, Leonard
Lomell was invited to be the First Sergeant of D Company.
(5) On D-Day, June 6, 1944, First Sergeant Lomell's platoon
landed at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France, successfully
scaling the cliffs, despite a withering German defensive
barrage.
(6) Pointe du Hoc, a rugged 100-foot-high coastal promenade
along the English Channel was located between the American
landing beaches, Omaha and Utah. It was heavily defended by
the Germans and the mission of Colonel James Earl Rudder's
225 Rangers was to disable five 155-millimeter artillery
guns, which could have rained artillery fire on the American
forces landing on either beach, jeopardizing the invasion.
(7) Unknown to the American forces, the guns had been moved
from the tip of the Pointe and hidden, pointed in the
direction of Utah Beach, in an inland apple orchard nearly a
mile from the coastal batteries.
(8) First Sergeant Lomell and another Ranger, Sergeant Jack
Kuhn, found the guns undefended, and, with Kuhn providing
cover, Lomell destroyed the weapons with thermite grenades
and used his rifle butt to smash the sights of the guns.
(9) First Sergeant Lomell subsequently received a
battlefield promotion to Second Lieutenant, and was awarded
some of the
[[Page H3490]]
Army's highest honors, including the Distinguished Service
Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star.
(10) Renowned historian Steven Ambrose regarded First
Sergeant Lomell's valiant acts along with General
Eisenhower's decision to invade on June 6, 1944, as the most
significant actions ensuring the Allied victory on D-Day.
(11) Following World War II, Second Lieutenant Lomell was
appointed as the First Director of the newly organized Ocean
County Veteran's Service Bureau, serving from 1946 until
1948, before he attended law school on the G.I. Bill.
(12) Leonard Lomell and his wife, Charlotte Ewart Lomell,
settled their growing family in Toms River, where, in 1957,
Leonard established his own law firm, which grew to become
one of Ocean County's largest firms.
(13) Leonard Lomell was involved in numerous local civic,
business, and charitable organizations, including serving as
president of the Ocean County Bar Association, a director of
the First National Bank of Toms River, a member of the Dover
Township Board of Education, and a co-founder of the Garden
State Philharmonic. He was also National Commander of the
Legion of Valor (1964-1965) and President of the Ranger
Battalion Association of World War II (1967) and served on
the French Committee of Pointe du Hoc.
(14) Second Lieutenant Lomell is profiled in ``The Greatest
Generation'', former NBC news Anchor Tom Brokaw's testament
to the heroes of World War II, and ``Len Lomell: D-Day
Hero'', Steven M. Gillon's entry in the American War Heroes
Series.
(15) As a decorated war hero, model citizen, and dedicated
husband and father, Second Lieutenant Lomell is exceedingly
deserving of the posthumous honor of having a new and long-
awaited Toms River-based Department of Veterans Affairs
outpatient clinic named in his honor.
SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-
BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, TOMS RIVER, NEW
JERSEY.
The community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of
Veterans Affairs in Toms River, New Jersey, shall, after the
date of the enactment of this Act, be known and designated as
the ``Leonard G. `Bud' Lomell VA Clinic''. Any reference to
such clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or
other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a
reference to the Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell VA Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 2170.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2170, a bill to rename
the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans
Affairs in Toms River, New Jersey, as the Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell VA
Clinic.
Leonard ``Bud'' Lomell was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1920 and
enlisted in the Army after the U.S. entered into World War II.
Initially serving with an infantry division, Lomell quickly volunteered
for the newly formed 2nd Ranger Battalion. There, he became the
platoon's first sergeant.
During the earliest hours of D-day, First Sergeant Lomell's platoon
landed at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy. Their mission was to disable the
heavy defense artillery guns set to rain fire on the brave soldiers on
Utah Beach.
Despite all the fire and obstruction, First Sergeant Lomell and his
platoon became the first unit to accomplish their D-day mission.
Lomell continued to distinguish himself during the war, receiving a
promotion to second lieutenant and being awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star.
After his service ended in 1945, Lomell married his wife, Charlotte.
Together, they became proud parents of three daughters and continued
serving in their community. I am happy to say that Charlotte is still
able to see this bill being offered in honor of her husband.
Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell served as a great example of the Greatest
Generation. It is a fitting tribute to name the VA clinic after him to
tell the story of his service.
I thank the sponsor of this bill, Representative Smith, as well as
the entire New Jersey delegation for honoring their fellow New Jerseyan
with this tribute.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2170, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
{time} 1530
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2170 to name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New
Jersey, after Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell.
Mr. Lomell was born in Brooklyn, New York, but soon relocated with
his family to Point Pleasant, where he went on to attend Wesleyan
College on a full scholarship and quickly volunteered as an Army Ranger
after World War II broke out.
Mr. Lomell and his platoon received a pivotal assignment on D-day
that would change the course of the war forever. He and his fellow
Rangers would scale 100-foot cliffs on ropes and find and destroy
German artillery that posed a huge danger to the Allied troops landing
on the beach below.
Undaunted by the impossibility of this task, Mr. Lomell and his
platoon undertook their task. Despite being shot in the side and nearly
drowning the moment he stepped off his landing craft, Mr. Lomell
continued onward and successfully scaled the wall.
However, upon reaching the top, he and his fellow Rangers realized
the weapons were decoys designed to be a deterrent to the troops below.
Even this was not reason enough for Mr. Lomell to give up. He and his
team quickly found the real weapons unguarded nearby and destroyed
them.
For his heroism and for saving countless lives, Mr. Lomell received
the Distinguished Service Cross. Following the fighting at D-day, Mr.
Lomell continued to serve his country in other battles, earning a
Silver Star. After receiving another injury, he was honorably
discharged in December of 1945.
After the war, Mr. Lomell returned to New Jersey, where he settled in
Toms River. He graduated from Rutgers University Law School, married
and had three daughters, and opened a successful law practice. He died
in 2011 at age 91, and his grateful hometown honored him with the
creation of Lomell Lane.
I can think of no better way to honor Mr. Lomell and demonstrate our
Nation's continued gratitude for his service than to name this VA
clinic in his honor.
I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the sponsor of this legislation
and my good friend.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the
distinguished chairman, for yielding and for the job he is doing as
chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. I once served in
that position. I know how important it is to defend our veterans so
vigorously. I thank the chairman for that leadership. I thank the
ranking member as well for his support of this important piece of
legislation.
Let me just begin.
Today, the House of Representatives has the opportunity to further
recognize and honor one of the bravest and most highly decorated combat
soldiers of World War II, Leonard G. ``Bud'' Lomell, by naming the new
veterans outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, in his honor.
While Bud Lomell passed away in 2011 at the age of 91, his dear wife,
Charlotte, is turning 104 in September, and she and her family deeply
loved Bud and continue to deeply cherish his memory. I spoke to Bud's
youngest daughter, Renee, again this morning. They are very pleased
that Congress is poised to honor him today.
I also extend my special thanks to former Toms River mayor and
retired admiral, Mo Hill, for originally coming up with this idea to
name the clinic for Bud Lomell, as well as his incredible advocacy on
behalf of Bud and his family.
On June 6, 1944, D-day, First Sergeant Bud Lomell of D Company, 2nd
Ranger Infantry Battalion, and his Army Rangers were tasked with the
nearly impossible mission of scaling the 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du
Hoc and
[[Page H3491]]
to destroy the Germans' 155-millimeter artillery guns, which have a
range of between 10 and 15 miles, that threatened the entire invasion
which they believed were positioned at the top of the cliffs.
Bud Lomell and his Rangers, upon successfully climbing the cliffs
despite heavy casualties, were dismayed to find when they got to the
top of the cliffs that the Allied military intel was misled by decoys
and that the entire invasion was now at risk. Bud, I know
parenthetically, was actually wounded leaving the landing craft but
tenaciously continued. In one interview, he said: I lost half my guys.
First Sergeant Lomell and another Ranger, Sergeant Jack Kuhn, found
the five guns camouflaged in a nearby orchard. He discovered they were
all aimed at Utah Beach, although they could easily reach Normandy as
well. Remember, they have a 10-to-15-mile range. They could have taken
out ships, landing craft, and, of course, the infantry soldiers and
others making the beachheads.
With Kuhn providing cover, Bud Lomell used thermite grenades to
singlehandedly destroy three of the Nazi big artillery guns, then got
more thermite grenades and went back and destroyed the other two. Five
massive artillery guns were utterly destroyed, ultimately helping to
ensure the success of the Allied invasion and saving countless lives.
Historian Stephen Ambrose has described Bud Lomell as the single
individual, besides Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, as
the most responsible for the success of D-day.
In his book, ``The Greatest Generation,'' Tom Brokaw devoted an
entire chapter to Bud Lomell, who he first met 40 years after the
invasion of D-day. He noted that during their interview, even after
several decades--these are his words--he ``could almost see the tough,
young First Sergeant Lomell directing his men as they landed under the
withering fire of German forces.''
For his amazing leadership and extraordinarily brave acts, Bud Lomell
received the Distinguished Service Cross. As we all know, that is the
second highest military decoration. The citation said in part: ``First
Sergeant Lomell led a patrol of men through the heaviest kind of
automatic weapons fire to destroy an enemy machine gun nest. Later on
the same day, while leading another patrol, he penetrated through the
enemy lines to the rear and discovered five enemy 155-millimeter guns.
. . .
``[He] gallantly led his patrol against the enemy and successfully
destroyed the guns . . . . First Sergeant Lomell's bold and outstanding
leadership in the face of superior numbers is in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and
reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.''
Lomell also received a rare battlefield promotion to second
lieutenant, and it was said that ``there was not a man who did not feel
proud to serve with him.''
Six months later, Bud Lomell served in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest,
where he and D Company helped capture and defend the notorious Hill
400, which had claimed thousands of his fellow servicemembers' lives.
He subsequently received the Silver Star for his valor in combat, and
that citation says in pertinent part: ``Conspicuously leading from the
front, Lomell directed the successful defense of the hilltop in the
face of nearly overwhelming German counterattack midday . . . .
[Refusing] shelter and at risk of his 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.''
What an amazing, amazing hero. He was wounded at Hurtgen and again
several weeks later at the Battle of the Bulge. In addition to the
Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star, Bud Lomell received other
awards, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart with two oakleaf
clusters, and France's highest medal, the Legion of Honor. Those are
just some of the most remembered ones. There were others as well.
As was pointed out by my colleagues, he became an unbelievably
effective lawyer, had his own law firm, and was very active in the
community in Ocean County. He was even the head of Veterans Services in
Ocean County, the first person to take on that position.
As President Reagan famously said in his speech at Pointe du Hoc, the
men who invaded Normandy, including and most especially Bud Lomell,
``had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought
for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this
beachhead or on the next.'' They were ``the men who took the cliffs.''
They were ``the champions who helped free a continent.'' They were
``the heroes who helped end a war.''
Mr. Speaker, in enduring gratitude to them, I ask my colleagues to
vote for this legislation.
{time} 1540
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2170 to honor this very
deserving veteran, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2170.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________