Toms River VA Clinic Gets New Name: Honoring D-Day Hero Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell

If you live in Ocean County, New Jersey, and use the local VA clinic, get ready for a name change. This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River to the Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, VA Clinic.

The Name Behind the Clinic

This isn't just a random name swap; it’s about recognizing a genuine local legend. Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell was a highly decorated Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Ranger Battalion during World War II. The bill’s findings section details his incredible service on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His mission was to knock out massive German artillery guns at Pointe du Hoc that could have devastated the main American landings. Lomell and another Ranger tracked down those guns—which were hidden inland in an apple orchard—and personally destroyed them using thermite grenades and his rifle butt to smash the sights. Historians credit this action as critical to the Allied success that day.

More Than Just a War Hero

What makes this honor particularly relevant for the community is Lomell’s post-war life. After earning the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, he came home to Toms River. He was the first Director of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau and later became a prominent local lawyer and civic leader, even co-founding the Garden State Philharmonic. This dedication recognizes not just his military service, but his decades of community commitment right there in Ocean County. For veterans and residents, this renaming (Section 2) links their local healthcare facility directly to a hometown hero who exemplified service in uniform and out.

The Real-World Impact

Since this bill is purely about renaming a federal facility, the impact on everyday life is entirely administrative and symbolic. For the VA, it means updating signage, letterheads, and official documents to reflect the new name. For the local community, it means a point of pride and a permanent reminder of a foundational figure in their history. If you are a veteran using the clinic, the only change you’ll notice is the name above the door and on your appointment slips. The bill ensures that all existing government records mentioning the clinic must now be treated as referring to the Leonard G. Bud Lomell VA Clinic, making the transition clean and official.