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.

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

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.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on

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.

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. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. Speaker, I support H.R. 2170 to honor this very deserving veteran, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2170, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.