One of the great heroes that I got to know and love during our interviews for the film and interactive for The American Battle Monuments Commission, The Battle of Pointe du Hoc, left us on March 1st.

Lt. Leonard “Bud” G. Lomell of Toms River, New Jersey served with D Company of the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D Day. As a young sergeant at the time, Len climbed the cliffs of “the Pointe” under intense German fire, was wounded and yet fulfilled his mission to find and render inoperable the big 155MM guns that threatened the invasion fleet. For his bravery and leadership, Bud earned a battlefield commission and the Distinguished Service Cross. He also won the Silver Star for his actions at Hill 400 in the Hurtgen Forest later in the war in December of 1944.

I interviewed Len over the course of two long days and got to know him and his incredibly charming wife of 64 years, Charlotte. We have recorded over 13 hours of interview material.

Bud loved the Rangers and loved speaking about the “boys of Pointe du Hoc.” Sometimes, during the interviews, Charlotte would roll her eyes lovingly as Len forgot a fact, and would interrupt him to make sure he said it right. I felt she got as much satisfaction being the true encyclopedia and database of Len’s Ranger stories.

Bud and Charlotte are the absolute best this country has offered all of us living in this world.

I am honored to have met him and filmed his testimony, enabling his stories to be heard forever by future generations.

Thanks, from all us, Bud.

Max Lewkowicz

Dog Green Productions

March 2011