The General Assembly on Thursday passed legislation to memorialize two hometown heroes, U.S. Army soldiers James Leonard Francisco and Walter James Schmidt, who never returned to Laurence Harbor from South Vietnam.  

Sponsored by GOP Assemblymen Rob Clifton and Alex Sauickie, who represent the community in Old Bridge Township, the bill (A4620) renames a stretch of State Highway Route 35 in honor of Francisco and Schmidt. 

“Too many of our nation’s brave Vietnam veterans didn’t get the homecoming they deserved either because they were killed in action like Private First Class James Francisco and Specialist 4 Walter Schmidt, or because of politics. It is past time to stop politicizing moments meant to honor heroes and cement the legacy these young men earned in a community that tragically never got to welcome them home,” Sauickie said. 

At 20 years old, James Leonard Francisco enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968. He served as a light weapons infantryman with the 9th Infantry Division. On Feb. 5, 1969, he was killed in action in South Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

On Nov. 8, 1966, at the age of 22, Walter Schmidt’s unit was participating in Operation Attleboro when it was suddenly, and violently, engaged by two Viet Cong main force regiments. Schmidt was serving on a machine gun crew and continued firing at the insurgents until he was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire and hand grenades. He was awarded a Silver Star for his unquestionable valor.

“We are incredibly proud that James Leonard Francisco and Walter James Schmidt are products of New Jersey and Laurence Harbor. This memorial is meant to serve as a reminder to the community that we have two local fallen heroes who died for the freedoms we hold dear today and forever deserve our recognition and gratitude,” Clifton said. 

The Senate companion bill (S497), sponsored by Sen. Owen Henry, passed the upper chamber unanimously in March.