OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—On Monday, Feb. 24, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) delivered long overdue medals to World War II veteran and River Vale native Thomas H. Simpson, more than 70 years following his service in the U.S. Navy helping deliver food and supplies to Okinawa, Japan.
After learning that Simpson, 92, a former River Vale police chief, never received his service medals, Old Tappan Mayor John Kramer contacted Gottheimer’s office for assistance.
Gottheimer cut through red tape to secure the medals from the federal government and visited Simpson today to present him and his family with medals honoring his service to the United States.
Gottheimer presented Simpson with the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Reserve Discharge Button, and the Ruptured Duck Honorable Service Lapel Pin.
According to the River Vale website, Simpson was sworn in as the town’s third police chief in July 1972, following the retirement of Chief Nelson Roberge. By January of 1974 the department had grown to 20 full-time police officers and the township population was approximately 9,000. Simpson retired from the RVPD in 1992.
“It’s an absolute honor and privilege to hear Mr. Simpson’s story, and to thank him for his service to our great country. Throughout my work all across the Fifth District, I feel especially lucky to be able to spend time with so many of our brave veterans,” Gottheimer told the press afterward.
He added, “It is our duty as Americans not only to honor these men and women, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return, to ensure they have the care they need, the benefits they were promised, and the support we all owe them.”
Fewer than 500,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are alive today, he said.
Last July, Gottheimer presented a congressional medal to Tuskegee Airman Pvt. Roscoe DuBois “Chief” Draper, then 100, in the district. (See Congressional Medal for Tuskegee Airman of Westwood, July 22, 2019.)
During this Congress, Gottheimer has helped lead several initiatives to fight for North Jersey’s veterans:
He recently announced that eligible North Jersey veterans will now be able to receive health care referrals to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, following the hospital’s approval as a VA Community Care Network (CCN) provider—a priority Gottheimer discussed with the director of the VA New Jersey Health Care System this past fall.
Gottheimer’s announcement will provide North Jersey veterans with shorter drive times and greater access to care for veterans in the Fifth District.
The House passed Gottheimer’s bipartisan legislation to invest in filling the more than 49,000 vacant positions at the VA.
The House also passed Gottheimer’s bipartisan legislation to increase investment for the Veterans Health Administration to specifically hire more mental health professionals.