[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7347 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7347
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES S. KETTLES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles was born in
Ypsilanti, Michigan, on January 9, 1930.
(2) Lieutenant Colonel Kettles was drafted to the Army at
age 21, and after attending Officer Candidate School, earned
his commission as an armor officer in the United States Army
Reserve on February 28, 1953.
(3) Lieutenant Colonel Kettles graduated from the Army
Aviation School in 1953 before serving active duty tours in
South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
(4) Lieutenant Colonel Kettles volunteered for active duty
in 1963 when the United States was engaged in the Vietnam War.
(5) Some of the awards and decorations earned by Lieutenant
Colonel Kettles include the following:
(A) The Medal of Honor.
(B) The Distinguished Service Cross.
(C) The Legion of Merit.
(D) The Distinguished Flying Cross.
(E) The Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf
cluster.
(F) The Air Medal with numeral 27.
(G) The Korean Service Medal.
(H) The Vietnam Service Medal with one silver
service star and one bronze service star.
(I) The Master Aviator Badge.
(6) The Medal of Honor citation for Lieutenant Colonel
Kettles states, ``Major Charles S. Kettles distinguished
himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving
as Flight Commander, 176th Aviation Company (Airmobile)
(Light), 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division near
Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. On 15 May 1967, Major Kettles,
upon learning that an airborne infantry unit had suffered
casualties during an intense firefight with the enemy,
immediately volunteered to lead a flight of six UH-1D
helicopters to carry reinforcements to the embattled force and
to evacuate wounded personnel. Enemy small arms, automatic
weapons, and mortar fire raked the landing zone, inflicting
heavy damage to the helicopters; however, Major Kettles refused
to depart until all helicopters were loaded to capacity. He
then returned to the battlefield, with full knowledge of the
intense enemy fire awaiting his arrival, to bring more
reinforcements, landing in the midst of enemy mortar and
automatic weapons fire that seriously wounded his gunner and
severely damaged his aircraft. Upon departing, Major Kettles
was advised by another helicopter crew that he had fuel
streaming out of his aircraft. Despite the risk posed by the
leaking fuel, he nursed the damaged aircraft back to base.
Later that day, the Infantry Battalion Commander requested
immediate, emergency extraction of the remaining 40 troops,
including four members of Major Kettles' unit who were stranded
when their helicopter was destroyed by enemy fire. With only
one flyable UH-1 helicopter remaining, Major Kettles
volunteered to return to the deadly landing zone for a third
time, leading a flight of six evacuation helicopters, five of
which were from the 161st Aviation Company. During the
extraction, Major Kettles was informed by the last helicopter
that all personnel were onboard, and departed the landing zone
accordingly. Army gunships supporting the evacuation also
departed the area. Once airborne, Major Kettles was advised
that eight troops had been unable to reach the evacuation
helicopters due to the intense enemy fire. With complete
disregard for his own safety, Major Kettles passed the lead to
another helicopter and returned to the landing zone to rescue
the remaining troops. Without gunship, artillery, or tactical
aircraft support, the enemy concentrated all firepower on his
lone aircraft, which was immediately damaged by a mortar round
that shattered both front windshields and the chin bubble and
was further raked by small arms and machine gun fire. Despite
the intense enemy fire, Major Kettles maintained control of the
aircraft and situation, allowing time for the remaining eight
soldiers to board the aircraft. In spite of the severe damage
to his helicopter, Major Kettles once more skillfully guided
his heavily damaged aircraft to safety. Without his courageous
actions and superior flying skills, the last group of soldiers
and his crew would never have made it off the battlefield.
Major Kettles' selfless acts of repeated valor and
determination are in keeping with the highest traditions of
military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the
United States Army.''.
(b) Designation.--The medical center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, shall after the date of the enactment
of this Act be known and designated as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Charles
S. Kettles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' or the
``Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center''.
(c) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the medical
center referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to be a
reference to the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 2020.
Attest:
Clerk.
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7347
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.