    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-132
    115th Congress

    An Act

    To designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans
    Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the ``Lexington VA Health Care
    System'' and to make certain other designations. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled,
    SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
    (1)(A) <>  Private First
    Class Franklin Runyon Sousley was born on September 19, 1925, in
    Hilltop, Kentucky. Sousley served as a marine in the United
    States Marine Corps during the period beginning on January 5,
    1944, and ending March 21, 1945. Sousley graduated from Fleming
    County High School in May 1943 and chose to enlist in the United
    States Marine Corps. Upon completion of military basic training,
    he was assigned to Company E, 2d Battalion, 28th Marines, of the
    5th Marines Division at Camp Pendleton, California, as an
    automatic rifleman.
    (B) Private Sousley was promoted to a private first class on
    November 22, 1944. Pfc. Sousley landed on Iwo Jima on Friday,
    February 19, 1945, and actively fought in the battle for the
    islands. During the intense fighting, members of the United
    States Armed Forces secured Mount Suribachi and hoisted a United
    States flag on top of the summit on February 23, 1945. On
    February 23, 1945, Pfc. Sousley, alongside Corporal Harlon
    Block, HM John Bradley, Pfc. Rene Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, and
    Sergeant Michael Strank followed orders to raise a larger United
    States flag so it could be seen over the island. The iconic
    photograph taken of the six men, while they raised the United
    States flag attached to a heavy Japanese pipe has led to an
    immortalized symbol of American bravery, perseverance, and
    sacrifice endured by members of the United States Armed Forces
    during the intense battles of World War II. Pfc. Sousley was
    killed in combat by a Japanese sniper around Kitano Point on
    March 21, 1945.
    (C) Originally buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery at
    Iwo Jima in plot 9, row 8, grave 2189, on March 22, 1945, his
    remains were returned to the United States on May 8, 1947, where
    he was finally laid to rest at Elizaville Cemetery in Fleming
    County, Kentucky. Pfc. Sousley was posthumously awarded the
    Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit
    Citation with \5/16\" Silver Star, the American Campaign Medal,
    the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with \3/16\" Bronze Star, and
    the World War II Victory Medal.

    [[Page 337]]

    (2)(A) <>  Mr. Troy Bowling was born on
    July 2, 1926, in Hamilton, Ohio and completed his life's service
    on June, 17, 2017, at the age of 90 years old. At age 17, Mr.
    Bowling began his service as a United States Marine and was a
    proud member of the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines,
    5th Division. During the United States campaign to end the war
    against Japan, Mr. Bowling's unit was among the first to arrive
    on the beachheads of Iwo Jima.
    (B) While attempting to secure Mt. Suribachi, his unit came
    under intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming his
    unit. Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling in the chest and leg,
    leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At that
    moment, Mr. Bowling said he looked to the heavens and committed
    to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he survived.
    (C) Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team
    then carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft where
    he witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mt.
    Suribachi--an iconic image that persists as one of the most
    legendary and triumphant moments of the war. The United States
    Marines eventually took control of the island; however, this
    victory came at a heavy cost as more than 6,800 United States
    service members gave their lives during the battle of Iwo Jima.
    (D) In keeping faith with his commitment to God made during
    that battle, Mr. Bowling devoted more than 78,000 hours of
    volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical Center.
    For more than 66 years, Mr. Bowling has risen through the ranks
    within the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization,
    holding nearly every position possible, including State
    Commander. Mr. Bowling received the George H. Seal Award for
    outstanding volunteer, which he received at the 2005 National
    DAV Convention in Las Vegas and the Lifetime Service Achievement
    Award from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Mr. Bowling was
    also nominated and selected to be inducted in the Kentucky
    Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to veterans.
    SEC. 2. LEXINGTON VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

    (a) Designation.--The health care system of the Department of
    Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, shall after the date of the
    enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Lexington VA
    Health Care System''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
    document, paper, or other record of the United States to the health care
    system referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference
    to the ``Lexington VA Health Care System''.
    SEC. 3. TROY BOWLING CAMPUS.

    (a) Designation.--The health care facility of the Department of
    Veterans Affairs located at 1101 Veterans Drive in Lexington, Kentucky,
    shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
    designated as the ``Troy Bowling Campus''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
    document, paper, or other record of the United States to the health care
    facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference
    to the ``Troy Bowling Campus''.

    [[Page 338]]

    SEC. 4. FRANKLIN R. SOUSLEY CAMPUS.

    (a) Designation.--The health care facility of the Department of
    Veterans Affairs located at 2250 Leestown Road in Lexington, Kentucky,
    shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
    designated as the ``Franklin R. Sousley Campus''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
    document, paper, or other record of the United States to the health care
    facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference
    to the ``Franklin R. Sousley Campus''.

    Approved March 9, 2018.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4533:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
    Feb. 13, considered and passed House.
    Feb. 15, considered and passed Senate.