PUBLIC LAW 115–132—MAR. 9, 2018 

LEXINGTON VA HEALTH CARE 

SYSTEM AND OTHER DESIGNATIONS 


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132 STAT. 336 PUBLIC LAW 115–132—MAR. 9, 2018 

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. 

Franklin Runyon 

Sousley. 

Mar. 9, 2018 

[H.R. 4533] 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–132—MAR. 9, 2018 132 STAT. 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’’. 

Troy Bowling. 


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132 STAT. 338 PUBLIC LAW 115–132—MAR. 9, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4533: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018): 

Feb. 13, considered and passed House. 

Feb. 15, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

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. 


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