H. R. 7347 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty 

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 
H. R. 7347—2 

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 
H. R. 7347—3 

reference to the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Department 

of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.