I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2210 

To designate the community living center of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the ‘‘Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2017 

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. 

MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. MEEHAN, and Mr. DENT) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To designate the community living center of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, 

Pennsylvania, as the ‘‘Sergeant Joseph George Kusick 

VA Community Living Center’’. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) Sergeant Joseph George Kusick of Bruin, 

6 Pennsylvania, was assigned to the command and 

7 control detachment of the 5th Special Forces Group 

8 (Airborne) of the Army during the Vietnam War. 


lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
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•HR 2210 IH

1 (2) On November 8, 1967, Kusick distinguished 

2 himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serv3 ing as a radio operator of a special forces reconnais4 sance team on a combat mission deep in hostile ter5 ritory. 

6 (3) During an enemy ambush, Kusick, though 

7 seriously wounded, refused aid and radioed the for8 ward air controller to advise him of the critical situ9 ation. 

10 (4) While the team leader led a withdrawal to 

11 a landing zone, Kusick maintained contact with the 

12 controller and requested emergency extraction. 

13 (5) Realizing the importance of having a radio 

14 operator on the ground to direct landings, Kusick 

15 refused evacuation by the first helicopter. 

16 (6) After the second helicopter was shot down, 

17 and in the midst of enemy fire, Kusick continued to 

18 maintain radio contact and called for a hoist extrac19 tion of the men still remaining on the ground. 

20 (7) The last helicopter, which Kusick boarded, 

21 was shot down by intense Viet Cong fire and crashed 

22 in flames, resulting in Kusick’s death. 

23 (8) On December 22, 1967, Kusick was post24 humously awarded the Silver Star Medal for gal25 lantry in action. 


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•HR 2210 IH

1 (9) The citation to accompany the award of the 

2 Silver Star Medal stated that ‘‘Kusick’s gallantry in 

3 action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with 

4 the highest traditions of the military service and re5 flects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the 

6 United States Army’’. 

7 SEC. 2. SERGEANT JOSEPH GEORGE KUSICK VA COMMU8 NITY LIVING CENTER. 

9 (a) DESIGNATION.—The community living center of 

10 the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, 

11 Butler County, Pennsylvania, shall after the date of the 

12 enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 

13 ‘‘Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living 

14 Center’’. 

15 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any law, regula16 tion, map, document, paper, or other record of the United 

17 States to the community living center referred to in sub18 section (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Ser19 geant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Cen20 ter’’. 

Æ 


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