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. KET-
TLES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
CENTER. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles was born in Ypsi-
lanti, 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 Lieuten-
ant 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 volun-
teered 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 extrac-
tion 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 air-
borne, 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 con-
centrated all firepower on his lone aircraft, which was imme-
diately 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 situa-
tion, 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 ‘‘Lieuten-
ant 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.