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 personnel. Enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire raked the landing zone, inflicting heavy damage to the helicopters