CAPTAIN PAUL W. "BUD" BUCHA VA MEDICAL CENTER

On 2026-07-15, Representative Mike Bost (R-IL-12) delivered a floor speech titled "CAPTAIN PAUL W. "BUD" BUCHA VA MEDICAL CENTER" in the House.

CAPTAIN PAUL W. "BUD" BUCHA VA MEDICAL CENTER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4476-H4478] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CAPTAIN PAUL W. ``BUD'' BUCHA VA MEDICAL CENTER Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4647) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in West Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Captain Paul W. `Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4647 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Captain Paul W. `Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha was born on August 1, 1943, in Washington, DC. (2) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha, a recipient of the Medal of Honor and an advocate for veterans, is an American hero. (3) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha, the son of a colonel in the Army, spent his childhood in California, Germany, Indiana, Japan, and St. Louis, Missouri. (4) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha turned down several scholarships for both academics and athletics and instead enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He went on to be a two-time All-American and captain of the West Point swim team. In 1965, he graduated in the top 5 percent of his class and number two in Military Order of Merit. (5) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha earned a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University in 1967, all while completing Airborne and Ranger training between academic years. (6) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha reported for duty with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to prepare for deployment to Vietnam as part of Operation Eagle Thrust in November 1967. (7) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha was appointed commander of Company D, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. His company was the last rifle company to be formed during an Army expansion. He jokingly recalled that his recruits were men who had flunked basic infantry tasks, former prisoners, and ``guys with master's degrees in Elizabethan literature''. He took pride in his company, dubbed the ``clerks and jerks''. They went on to become one of the most decorated units by the end of the war. (8) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha distinguished himself with extraordinary heroism while leading 89 men on a reconnaissance mission near Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam, from March 16th through 18th, 1968. As part of the Tet Offensive, his unit was dropped by helicopter and his men set out to repel attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. As the sun set on March 18, 1968, he and his men advanced into a dense jungle and found themselves outgunned by approximately 1,500 enemy troops. Under attack, he crawled 40 yards through the hail of fire and singlehandedly destroyed a machine-gun bunker with grenades, all while sustaining a shrapnel wound. He then orchestrated an overnight offensive, directing his men to spread out, throw grenades, and unleash heavy fire. He made the enemy believe they were a much larger force. His leadership led to the defeat of a superior Vietnamese stronghold, leaving 156 enemy dead. Come morning, he guided the medical evacuation of three air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel. (9) President Richard Nixon presented the Medal of Honor to Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha in a ceremony at the White House in 1970. (10) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha originally wanted to turn down the Medal of Honor because he did not feel deserving. In Vietnam, he asked his men to trust him and, in turn, promised to bring them home safe. 10 of his men were killed on the night of March 18, 1968. Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha ultimately accepted the Medal of Honor in their memory, saying it belongs to his men. (11) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha resigned his Army commission in 1972. (12) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha was an active member of several veterans service organizations (commonly referred to as ``VSOs''), including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. He generously served on the board of directors of Homes for Our Troops, a VSO that builds specially adapted custom homes for severely injured veterans. He also served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training Services at the Department of Labor. (13) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha used his voice for veterans struggling with mental health. He believed that all veterans, whether they have ``4 stars or no stripes, man or woman'', would be touched by post-traumatic stress. He used the term ``post-traumatic stress'' to acknowledge the impact of combat experiences on the mental health of veterans and he intentionally left out the word ``disorder'' to help destigmatize their struggle. (14) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha battled post-traumatic stress on his own for 42 years before courageously seeking help at the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in West Haven, Connecticut. In the final years of his life, Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha also received neurological care at that medical center. His family expressed deep gratitude for the compassionate and skilled care he received, especially recognizing the leadership of Dr. Huned Patwa, Chief of Staff, and Dr. Becky Rhoads, Executive Director. His family also commended the dedicated [[Page H4477]] neurologists, psychiatrists, and oncologists who supported him as his health declined. (15) Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha spent the last two weeks of his life at the medical center of the Department in West Haven, Connecticut, and passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease on July 31, 2024. In his final act of courage and service, he donated his brain to the Center for Human Brain Discovery at Yale University. SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF CAPTAIN PAUL W. ``BUD'' BUCHA VA MEDICAL CENTER. (a) In General.--The medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in West Haven, Connecticut, or any successor location for such medical center, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Captain Paul W. `Bud' Bucha Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' or the ``Captain Paul W. `Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center''. (b) 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 (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Captain Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha VA Medical Center. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois. General Leave Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois? There was no objection. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4647, the Captain Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative DeLauro. This bill would designate the West Haven VA Medical Center in Connecticut as the Captain Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha VA Medical Center. Captain Paul ``Bud'' Bucha was an American hero whose life exemplified courage, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to his fellow veterans, both on the battlefield and at home. After graduating from West Point, Captain Bucha was sent to Vietnam where he commanded his company during an intense recon mission. In March 1968, Captain Bucha displayed extraordinary courage while leading his company against a larger enemy force. Under intense fire, he destroyed an enemy bunker, directed the withdrawal of his men, coordinated artillery and air support, evacuated wounded soldiers, and led the recovery of casualties. {time} 1140 For this, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His actions saved countless lives and are a tribute to the highest ideals of military service. Captain Bucha's service did not end when he came home. For decades, he dedicated himself to serving veterans, focusing on those struggling with the invisible wounds of war. After experiencing post-traumatic stress himself, he became one of the Nation's strongest advocates for getting veterans out of the rut and back to living. He challenged the stigma surrounding mental health care and encouraged countless fellow veterans to seek help. The West Haven VA Medical Center became an important part of that journey. It was there that Captain Bucha received treatment, continued his advocacy, and ultimately spent his final days. Naming this facility in his honor would ensure that future generations of veterans remember Captain Bucha and his service, not only for his actions in combat, but for what he continued to do for his fellow veterans long after his time in uniform was over. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4647 honors a Medal of Honor recipient, a tireless advocate, and a man whose life was defined by service to others. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4647, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4647 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut, the ``Captain Paul W. `Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center.'' I thank my colleagues from Connecticut Senator Blumenthal and Representative DeLauro for their leadership to honor Captain Bucha's legacy. Captain Bucha's dedication to his country exemplifies service. As a young man, he turned down multiple athletic and academic scholarships, choosing, instead, to enroll in the United States Military Academy at West Po

Referenced legislation: HR4647, HR4647