House OKs bill to name center after Butler hero
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed a bill that would rename the VA community living center in Butler Township after a Vietnam War hero from Butler.
The bill, HR 2210, would designate the community living center as the Sgt. Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center and is co-sponsored by all 18 members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation.
Congressman Mike Kelly, in a speech on the House floor, called Kusick a war hero for his actions on Nov. 8, 1967, when he was serving as a radio operator of a special forces reconnaissance team on a combat mission. Kusick was wounded during an ambush and refused to evacuate, acting as a radio operator to direct helicopter landings to evacuate other soldiers. Kusick boarded the final helicopter, which was shot down by Viet Cong forces, killing him. Kusick was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions.
“Passing this bill and renaming the VA community living center after Sgt. Kusick will allow us to honor his sacrifice as well as that of his fellow soldiers who survived the war and continue to live among us as our family, friends and neighbors,” Kelly said.
Following Kelly’s speech the legislation passed unanimously, 401-0.
