Blumenthal & Murphy Applaud House Passage of Bill to Name West Haven VA Medical Center After U.S. Army Captain Paul "Bud" Bucha

[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives passage of a bill to rename the West Haven VA Medical Center in honor of U.S Army Captain Paul “Bud” Bucha — a longtime resident of Ridgefield and Medal of Honor recipient, who died on July 31 st , 2024. In August 2025, just days after the first anniversary of Captain Bucha’s death, the Senate unanimously approved legislation introduced by Blumenthal and Murphy to name the West Haven VAMC in his honor. Captain Bucha received care at the West Haven VAMC after his service and notably, at the end of his life. Today, the House passed an identical bill led by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro. "I am thrilled we are one step closer to renaming the West Haven VA Medical Center in honor of a true American hero — Captain Paul "Bud" Bucha. Our bill, which I led, honors Bud's bravery and service, and his tireless advocacy for fellow veterans. I am grateful for the strong show of support in the House, and now we must all work together to get this bill signed into law without delay,” Blumenthal said. “From his service in Vietnam to his tenacious advocacy for veterans in Connecticut, Captain Bucha left an impact everywhere he went. He was second to none in courage, and renaming the West Haven VA Medical Center in his honor will serve as an enduring reminder and a call to action to mirror his commitment to protect others and support our veterans,” Murphy said. Captain Bucha received the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his heroic service while on active duty during the Vietnam War. Captain Bucha distinguished himself with extraordinary heroism while leading 89 men on a reconnaissance mission near Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam from March 16-19, 1968. Under heavy enemy fire from about 1,500 soldiers, he fearlessly directed defenses, personally destroyed a machine-gun bunker, and sustained a shrapnel wound. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, Captain Bucha also directed the medical evacuation of three air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel. Under his leadership, D Company went on to become one of the most decorated units by the end of the war. Captain Bucha’s dedication to serving others continued after his time in service. Bucha served as the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society from 1995 to 1999, and advised President Obama on foreign policy during his 2008 Presidential campaign. He also served on the board of directors of Homes for Our Troops, a Veterans Service Organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured Post-9/11 veterans, and as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training Services at the U.S. Department of Labor. Bucha received care for PTSD at West Haven VAMC, and received neurological care for Alzheimer’s disease there. Bucha sadly passed at West Haven VAMC in July 2024. With the assistance of the West Haven VAMC, his brain was donated to the Center for Human Brain Discovery at Yale University. Under the lawmakers’ legislation, the West Haven VAMC will be the second Department of Veterans Affairs facility named in honor of a veteran in Connecticut. Blumenthal’s bill text is available here. -30-