West Haven VA Medical Center Renamed to Honor Medal of Honor Recipient and Mental Health Advocate Paul W. Bud Bucha

This legislation officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center currently located in West Haven, Connecticut. Moving forward, the facility will be known as the Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center. This change is purely administrative and honorific; it doesn’t alter any services, funding, or patient care, but it does ensure that all official government documents, maps, and records must update their references to reflect the new designation, even if the facility moves locations in the future (Sec. 3).

The Name Behind the Change

So, who was Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha? The bill includes extensive findings detailing his life, which makes the reason for the renaming clear. Bucha was a Medal of Honor recipient who served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. The findings highlight his extraordinary heroism in 1968, where he led 89 men against an estimated 1,500 enemy troops, ultimately leading to the defeat of a major stronghold. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon in 1970 (Sec. 2).

More Than Just a War Hero

What makes this designation particularly relevant for veterans today is Bucha’s later life advocacy. After his service, he became a strong advocate for veterans struggling with mental health issues. The bill notes he personally struggled with post-traumatic stress for 42 years before seeking help at the very VA facility that is now being named after him. He intentionally used the term “post-traumatic stress” instead of “disorder” to try and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help. By honoring him in this way, the VA facility is permanently linking itself to the cause of mental health awareness and the fight against veteran stigma (Sec. 2).

Real-World Impact: Paperwork and Legacy

For veterans and staff in West Haven, the immediate change is minimal—the building and the services remain the same. The biggest impact is on the administrative side: the Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies now have a mandate to update all their signage, forms, and digital records to the new name. This ensures that the honor is permanently recognized across the federal system. For the rest of us, it’s a clear and permanent way to honor a distinguished veteran whose legacy includes not just battlefield heroism, but also the courage to speak openly about mental health struggles, which is a critical message for the VA system.