Whenever it appears that an incompetent veteran of any war, military occupation, or expedition is eligible for treatment in a United States veterans’ hospital and commitment to such hospital is necessary for the proper care and treatment of such veteran, the courts of this state are hereby authorized to communicate with the administration with reference to available facilities and eligibility and, upon receipt of a certificate from the administration stating that there are facilities available in a United States veterans’ hospital and that the veteran is entitled to hospitalization therein, the court may then direct such veteran’s commitment to such United States veterans’ hospital. Thereafter such veteran upon admission shall be subject to the rules and regulations of such hospital and the officials of such hospital shall be vested with the same powers now exercised by superintendents of state hospitals for mental diseases within this state with reference to the retention of custody of the veteran so committed. Notice of such pending proceedings shall be furnished the person so committed, and his or her right to appear and defend shall not be denied.