Charles Kettles

{{Short description|United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1930–2019)}} {{For|the New Zealand surveyor|Charles Kettle}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = Charles Kettles | honorific_suffix = | image = Charles Kettles.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Then Army Major Charles Kettles stands in front of a 121st Aviation Company UH-1H Huey helicopter during his second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Charles Seymour Kettles | other_name = | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|1|9}} | birth_place = [[Ypsilanti, Michigan]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|1|21|1930|1|9}} | death_place = Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S. | burial_label = | burial_place = Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti, Michigan | burial_coordinates =  | allegiance = United States | branch = {{army|United States}} | service_years = | rank = [[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Lieutenant colonel]] | service_number =  | unit = | commands = 176th Aviation Company (Airmobile) (Light), 14th Combat Aviation Battalion | battles_label = | battles = | awards = [[Medal of Honor]] [[Legion of Merit]] [[Bronze star]] (2) [[Army Commendation Medal]] (2) [[Valorous Unit Award]] | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | website = [https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/kettles/ Official Website] | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = }} '''Charles Seymour Kettles''' (January 9, 1930 – January 21, 2019) was a [[United States Army]] [[lieutenant colonel]] and a [[Medal of Honor]] recipient.

==Early life==

Kettles was born in [[Ypsilanti, Michigan]], on January 9, 1930.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/27/obituaries/charles-kettles-dies-at-89.html|title=Charles Kettles, Who Rescued Dozens of Troops in Vietnam, Dies at 89|first=Richard|last=Goldstein|work=[[The New York Times]]|location=[[New York City]]|date=January 27, 2019|access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> He studied engineering at [[Eastern Michigan University|Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University)]].

==Military service== He was drafted into the [[United States Army]] at the age of 21. Upon completion of [[United States Army Basic Training|basic training]] at [[Morganfield, Kentucky#Camp Breckinridge|Camp Breckinridge]], Kentucky, Kettles attended [[Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Officer Candidate School]] at [[Fort Knox]], and earned his [[Commission (document)|commission]] as an armor officer in the [[United States Army Reserve]] on February 28, 1953. He graduated from the [[United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence|Army Aviation School]] in 1954, before serving active duty tours in [[South Korea]], [[Japan]] and [[Thailand]].<ref name="White House">{{cite news|last1=Office of the Press Secretary|author-link=White House Office of the Press Secretary|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/06/21/president-obama-award-medal-honor|title=President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=June 21, 2016|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Army"/>

After leaving active duty, Kettles established a [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[Car dealerships|dealership]] in [[Dewitt, Michigan]], and continued his service with the Army Reserve as a member of the 4th Battalion, [[20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|20th Field Artillery]].

He volunteered for active duty in 1963 and underwent Helicopter Transition Training at [[Fort Wolters]], Texas, in 1964. During a tour in [[France]] the following year, he was cross-trained to fly the [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|Bell UH-1D "Huey"]] In 1966, he was assigned as a flight commander with the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, and deployed to [[South Vietnam]] from February through November 1967. His second tour of duty in Vietnam lasted from October 1969 through October 1970. In 1970, he went to [[Fort Sam Houston]] in [[San Antonio]], Texas, where he served as an aviation team chief and readiness coordinator supporting the Army Reserve. He remained in San Antonio until his retirement from the Army in 1978.<ref name="White House" /><ref name="Army" />

===Medal of Honor=== Kettles received the [[Medal of Honor]] on July 18, 2016, nearly 50 years after his actions while serving as a flight commander assigned to 176th Aviation Company (Airmobile) (Light), 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, [[Task Force Oregon]].

Kettles was awarded the medal after legislation was introduced by Congresswoman [[Debbie Dingell]], D-Dearborn, and U.S. Senators [[Gary Peters]], D-Bloomfield Township, and [[Debbie Stabenow]], D-Lansing as a result of a grassroots level campaign started in 2012 Ypsilanti Rotary Veterans History Project <ref>{{cite news|url=https://patch.com/michigan/bloomfield-mi/half-century-later-army-veteran-may-get-medal-honor|title=Vietnam Vet May Finally Get Medal of Honor|first=Beth|last=Dalbey|work=[[Patch Media]]|publisher=[[Hale Global]]|location=[[New York City]]|date=November 11, 2015|access-date=November 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/11/10/medal-honor-ypsilanti-veteran-vietnam/75553560/|title=Medal of Honor sought for Vietnam vet|first=Kyla|last=Smith|work=[[The Detroit News]]|publisher=[[Digital First Media]]|location=[[Detroit]]|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Gary|last=Peters|url=https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-advance-of-veterans-day-dingell-peters-and-stabenow-introduce-legislation-to-award-long-overdue-medal-of-honor-to-ypsilanti-vietnam-veteran|title=In Advance of Veterans Day, Dingell, Peters & Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Award Long-Overdue Medal of Honor to Ypsilanti Vietnam Veteran | U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan|work=[[United States Senate]]|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=November 6, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2250/text|title=Bill 2250|work=[[United States Senate]]|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Barack Obama awards Medal of Honor to Charles Kettles.jpg|right|thumb|President [[Barack Obama]] awards the Medal of Honor to Kettles on July 18, 2016.]] On May 15, 1967, personnel of the 1st Brigade, [[101st Airborne Division]], were ambushed in the [[Đức Phổ District|Song Tra Cau]] riverbed by an estimated battalion-sized force of [[People's Army of Vietnam]] (PAVN) regulars with numerous automatic weapons, machine guns, mortars, and recoilless rifles. The PAVN fired from a fortified complex of deeply embedded tunnels and bunkers, and was shielded from suppressive fire. Upon hearing that the 1st Brigade had suffered casualties during an intense firefight with the enemy, then-[[Major (rank)|Major]] Kettles volunteered to lead a flight of six [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1D]] helicopters to bring reinforcements to the embattled force and to evacuate wounded personnel. As the flight approached the landing zone, it came under heavy fire from multiple directions and soldiers were hit and killed before they could dismount the arriving helicopters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/charles-kettles-who-received-medal-of-honor-five-decades-after-rescuing-44-men-in-vietnam-dies-at-89/2019/01/24/0af48262-1f35-11e9-8e21-59a09ff1e2a1_story.html|title=Charles Kettles, who received Medal of Honor five decades after rescuing 44 men in Vietnam, dies at 89|first=Emily|last=Langer|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=[[Nash Holdings]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=January 28, 2019}}</ref>

Small arms and automatic weapons fire continued to rake the landing zone, inflicting heavy damage to the helicopters and soldiers. Kettles, however, refused to depart until all reinforcements and supplies were off-loaded and wounded personnel were loaded on the helicopters to capacity. Kettles then led the flight out of the battle area and back to the staging area to pick up additional reinforcements.

With full knowledge of the intense fire awaiting his arrival, Kettles returned to the battlefield. Bringing additional reinforcements, he landed in the midst of mortar and automatic weapons fire that seriously wounded his gunner and severely damaged his aircraft. Upon departing, Kettles was advised by another helicopter crew that he had fuel streaming out of his aircraft. Despite the risk posed by the leaking fuel, he nursed the damaged aircraft back to base.

Later that day, the infantry battalion commander requested immediate, emergency extraction of the remaining 40 troops as well as four members of Kettles' unit who had become stranded when their helicopter was shot down. With only one flyable UH-1 helicopter remaining in his company, Kettles volunteered to return to the landing zone for a third time, leading a flight of six evacuation helicopters, five of which were from the 161st Aviation Company. During the extraction, Kettles was informed by the last helicopter that all personnel were on board, and departed the landing zone accordingly. Army gunships supporting the evacuation also departed the area.

While returning to base, Kettles was advised that eight troops had been unable to reach the evacuation helicopters due to the intense fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Kettles passed the lead to another helicopter and returned to the landing zone to rescue the remaining troops. Without gunship, artillery, or tactical aircraft support, the PAVN concentrated all firepower on his lone aircraft, which was immediately hit by a mortar round that damaged the tail boom and a main rotor blade and shattered both front windshields and the chin bubble. His aircraft was further raked by small arms and machine gun fire.

[[File:Barack Obama and Charles Kettles in the Blue Room.jpg|thumb|Obama talks with Kettles (center) and his guests, former brothers-in-arms from Vietnam, following the Medal of Honor ceremony for Kettles at the White House, July 18, 2016.]] Despite the intense fire, Kettles maintained control of the aircraft and situation, allowing time for the remaining eight soldiers to board the aircraft. In spite of the severe damage to his helicopter, Kettles once more skillfully guided his heavily damaged aircraft to safety. Without his courageous actions and superior flying skills, the last group of soldiers and his crew would never have made it off the battlefield.<ref name="Army">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/kettles/|title=Lt. Col. Charles Kettles - Medal of Honor Nominee|work=[[United States Army]]|publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]|location=[[Arlington County, Virginia]]|access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref>

In 1968, Kettles received the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (DSC) for these actions, and on July 18, 2016, following a special [[Act of Congress]] to extend the time limit for awarding the Medal of Honor (for this particular case only), his DSC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

A soldier who was there that day said "Maj. Kettles became our [[John Wayne]]," Obama said, adding his own take: "With all due respect to John Wayne, he couldn't do what Chuck Kettles did."

<blockquote> ''“We got the 44 out. None of those names appear on [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial|the wall]] in Washington. There's nothing more important than that.”'' – Retired Lt. Col. Charles Kettles </blockquote>

<blockquote> ''“You couldn't make this up. It's like a bad Rambo movie.”'' – President Barack Obama <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/171716/Vietnam_aviator_awarded_Medal_of_Honor_for_cheating_death__saving_dozens_of_lives/?from=moh__news_text|title=Vietnam aviator awarded Medal of Honor for cheating death, saving dozens of lives|work=[[United States Army]]|publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]|location=[[Arlington County, Virginia]]|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> </blockquote>

==Later life== Kettles completed his bachelor's degree at [[Our Lady of the Lake University]], San Antonio, Texas, and earned his master's degree at Eastern Michigan University, College of Technology, in commercial construction. He went on to develop the Aviation Management Program at the College of Technology and taught both disciplines. He later worked for Chrysler Pentastar Aviation until his retirement in 1993. Kettles resided in Ypsilanti, Michigan.<ref name="White House" /><ref name="Army" /> He died in Ypsilanti on January 21, 2019, at the age of 89.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2019/01/michigan-vietnam-war-hero-medal-of-honor-recipient-dies.html|title=Michigan Vietnam War hero, Medal of Honor recipient dies|first=Martin|last=Slagter|work=[[Booth Newspapers|MLive Media Group]]|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|location=[[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=January 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/medal-of-honor-recipient-who-saved-44-lives-in-vietnam-dies-at-89|title=Medal of Honor recipient who saved 44 lives in Vietnam dies at 89|first=Katelyn|last=Caralle|magazine=[[Washington Examiner]]|publisher=[[Clarity Media Group]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=January 28, 2019}}</ref> In 2020, the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which is in the city next to his home town of Ypsilanti, was renamed the LTC Charles S. Kettles Veterans Affairs Medical Center in his honor. <ref> {{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/ann-arbor-health-care/news-releases/ann-arbor-va-hospital-renamed-ltc-charles-s-kettles-va-medical-center/|title=Ann Arbor VA Hospital Renamed LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center|access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Kettles' awards and decorations include:<ref name="Army"/> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan="3"|[[File:US Army Master Aviator Badge.png|220px]] |- |colspan="6"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}} [[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|106px]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon1OLC.png|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Award numeral 2.svg|15px]][[File:Award numeral 7.png|22px]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Silver-service-star-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]] |[[File:Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] |[[File:Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon.svg|106px]][[File:Hourglass Device Bronze.svg|15px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|27px]] |[[File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|106px]] |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}} |- |colspan="3"|[[File:Markesman Weapons Qual Badge.png|80px]] |- |colspan="6"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106}} [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|106px]] |}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="12"|[[Master Army Aviator Badge]] |- |colspan="6"|[[Medal of Honor]] |colspan="6"|[[Legion of Merit]] |- |colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] |colspan="4"|[[Bronze Star]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]] |colspan="4"|[[Air Medal]] (27 awards) |- |colspan="4"|[[Army Commendation Medal]] with oak leaf cluster |colspan="4"|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with one bronze [[service star]] |colspan="4"|[[Korean Service Medal]] |- |colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with six service stars |colspan="4"|[[Korea Defense Service Medal]] |colspan="4"|[[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]] with bronze Hourglass device |- |colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] with Bronze Star |colspan="4"|[[United Nations Korea Medal]] |colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] |- |colspan="12"|[[Marksmanship Badge]] with Carbine clasp |- |colspan="6"|[[Valorous Unit Award]] |colspan="6"|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |[[File:ArmyOSB.svg|60px]] [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|60px]] [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|60px]] |3 [[Overseas Service Bar]]s |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{US Army|article=Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kettles|url=https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/kettles/}} {{Portal bar|United States|Michigan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kettles, Charles S.}} [[Category:1930 births]] [[Category:2019 deaths]] [[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]] [[Category:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor]] [[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]] [[Category:People from Ypsilanti, Michigan]] [[Category:Military personnel from Washtenaw County, Michigan]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Michigan]] [[Category:Eastern Michigan University alumni]] [[Category:Our Lady of the Lake University alumni]] [[Category:Eastern Michigan University faculty]] [[Category:American Master Army Aviators]] [[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:Lieutenant colonels]] [[Category:Burials at Highland Cemetery]]