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[Page S917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING CHARLES S. KETTLES
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a
Michigan veteran whose bravery, spirit of service, and selfless
dedication to his fellow soldiers earned him the Nation's highest
military honor and the eternal gratitude of 44 American families.
Charles S. Kettles was Michigan through and through. He was born in
Ypsilanti in 1930, and that is where he passed away on January 21,
2019, a couple of weeks after his 89th birthday.
He attended Edison Institute High School in Dearborn and fell in love
with flying in the school's flight simulator. Perhaps it was no
surprise; his father served as a military pilot during both World Wars.
Charlie was active in the community. He and his brother opened a Ford
dealership in DeWitt. He later earned a master's degree in industrial
technology from Eastern Michigan University and launched its aviation
program. He served on the Ypsilanti City Council and in the local
Kiwanis club. He was close to his family and enjoyed his nine
grandchildren.
In many ways, Charlie lived an ordinary Michigan life. What made his
life truly extraordinary were events that happened far away from
Ypsilanti on the other side of the world.
Charlie was drafted into the Army in 1951, attended Army aviation
school, and served tours in Japan and Thailand. He retired from Active
Duty in 1956, and that could have been the end of his military service,
but the Army was in desperate need of helicopter pilots during the
Vietnam war. So in 1963, Charlie volunteered for active duty and
learned to fly the UH-1D ``Huey.''
Those skills would save lives on May 15, 1967, when then-Major
Kettles volunteered to lead a flight of six Hueys on a rescue mission
when members of the 101st Airborne Division were ambushed by enemy
troops.
The helicopters came under fire, but that didn't stop Charlie. He
kept on flying. When he returned to base after his second rescue
flight, his helicopter was leaking fuel, and his gunner had been
severely wounded.
Then the call came in: 44 Americans still needed to be evacuated.
Charlie found a Huey that wasn't leaking fuel, led a flight of six
evacuation helicopters back to the landing zone, and successfully
rescued the stranded men--or so he thought.
On the flight back to base, Charlie learned that eight troops had
been unable to reach the evacuation helicopters. He didn't hesitate.
With no regard for his own safety, he turned his Huey around and
returned to the landing zone.
His helicopter was hit by gunfire, and a mortar round damaged the
rotor blade and shattered the windshield. Despite the damage, Charlie
skillfully navigated his helicopter to the landing zone. The remaining
troops scrambled aboard, and all 44 finally made it off the
battlefield.
Charlie was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's
second-highest citation for valor, in 1968; yet when I heard his story,
I thought, if anyone was ever worthy of receiving the Medal of Honor,
Charlie was.
Typically, the Medal of Honor must be awarded within 5 years of the
heroic act. That is why, in 2015, I introduced legislation with Senator
Gary Peters and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell to allow Charlie to
receive the Medal of Honor. In 2016, that is just what happened.
``In a lot of ways, Chuck is America,'' President Obama said during
his Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. ``To the dozens of
American soldiers that he saved in Vietnam half a century ago, Chuck is
the reason that they lived and came home and had children and
grandchildren. Entire family trees--made possible by the actions of
this one man.''
Charlie remained humble about his award.
``Out of all of that, there is really only one thing that means
anything--those 40 names are not on the wall in D.C. Awards are nice,
but there is far more gratitude in simply knowing that.''
Charlie Kettles was a real-life hero and the very best of Michigan.
The people of my State and the families of the 44 men he saved will
remain forever grateful for his service and sacrifice.
Thank you.
____________________
