[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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.

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