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U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement today in advance of attending the White House Ceremony to award Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Charles S. Kettles, U.S. Army, of Ypsilanti the Medal of Honor. President Obama will award LTC Kettles the nation’s highest military honor following a five-year grassroots effort in coordination with the Kettles family, the Ypsilanti Rotary Veterans History Project, and the offices of former U.S. Congressman John Dingell and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell to ensure then-Major Kettles’ acts of valor were properly honored. 

“Almost five decades ago, the brave actions of LTC Charles Kettles saved the lives of 44 of his own in the jungles of Vietnam,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Today, after years of hard work from his friends and family, his local community, those he served with, and the Veterans History Project, he will finally receive the recognition he deserves—the Medal of Honor from the President of the United States. LTC Kettles’ actions above and beyond the call of duty and his commitment to his fellow servicemembers represent the highest values of the United States military. It was a true honor to help ensure LTC Kettles is properly honored as one of our nation’s bravest heroes.”

The awarding of today’s Medal of Honor is the result of Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle recognizing the accomplishments of LTC Charles Kettles. Responding to a request from the Ypsilanti Rotary Veterans History Project to review LTC Kettles’ actions during the Vietnam War, former Congressman John Dingell wrote the United States Army asking for LTC Kettles to be considered for the United States of America’s highest military honor. In reviewing the facts, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter responded in August 2015 and agreed that then-Major Kettles’ actions merited the Medal of Honor, but because the statute of limitations had passed, Congressional action was required. In November 2015, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell introduced H.R. 3995, which would waive the time limitation and allow the President to award LTC Kettles the Medal of Honor. In an effort to ensure the legislation was passed as quickly as possible, Dingell approached House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (KY) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (NY), who agreed to include it in the 2016 government funding bill, which was signed into law on December 18, 2015. 

“I am grateful for the bipartisan support of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey and members of Michigan’s Congressional Delegation who supported our efforts to gain this long-overdue recognition for LTC Kettles,” said Congresswoman Dingell.  

On May 15, 1967, after an airborne infantry unit was ambushed in the Song Tra Cau riverbed in Vietnam by the North Vietnamese Army, then-Major Kettles led three flights into extremely hostile territory to deliver supplies, reinforcements, and evacuate the wounded and trapped. During the final flight, shortly after leaving the landing zone, then-Major Kettles was informed that eight soldiers remained on the ground. Without hesitating, he returned on his own, without regard for his own safety and with no other support, to rescue the remaining men. All totaled on that day, his actions saved the lives of 40 soldiers and 4 of his own crew members from the 176th Aviation Company after their helicopter was destroyed.

For his voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty, then-Major Kettles was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1968. In 2012, a local campaign was launched by William Vollano, a coordinator with the Veterans History Project, and the Kettles family to upgrade his award to the Medal of Honor. In reviewing the facts, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter agreed that then-Major Kettles’ actions merited the nation’s highest military honor.