Michigan Native to Receive Medal of Honor

Washington, DC – On Monday, July 18, President Barack Obama will award Michigan native Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Charles Kettles, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by going above and beyond the call of duty.

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Kettles was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan and was drafted to the Army at age 21 while enrolled in Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) where he studied engineering, according to a White House news release.

Kettles distinguished himself in combat operations near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam, on May 15, 1967. He led a platoon of UH-1Ds to provide support to the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, during an ambush by a battalion-sized enemy force.

Last year, Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced legislation to allow Kettles to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter determined that then-Major Kettles’ actions merited the nation’s highest military honor, but because the statute of limitations has passed, Congressional action was required. The legislation, which was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 government funding bill, waived the time limitation and paved the way for the President to make the final decision to award the Medal of Honor to Kettles.

In a statement, Peters said that “Lieutenant Colonel Kettles heroically put his life on the line to save his fellow servicemembers, and I am thrilled that President Obama will be awarding him the Medal of Honor."

"Lieutenant Colonel Kettles’ steadfast determination to leave no servicemember behind exemplified the values of honor and service that makes our country’s military the finest in the world. I was pleased to work with Congresswoman Dingell and Senator Stabenow to help ensure Lieutenant Colonel Kettles could be properly recognized for his service.”

After leaving active duty, Kettles established a Ford Dealership in Dewitt, Michigan, and continued his service with the Army Reserve as a member of the 4th Battalion, 20th Field Artillery.

Image credit: Patch photo file