Charles Seymour Kettles

Charles S. Kettles became one of the Vietnam War’s most celebrated helicopter pilots after repeatedly flying into enemy fire to reinforce and evacuate an isolated infantry unit near Duc Pho on 15 May 1967. In the final rescue, he turned back alone for eight soldiers who had been left behind, then flew his badly damaged UH-1D to safety. His actions helped bring 44 men out of the battle area. He received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in 2016, nearly five decades after the action.

Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on 9 January 1930, Kettles developed an early interest in aviation. Drafted into the Army at 21, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in the Army Reserve in 1953. After completing Army aviation training, he served in Korea, Japan and Thailand. He returned to Michigan in 1956, worked at a Ford dealership with his brother, and remained in the Reserve. In 1963 he volunteered for active duty and went back to flying helicopters.

In Vietnam, Kettles was a flight commander with the 176th Aviation Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion. On 15 May 1967, six UH-1D helicopters under his lead carried reinforcements to an airborne infantry force under heavy attack and brought out wounded soldiers. Kettles returned with another load of reinforcements despite intense mortar and automatic-weapons fire. His gunner was seriously wounded, his aircraft was damaged and fuel streamed from it, but he piloted the Huey back to base.

The battalion then urgently needed an extraction for 40 remaining troops and four members of Kettles’s own unit. With only one helicopter from his company still flyable, he led six aircraft, five from the 161st Aviation Company, back to the landing zone. After the other helicopters departed, Kettles learned that eight soldiers had not made it aboard. He relinquished the lead and returned alone, without gunship, artillery or tactical-aircraft support. Enemy fire shattered the helicopter’s front windows and damaged its tail boom. Kettles held the aircraft in place until all eight soldiers boarded, then brought the badly damaged machine and its crew back to safety.

The Army first recognized the rescue with the Distinguished Service Cross in 1968. Following a review authorized by Congress, President Obama presented Kettles with the Medal of Honor at the White House on 18 July 2016. Kettles later retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel, completed university studies in aviation management, taught at Eastern Michigan University and worked in the aviation industry. He died on 21 January 2019.

### Medal of Honor citation

Major Charles S. Kettles distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Flight Commander, 176th Aviation Company (Airmobile) (Light), 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam.

On 15 May 1967, Major Kettles, upon learning that an airborne infantry unit had suffered casualties during an intense firefight with the enemy, immediately volunteered to lead a flight of six UH-1D helicopters to carry reinforcements to the embattled force and to evacuate wounded personnel. Enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire raked the landing zone, inflicting heavy damage to the helicopters; however, Major Kettles refused to depart until all helicopters were loaded to capacity.

He then returned to the battlefield, with full knowledge of the intense enemy fire awaiting his arrival, to bring more reinforcements, landing in the midst of enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire that seriously wounded his gunner and severely damaged his aircraft. Upon departing, Major 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, including four members of Major Kettles’ unit who were stranded when their helicopter was destroyed by enemy fire. With only one flyable UH-1 helicopter remaining, Major Kettles volunteered to return to the deadly 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, Major Kettles was informed by the last helicopter that all personnel were onboard, and departed the landing zone accordingly. Army gunships supporting the evacuation also departed the area. Once airborne, Major Kettles was advised that eight troops had been unable to reach the evacuation helicopters due to the intense enemy fire.

With complete disregard for his own safety, Major 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 enemy concentrated all firepower on his lone aircraft, which was immediately damaged by a mortar round that shattered both front windshields and the chin bubble and was further raked by small arms and machine gun fire.

Despite the intense enemy fire, Major 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, Major 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.

Major Kettles' selfless acts of repeated valor and determination are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

### Sources

1. U.S. Army. “Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kettles.” Medal of Honor recipient profile, service history and official citation. https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/kettles/ 2. National Medal of Honor Museum. “Charles S. Kettles.” Recipient biography and Medal of Honor citation. https://mohmuseum.org/recipient/kettles-charles-s/ 3. Collins, Elizabeth M. “Long overdue honor: Daring Vietnam pilot remembers Medal of Honor rescue mission.” U.S. Army News Service, 17 August 2016. https://www.army.mil/article/171581/long_overdue_honor_daring_vietnam_pilot_remembers_medal_of_honor_rescue_mission