The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE RENAMING OF THE VA ANN ARBOR MEDICAL CENTER IN HONOR OF
LT. COLONEL CHARLES S. KETTLES
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HON. DEBBIE DINGELL
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 11, 2021
Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the occasion of the renaming of the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center in honor of Lt. Colonel Charles S. Kettles. His lifetime of service to our Nation and his heroic legacy makes this an occasion worthy of commendation.
Lt. Colonel Kettles was born on January 9, 1930, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His father, Grant, was a pilot during World War I and II, so it was no surprise that, during his time in high school at the Edison Institute at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, he took to frequenting the school's Ford Motor Company flight simulator. After graduating from the Institute in 1949, he enrolled at Michigan State Normal College to study engineering but was drafted into the United States Army after two years. He later returned to the school, now Eastern Michigan University, to teach and develop the aviation program.
Lt. Colonel Kettles completed basic training at Camp Breckinridge and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox. On Feb. 28, 1953, he earned his commission as an armor officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He graduated from the Army Aviation School in 1953, before serving active duty tours in Korea, Japan, and Thailand. During the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Kettles heard the call and volunteered for active duty and was trained to fly. In 1966, he was assigned as a flight commander with the 176th Assault Helicopter Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion and was deployed to Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Kettles was credited with saving the lives of 44 men when he selflessly flew into enemy fire in Duc Pho, South Vietnam, four times with a damaged aircraft to rescue his fellow soldiers. For this act of bravery, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1968. On July 18, 2016, President Obama awarded him the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Lt. Colonel Charles S. Kettles and celebrate the renaming of the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center in his honor. Lt. Colonel Kettles was a humble man, but due to his heroic actions, soldiers were able to return home safely to their families. With this medical center now bearing his name, it will ensure that his legacy and his bravery is remembered forever.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 102
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