Political Quotes

“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.…”