Posted on Jul 18, 2016
Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot to Receive Medal of Honor
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I watched this morning while LT. Col. Charles Kettles received the MOH. His story sounds like something out of a fiction movie or book. If anyone deserves the MOH, it's him.
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2016 — President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor in a July 18 White House ceremony to a daring UH-1D Huey helicopter pilot who displayed extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. Retired Army Lt. Col. Charles Kettles is credited with saving some 44 lives on May 15, 1967, while serving as a helicopter commander in the 176th Aviation Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division, near Duc Pho in Vietnam's central highlands.
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2016 — President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor in a July 18 White House ceremony to a daring UH-1D Huey helicopter pilot who displayed extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. Retired Army Lt. Col. Charles Kettles is credited with saving some 44 lives on May 15, 1967, while serving as a helicopter commander in the 176th Aviation Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division, near Duc Pho in Vietnam's central highlands.
Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot to Receive Medal of Honor
Posted from defense.gov
Heroes
Medal of Honor
Pilot
Helicopters
Vietnam War
Posted 8 y ago
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Generally, pilots back then were cut from a different cloth than today. The things they did in single engine helicopters back then in battle took an insane amount of discipline and skill. Not saying today's pilots don't have those qualities, because most do. Many of the civilian Instructor Pilots well into the 2000's were Viet Nam vets, and they were damn good teachers. My IP in Primary (taught the basics of flying) was George Reese. Super guy, great skill. My IP in tactics was David Oakes. He used to tell us that when he went through flight school, the hardest part was lighting a cigarette on downwind with doors off and single pilot. Super great instructors down there. And frankly, we've gotten to the point that commanders won't allow a crew to fly into a heavily contested hot LZ so as to reduce casualties and airplanes getting shot up. Good for Col. Kettles.
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CW3 Matt Hutchason
SGT (Join to see) - He says he was. Then again, it was at the VFW and he said a bunch of things. Lol
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SGT (Join to see)
Ha! CW3 Matt Hutchason No telling what story you'll hear at the VFW or American Legion after a few beers or drinks.
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SGT (Join to see)
And a lot of self confidence, SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth I could tell you some stories you wouldn't believe. Hell, I couldn't believe it either, but they saved our butts several times.
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CSM Charles Hayden
SGT (Join to see) And, how many birds did you crash in? I gather 3 or 4 was a common number for a crew member to experience?
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SGT (Join to see)
Three. One, my first time flying into a hot LZ, another when we lost an engine at 5,000 feet at night, and another when we got hit at night flying 3,500 feet by a .51mm Machine gun. Actually we didn't crash from being hit right then. It was when the pilot was trying to land and he lost hydraulics. It flipped on its side. Nobody was hurt except for our pride.
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