On May 15, 1967 then-Major Kettles volunteered to lead a flight of eight UH-1D helicopters to carry reinforcements to an embattled airborne infantry unit and evacuate wounded personnel. Enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire raked the landing zone, inflicting heavy damage to the helicopters; however, Kettles refused to depart until all helicopters were loaded to capacity.

He then returned to the battlefield 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; but he managed to nurse the damaged aircraft back to base.

Later that day, an emergency extraction was requested for the remaining 40 infantry plus four crewmembers from Kettles’ unit whose helicopter was destroyed by enemy fire. He volunteered to return to the deadly landing zone for a third time, leading a flight of six helicopters. During the extraction, he was informed by the last helicopter that all personnel were onboard and departed the landing zone with the Army gunships supporting the evacuation. Once airborne, he was advised that eight troops had been unable to reach the 
helicopters due to the intense enemy fire. 

With complete disregard for his own safety, Kettles passed the lead to another helicopter and returned to the landing zone. Without gunship, artillery, or tactical aircraft support, his lone aircraft was damaged by a mortar round and raked by small arms and machine gun fire. Despite the intense enemy fire, he maintained control of the aircraft allowing the remaining eight soldiers to board and once more flew his heavily damaged aircraft to safety. For his courageous actions he was awarded the Nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.