Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle

Died August 12, 2007 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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31, of Madill, Okla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Aug. 12 in Kuzkalakhel, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr. and Sgt. Charles B. Kitowski III.

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Oklahoman killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — A soldier with Oklahoma ties who enjoyed sports and was devoted to the Army died in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense confirmed on Monday.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, of Madill, and two others were killed Sunday when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Nangarhar Province, Defense Department officials said.

Also killed were Sgt. Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, of Farmers Branch, Texas, and Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, Va.

Clowers and Kettle were part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg, N.C. Kitowski was assigned to the 345th Psychological Operations Company, 2nd Psychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), also at Fort Bragg, according defense officials.

Joel Kettle, Kettle’s uncle, said by telephone from McAlester that military service runs in the family, and that his nephew was on his fourth tour of duty overseas.

Joel Kettle and his brother, Ronald, Jeffrey Kettle’s father, both served in the Air Force, and one of Jeffrey Kettle’s brother, also serves in the military, Joel Kettle said.

Jeffrey Kettle loved the outdoors and would hunt squirrels when he visited his uncle.

“He was a fun-loving kid growing up,” Joel Kettle said. “It really surprised me and made me feel proud when he joined the Army and excelled.”

The military listed Jeffrey Kettle’s hometown as Madill, but Joel Kettle said his nephew grew up in Texas City, Texas.

Jeffrey Kettle’s parents, Ronald and Cindy, live in Saudi Arabia, where Ronald Kettle works for a chemical company, Joel Kettle said.

Besides his parents, Joel Kettle said Jeffrey Kettle was survived by his wife, Brandi Kettle, and two sons, Jeffrey and Logan, all of Raeford, N.C. Jeffrey Kettle also has two brothers.

Funeral arrangements haven’t been completed, Joel Kettle said.