Master Sergeant Michael Ty Kettenhofen, age 37, passed away from injuries sustained during a parachute training jump on March 13, 2023, at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Miami, Florida.
Ty was born in Orange, California, on October 25, 1985. He graduated from Orange High School in 2003 and he joined the Army in 2006. He became an Infantryman, 11B, at Fort Benning in Georgia. He had additional duty stations at Fort Lewis, WA, and most recently at Fort Bragg, NC. Ty completed four combat tours – two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He was also a Jumpmaster Instructor at the United States Army Jumpmaster school.
Ty’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement medal, Army Good Conduct Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
In 2020, he joined the US Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. As part of this elite group, Ty traveled the country and the world, demonstrating the sophisticated and complex art of parachuting. Ty was living his dream. It wasn’t a job to him as he loved nothing more than soaring with his team, jumping at air shows, and even into a stadium filled with thousands of NFL football fans. With over 1,000 jumps, he couldn’t believe this was what he got to do each day.
There was only one thing Ty loved more than parachuting, and that is his daughter, Quinn. To quote Ty, “Not a lot of things make me happier than being in the sky, but (Quinn) is definitely one of them!” The pair loved to adventure together, and only for “Q” would Ty wear matching Hawaiian-themed outfits.
Ty grew up with an adventurous spirit, scuba diving, surfing, hunting, fishing, dirt-biking; he would basically try anything once. He loved to cook and bake, his next culinary adventure was to be guava cheesecake. He was passionate about photography and recently, he was learning how to play piano, challenging himself with the hardest pieces he could find. Ty was incredibly social and outgoing, with a quick wit and a big heart. His great sense of humor is legendary; roasting his friends and brothers was a favorite pastime. His overall love of life will be missed by all that knew him.
Ty is survived by his daughter Quinn and her mother Cari; parents Christine and Mark Kettenhofen; siblings Greggory (Kim) Campbell, Garrett (Melissa) Campbell, Brandy Morris, and Gavin Campbell; nieces and nephews Bryce Campbell, Brenna (Bryan) Girardi, Olivia Lee, PJ Campbell, Emmett Morris, Hayden Campbell, Carter Campbell, David Campbell; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family also recognizes Ty’s military colleagues and their families, who meant the world to Ty and became his family away from home.
Ty was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Robert J. Kettenhofen, Tec 5 US Army WWII/M. Sgt. USAF Korea VN and Lucille E. Kettenhofen and maternal grandparents, James May, CPT. USS AC WWII and Phyllis Lee May.
A service will be held at the March Field Air Museum on Monday, March 27, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Riverside National Cemetery, where Ty will receive full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Ty's memory to Honoring Our Fallen at honoringourfallen.org