Most of the extraordinary United States military service members who receive the Medal of Honor — our nation’s most prestigious award for valor — do things so above and beyond the call of duty that they don’t live to see their sacrifice be recognized by both the commander-in-chief and the rest of the country. So, to say better late than never in the case of Army Major Charles Kettles is perhaps uncouth, but hell, we’ll say it anyway, because the brave Vietnam War vet deserves it, dammit.

And now, at long last, he’ll be honored with the recognition he’s earned all these years — the MOH. The White House announced it Tuesday.

This from the Fayetteville Observer:

In May 1967, Army Maj. Charles Kettles led several helicopter trips to help evacuate wounded soldiers near the district of Duc Pho. He returned to the landing zone without additional aerial support to rescue stranded soldiers pinned down by enemy fire. The White House says Kettles helped save the lives of 40 soldiers.

Kettles retired from the Army in 1978 as a lieutenant colonel. He resides in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with his wife, Ann.

The Observer also detailed the long and lengthy process behind the scenes to upgrade Kettles’ Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor, which was initiated and subsequently spearheaded by William Vollano of the Veterans History Project starting back in 2012.

After his case passed through vets who served with Kettles, lawmakers and the like, it finally landed on the desk of Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who ultimately gave the thumbs up.

“Kettles personifies the Army’s ‘Warrior Ethos’ — never leave any soldier behind,” said Army Secretary Eric Fanning.

It’s great to see a real U.S. military hero get the credit and the national spotlight for once.

From all of us here at the blog, congratulations Charles Kettles. Without Americans like you, we wouldn’t have the freedom to type these words.