US Army Elite Parachutist, 37, DIES after ‘poor landing’ during routine jump

A US Army parachutist who was a member of the Golden Knights’ elite demonstration team tragically died after suffering a “hard landing” after a routine jump.

Sergeant First Class Officer Michael ‘Ty’ Kettenhofen, 37, suffered serious injuries Monday after the tragic fallt of Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Florida.

The paratrooper was transported to Jackson South Medical Center in Kendall, where he underwent surgery but died shortly thereafter.

Kettenhofen, who was a 16-1/2-year Army veteran, joined the exclusive Golden Knights parachute team in fall 2020. During his military career he had successfully completed more than 1,000 jumps.

Lt. Col. Andy Moffit, commander of the Golden Knights Parachute Team, and his team members mourned his unexpected death, who was described as a “beloved father, son, brother, teammate and friend”.

“The US Army Parachute Team is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own,” Mofitt said. “Our hearts and faith are with his family and friends as we mourn and heal with them.”

A U.S. Army parachutist Sgt. First Class Officer Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen, 37, a member of the Golden Knights elite demonstration team, tragically died after falling Monday at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida after a routine jump experienced a “hard landing”.

A close-up of Kettenhofen smiling over the Florida coast during a previous jump

Kettenhoffen had been awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Commendation Medal

The Soldier served on both the Gold and Black Demonstration Teams and as a cadre for the 2022 Fall Evaluation and Selection Program. As an 11B, he was a multi-deployment combat veteran.

He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

Moffit said Kettenhofen will be remembered for his sense of humor, zest for life and accomplishments as a senior non-commissioned officer and demonstration parachutist.

According to the army, the accident is being investigated.

The Golden Knights’ training base is in Fort Bragg, North Carolina but spends the winters in Homestead, The Miami Herald reported.

The Golden Knights is the nickname of the US Army’s elite parachute team (pictured)

The Golden Knights is the nickname of the US Army’s elite parachute team.

A demonstration and competition parachute team consists of members from all branches of the US Army.

Members must demonstrate outstanding achievement in skydiving. The Golden Knights do free fall jumps from 13,000 feet and higher.

One of their most popular jumps was when they took the late President George HW Bush on a series of tandem jumps in his later years.

There have been a number of parachute crashes over the past five years that have seriously injured members of the Golden Knights, including three who conducted a night dive above the base in February 2019, the Miami Herald reported.

A photo of Kettenhofen about to jump out of the plane years before the jump that killed him

Kettenhofen (middle) stands proudly with his teammates from the Golden Knights

On the US Army’s Golden Knight Facebook page, prayers poured in from those who remembered Kettenhofen as a remarkable soldier and a remarkable person.

Daniel Beard posted a photo of him with Kettenhofen and another officer at the 2008 Tomahawk Ball.

‘Ty was a great leader, a great friend, a devoted family man. It has been an honor to serve with him and to watch him grow over the past 15 years,” Beard wrote.

Another wrote: “SFC Kettenhofen was the black hat that pinned my wings on me in 2017.”

“He’s one of those guys you just can’t forget. I’m going to wear them to skydiving in his honor this weekend.”

Another person recalled his “goodness.”

“He was just helping me plan a birthday jump with the guys. He was so genuinely kind, loved a good laugh and never knew a stranger,” she wrote. ‘Fly free my friend.’

Kettenhofen came from Orange County, California.

A friend posted a touching tribute upon learning of his sudden and tragic death, saying he will be “missed”.

“I’ve lost a lot of people I consider friends. This is one of those I consider a brother,” he wrote in part.

“I met this guy on my first tour when he was deployed to our unit mid-tour. I ‘grew up’ by his side for almost 9 years and 36 months.’

“He was always motivating and competitive. He became one of the more successful men I have served with.’

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk