His nephew, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, was killed Sunday in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded near his vehicle.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Two other Fort Bragg soldiers with him were also killed.

They were identified as Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, Va., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group; and Sgt. Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, of Farmers Branch, Texas, assigned to the 345th Psychological Operations Company, 2nd Psychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne).

The Department of Defense listed Kettle's hometown as Madill, but his uncle said he lived there only a few months.

Joel Kettle said his nephew's wife, Brandy, was from Madill and that Jeffrey Kettle re-enlisted there as his tour of duty in the Army was ending.

Joel Kettle said his nephew was born and raised in Texas City, Texas, and that his parents -- Ronald and Cynthia Kettle -- lived nearby in League City, Texas.

The parents had been living in Saudi Arabia, where Ronald Kettle was working for a petro-chemical firm.

They're on their way back to Fort Bragg, according to Joel Kettle.

Kettle's wife and their two children, Donovan, 12, and 18-month-old Logan, live in the Fort Bragg area.

"He was a wonderful father," he said of his nephew. "He took care of his kids first, and his family."

Joel Kettle said his nephew was a stand-up young man who loved the outdoors and anything competitive.

He said his nephew was first an Army Ranger, then a Green Beret, and was finally with the Special Forces in Afghanistan.

"He always wanted to join the military," the uncle said, noting that his nephew may have been inspired by military roots in the family.

Jeffrey Kettle's funeral arrangements are pending, although Joel Kettle said his nephew would be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com