Ty Kettenhofen

I’ve been thinking about my friend Ty

Member of the Golden Knights

US Army Parachute Team

Not a good friend

But a good guy

Had my six

Arranged for me to go up with the team

And shoot photographs

The very first time

Wish I had one of you

That year, they cancelled the show

The next year, he remembered who I was

And put me in touch

With all the right people

Said he wasn’t going to be there

With the gold team

But the black team was just as good

I sent him a text a couple months back

He answered right away

Told me who to talk to

To get on this year’s schedule

Ty said to reach out to Megan

By the time I did,

Megan said “I take it you didn’t hear about Ty. 

He died in an accident.”

I know what you’re thinking.

The guy jumps out of airplanes.

He probably got hit by a bus

Or banged his head on the edge of a pool

No. 

He died jumping out of an airplane

I watched the memorial on YouTube

He was a fun, funny guy

Drove a black Cadillac convertible, 1966.

Rode motorcycles

Had a girl named Quinn

Light of his life

Told all the key people how his funeral should be

If the worst should happen

Which it did

And they did

He was 37 years old

Treated me like we were best friends

He treated everyone that way

He was the best of the best

I didn’t know him well

But damn am I heartbroken

All you guys jumping out of planes

Be careful up there

A lot of people down here

Love you.