Purdue alumnus to receive medal of honor

By Dave Stephens
Assistant Campus Editor

A Purdue education and his mother.

Those are just two of the major influences that have helped to shape Vice Adm. Michael Kalleres’ life.

Kalleres, now retired from the U.S. Navy, said it was his mother’s devotion that led him and his siblings to lead successful lives, and it was his time spent at Purdue that enabled him to do so.

"Purdue really does prepare you with the ability to reason, research and produce a result," said Kalleres.

On May 12 Kalleres will receive the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, an award given to Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives.

Kalleres, who graduated from Purdue in 1962 with degrees in engineering and management, is the first Purdue alumnus, as well as the first naval flag officer, to receive the award.

Kalleres said he was "awed and humbled" to receive such an honor. Past recipients of the award include former presidents, Nobel Prize winners and religious leaders from several different faiths.

"They basically screen about 1300 names every year," said Kalleres, "and

pick about 50 of them."

Kalleres said that after he receives the award, he is going to try to nominate as many people as he can from both Purdue and the Navy for this honor.

Kalleres said some of his fondest memories of Purdue include the camaraderie of his classmates and being a part of the first undergraduate class in the Krannert School of Management.

"We were given the same curriculum as the graduate school," said Kalleres. "Their goal was to graduate 50; we were nasty enough that 100 of us eventually graduated."

Kalleres said he decided to join the Navy because his uncle, who fought in World War II, would tell him stories about the Navy.

"He was kind of my hero; he always let me wear his hat," said Kalleres. "I really got to love his stories."

However, Kalleres said spending time with his uncle would later get him into trouble.

"By the time I was six I could tell you about any gun used in the Navy," said Kalleres. "That really didn’t go well with some of my ROTC instructors when I corrected them."

Kalleres said whenever he meets another Purdue graduate there is always a special bond.

"In the navy we have a phrase that says ‘you can never divorce a shipmate.’ When you have someone from Purdue you have that double bond. I’d rather trust someone from a school with a fine academic record, like Purdue. I know they sure kicked all my tail enough when I was there, and I don’t think it’s changed much," said Kalleres.

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Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

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