Melissa Hanks Ketchel – President

Vice President, 3rd Battalion 1st Marines Association

Melissa Ketchel works to strengthen the connection between generations of Marines, Gold Star Families, and the active-duty battalion. Her leadership focuses on preserving the legacy of the Thundering Third while building sustainable systems that foster remembrance, mentorship, and long-term community engagement.

What sets Melissa apart is her role as a Gold Star Sister. Her brother, Lance Corporal Michael W. Hanks, was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 while serving with 3/1. Following his death, Melissa found purpose in connecting with his fellow Marines and learning about the impact he had on those who served beside him. She discovered that shared stories and connection often heal more deeply than traditional counseling. Guided by her brother’s words, “Everyone needs someone to confess to,” she has spent the last two decades advocating for veterans, military families, and the unseen grief that follows loss.

Melissa is also the founder and president of the Michael Wayne Hanks Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit created to honor her brother’s memory by fostering connection and purpose among veterans, service members, and Gold Star Families. The foundation leads Mission H.A.N.K.S. (Honoring All Next of Kin & Survivors), a growing initiative that partners with the active battalion to bridge communication between Gold Star Families, veterans, and active-duty Marines.

Professionally, Melissa serves as Vice President of VA Lending at Continuing Mission Mortgage, where she leads a national effort to educate veterans, real estate professionals, and lenders on the VA Home Loan program. Her work focuses on eliminating misinformation, increasing veteran homeownership, and empowering those who served to use the benefits they’ve earned.

Melissa lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her family. Her life’s work across the 3/1 Association, the MWH Legacy Foundation, and her career in veteran home lending reflects a single mission to carry forward her brother’s legacy by building connection, community, and lasting support for those who have served and the families who stand behind them.