A Korean War Army veteran will be presented with the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the White House on Friday. This will be the first time Biden awards the Medal of Honor during his presidency.
Retired Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr., will receive the nation’s highest award for valor for his actions during the Korean War, according to a White House release. Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in is also expected to attend the event.
Puckett was a first lieutenant serving as the commander, 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company during the period of Nov. 25 and 26, 1950, in Korea.
“As his unit commenced a daylight attack on Hill 205, the enemy directed mortar, machine gun, and small arms fire against the advancing force,” the White House release states.
In order to obtain supporting fire, Puckett mounted the closest tank, exposing himself to the deadly enemy fire.
“Leaping from the tank, he shouted words of encouragement to his men and began to lead the Rangers in the attack,” the release continues. “Almost immediately, enemy fire threatened the success of the attack by pinning down one platoon.”
Puckett left the safety of his position and ran across an open area three times to draw enemy fire. That allowed the Rangers to locate and destroy the enemy positions and to seize Hill 205.
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A counterattack was launched which lasted four hours.
“Over the course of the counterattack, the Rangers were inspired and motivated by the extraordinary leadership and courageous example exhibited by First Lieutenant Puckett,” the release reads. “As a result, five human wave attacks by a battalion strength enemy element were repulsed.”
Puckett was wounded by grenade fragments during the attack, but he refused evacuation and continually directed artillery support that decimated attacking enemy formations, repeatedly abandoned positions of relative safety to make his way from foxhole to foxhole to check the company’s perimeter, and distributed ammunition among the Rangers, the release states
During a sixth counterattack, Puckett realized that the position was untenable due to the unavailability of supporting artillery fire. During this attack, two enemy mortar rounds landed in his foxhole, inflicting grievous wounds which limited his mobility.
Puckett commanded the Rangers to leave him behind and evacuate the area. Feeling a sense of duty to aid him, the Rangers refused the order and staged an effort to retrieve him from the foxhole while still under enemy fire. Ultimately, the Rangers succeeded in retrieving Puckett and they moved to the bottom of the hill, where he called for artillery fire on the top of the enemy-controlled hill.
Puckett joined the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps on Dec. 23, 1943, as a private. He was discharged on June 22, 1945, to attend the U.S. Military Academy and He was commissioned a second lieutenant on June 3, 1949.
He served in combat from Aug. 26 to Nov. 26, 1950 and from July 31, 1967 to July 3, 1968, as a member of the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Retiring from active duty in 1971, he became the National Programs Coordinator of Outward Bound, Inc., and subsequently established Discovery, Inc., a leadership and teamwork development program that focused on “Personal Growth through Safe Adventure.”
In 1992, he was an inaugural inductee into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. From 1996 to 2006, he served as the first Honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Puckett was also named an ambassador of goodwill by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation; was selected as a 2004 distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy, and a 2007 recipient of the Infantry’s Doughboy Award.
Puckett lives in Columbus, Ga., with his wife of 68 years, the former Jean Martin. They have two daughters, one of whom is deceased, a son, and six grandchildren.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@conomnectingvets.c.
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