Retired Army Colonel Ralph Puckett received the Medal of Honor from President Biden on Friday for his heroism during the Vietnam War. Puckett, who is now 94 years old, was recognized for his bravery during a battle in November 1950 when he was a 23-year-old lieutenant leading an Army Ranger company.
Puckett’s unit was tasked with securing a position on a hilltop near the Chongchon River in North Korea. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, Puckett and his men held the position for more than five hours, repeatedly repelling enemy attacks.
During the battle, Puckett was wounded multiple times, but refused to be evacuated and instead continued to lead his men, even after sustaining a serious leg injury.
Puckett’s unit was eventually forced to withdraw, but not before inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Puckett’s leadership and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds were credited with preventing the enemy from overrunning the position and potentially causing much greater losses to U.S. and allied forces.
Puckett’s Medal of Honor citation reads, “First Lieutenant Ralph Puckett, distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the leader of a Ranger company in the 8th Army Ranger Company during the Korean War.”
After retiring from the military, Puckett went on to serve as a professor at West Point, where he taught leadership and military strategy for more than 20 years.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Puckett has also been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and two Purple Hearts for his service in Korea and Vietnam.
Puckett is the latest in a long line of veterans to receive the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military honor awarded for acts of valor in combat. His bravery and selflessness serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many American service members throughout our nation’s history.