President Biden will award a Korean Warfare hero, Ralph Puckett Jr., the Medal of Honor on Friday, seven a long time after he led 51 Rangers in com
President Biden will award a Korean Warfare hero, Ralph Puckett Jr., the Medal of Honor on Friday, seven a long time after he led 51 Rangers in combating off successive waves of enemy counterattacks after he was gravely wounded by a hand grenade.
Colonel Puckett, 94, initially acquired a Distinguished Service Cross for his command of the Eighth U.S. Military Ranger Firm in November 1950. However that quotation was upgraded after a marketing campaign by a retired Military officer who believed the actions by the younger lieutenant from Georgia warranted the nation’s highest army honor.
Mr. Biden will honor Colonel Puckett, who has additionally been adorned for his valor in Vietnam, throughout a go to to the White Home by President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. It’s the first time Mr. Biden has issued the medal as president — and the primary time a overseas chief will probably be current for such a ceremony, in line with White Home officers.
Colonel Puckett’s troopers had been “impressed and motivated by the extraordinary management and brave instance” he offered, the administration stated in a press release.
The Korean Warfare, a bloody and inconclusive stalemate also known as a “forgotten” battle as a result of it was fought within the shadows of World Warfare II and Vietnam, claimed the lives of 36,574 American troopers, together with thousands and thousands of Korean and Chinese language troopers and civilians.
First Lt. Puckett, his rank on the time, was hit within the foot by a hand grenade as he started to arrange the protection of an American-controlled hill in opposition to a chaotic assault by a Chinese language drive that drastically outnumbered his personal.
However he refused medical analysis, and darted out and in of his foxhole to rally his males, exposing himself repeatedly to hazard, in line with an oral historical past venture documenting his heroism.
When the Chinese language lastly overran the place, Lieutenant Puckett — who had been hit by mortar fireplace twice after his foot was practically blown off — ordered his firm to evacuate and stated he wished to be left behind.
Two Rangers ignored him, and carried him behind the traces to security.
He would recuperate, and go on serve in Vietnam, earlier than retiring as a colonel in 1971 as one of the adorned fight veterans within the nation’s historical past.
Throughout his 22-year profession, he acquired the Distinguished Service Cross twice, in addition to two Silver Stars for valor, two Bronze Star Medals and 5 Purple Hearts.
Colonel Puckett would go on to function an government with Outward Certain, nonprofit academic group that exposes college students, particularly these from cities, to wilderness settings.