• news
  • Life
  • Entertainment
  • Family
  • Animals
  • Food
  • Health Tip
  • Life Hacks
  • Quiz
Skip to content

  • news
  • Life
  • Entertainment
  • Family
  • Animals
  • Food
  • Health Tip
  • Life Hacks
  • Quiz

  • news
  • Life
  • Entertainment
  • Family
  • Animals
  • Food
  • Health Tip
  • Life Hacks
  • Quiz

1 127.jpg?resize=1200,630 - Army Veteran, 94, Finally Receives Medal of Honor 70 Years After Heroism, Making Him One Of The Most Decorated Soldiers In The Country

Army Veteran, 94, Finally Receives Medal of Honor 70 Years After Heroism, Making Him One Of The Most Decorated Soldiers In The Country

Ralph Puckett, Jr, 94, was hosted at the White House where he received the Medal of Honor — the US government’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Why all the fuss?” was Puckett’s first response. “Can’t they just mail it to me?”

Photo / Alex Brandon

 President Joe Biden answered: “Rather than mail it to you, I would’ve walked it to you.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Jeannie Puckett, his wife, was in attendance too, as President Biden detailed how the couple met.

The two were married two years after the battle in November 1950, for which he was honored this week with the following citation:

“For acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the commander 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Photo / Alex Brandon

Seventy years ago, on Hill 205 or what is now called North Korea, 51 of Puckett’s Rangers and 9 Korean enlisted soldiers set out in a daylight attack to take Hill 205 which was located 60 miles from the border of China.

ADVERTISEMENT

At the time, first lieutenant Ralph Puckett mounted the closest tank, exposing himself to the lethal enemy fire. Leaping from the tank, he shouted words of encouragement to his rangers and began to them in their offense.

To attack, Puckett and his men had to cross about half a mile of frozen rice paddies under burning fire.

ADVERTISEMENT
point 0 |
From the US Army

“Almost immediately, the enemy fire threatened the success of the attack by pinning down one platoon,” the citation stated.point 222 |

ADVERTISEMENT

“Leaving the safety of his position, with full knowledge of the danger, First Lieutenant Puckett intentionally ran across an open area three times to draw enemy fire, thereby allowing the Rangers to locate and destroy the enemy positions and to seize Hill 205″.point 227 |

ADVERTISEMENT

point 0 | 1

When the Rangers finally reached the top of the Hill 205, it was abandoned, but Puckett knew the battle wasn’t over.

From the US Army

“During the night, the enemy launched a counterattack that lasted four hours,” the citation continued. “Over the course of the counterattack, the Rangers were inspired and motivated by the extraordinary leadership and courageous example exhibited by First Lieutenant Puckett.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite the fact that Puckett’s Rangers were outnumbered, five attacks by a battalion-strength enemy were revolted.

During the first wave of the assaults, First Lieutenant Puckett was deeply wounded by grenade fragments, but he refused to evacuate and continued the artillery support. Several hours later, four more waves of attacks came.

ADVERTISEMENT
From the US Army

“He repeatedly abandoned positions of relative safety to make his way from foxhole to foxhole, to check the company’s perimeter and to distribute ammunition amongst the Rangers,” the citation says.

ADVERTISEMENT

When the enemy launched the sixth offense, two mortar rounds landed in his foxhole, wounding him in both his feet, his left arm, shoulder and his backside.

Photo / Alex Brandon

“Knowing his men were in a precarious situation, First Lieutenant Puckett commanded the Rangers to leave him behind and evacuate the area,” the citation continued. “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 fire from the enemy.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Eventually, the Rangers succeeded in rescuing First Lieutenant Puckett and they moved to the bottom of the hill, where he called for destructive artillery fire on the top of the enemy-controlled hill.

Puckett’s remarkable heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty will reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Korea is sometimes called the “Forgotten War.” But those men who were there under Lieutenant Puckett’s command, they’ll never forget his bravery,” President Biden said in his remarks. “They never forget that he was right by their side throughout every minute of it.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“And the people of the Republic of Korea haven’t forgotten, as evidenced by the fact that the President of Korea is here for this ceremony,” Biden continued. “I doubt this has ever happened before.”

Photo / Alex Brandon

“I learned that I’m the first foreign leader to ever attend a ceremony of such kind,” President Moon said. “As President of the Republic of Korea, it is a great honor and pleasure.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Colonel Puckett is a true hero of the Korean War… Without the sacrifice of veterans, including Colonel Puckett and the Eighth Army Ranger Company, freedom, and democracy we enjoy today couldn’t have blossomed in Korea.”

Puckett’s military service did not end in the Korean War as he also served in the Vietnam War, where he earned a second Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, and two Bronze Stars. And five Purple Hearts for injuries suffered in combat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Posts

vonvon article.png - Vera Wang Confirms Her Age After People Doubted She’s 70 Years Old
news

Vera Wang Confirms Her Age After People Doubted She’s 70 Years Old

January 2, 2023
mcdonalds.jpg - Six-Year-Old Girl Chokes On ‘Face Mask’ Buried Inside McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets
Food • news

Six-Year-Old Girl Chokes On ‘Face Mask’ Buried Inside McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

December 31, 2022
6 30.jpg - Band-Aid Will Make Brown & Black Toned Bandages That Embrace The Beauty of Diverse Skin
news

Band-Aid Will Make Brown & Black Toned Bandages That Embrace The Beauty of Diverse Skin

December 25, 2022
dsfasdf 1.jpg - The "World’s Oldest Person" Celebrates Her 134th Birthday At A Banquet Party
Life • news

The “World’s Oldest Person” Celebrates Her 134th Birthday At A Banquet Party

December 25, 2022
asdf.jpg - Man, 24, Dies In Explosion While Attempting To Loot ATM In Philadelphia
news

Man, 24, Dies In Explosion While Attempting To Loot ATM In Philadelphia

December 25, 2022

Pages

  • SJnews com

[rsnippet name="sitename" multi-site="true"] Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy   [rsnippet name="termsofservice" multi-site="true"]   [rsnippet name="editors" multi-site="true"] [rsnippet name="naver-post" multi-site="true"]