Ralph Atticus Puckett, Jr. was born in Tifton, Georgia, on December 8, 1926. He grew up in Tifton, south of Macon, Georgia. He was the son of Ralph Atticus Puckett and Clara Offerman Stedman.
He first attended Tifton High School and then finished high school at the Baylor School, a military academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He enrolled at Georgia Tech in 1943 before attending West Point, where he graduated in 1949. He married Jean Martha Martin in November 1952.
Colonel Puckett’s exceptional service and bravery was not officially recognized with the Medal of Honor until May 21, 2021, a testament to the delayed but well-deserved honor. Despite this, he remained actively involved with the Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. His passing in Columbus, Georgia, on April 8, 2024, at the age of 97, marked the end of an era, as he was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War.
First Lieutenant Ralph Puckett, Jr., distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the commander 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company during the period of 25 November, 1950, through 26 November, 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. To obtain fire, First Lieutenant 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.
Almost immediately, enemy fire threatened the success of the attack by pinning down one platoon. 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.
During the night, the enemy launched a counterattack that 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. As a result, five human-wave attacks by a battalion-strength enemy — enemy element were repulsed.
During the first attack, First Lieutenant Puckett was wounded by grenade fragments, but refused evacuation and continually directed artillery support that decimated attacking enemy formations. 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.
When the enemy launched a sixth attack, it became clear to First Lieutenant Puckett 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.
Knowing his men were in a precarious situation, First Lieutenant 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 fire from the enemy.
Ultimately, the Rangers succeeded in retrieving First Lieutenant Puckett and they moved to the bottom of the hill, where First Lieutenant Puckett called for devastating artillery fire on the top of the enemy-controlled hill.
First Lieutenant Puckett’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
World War II Service
In 1943, Ralph Puckett enlisted in the Army Air Corps to become a pilot and received his pilot training while attending Georgia Tech. At that time, there was a glut of pilots, and the Army and school disbanded the program. He then obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1945. He graduated from West Point as a Second Lieutenant in 1949 and was deployed to Japan, where he assumed the role of company commander in the Eighth Army Ranger Company.
This assignment led to his involvement in the Korean War in October 1950 when his Ranger Company was deployed to Korea for day and night raids.
Korean War Service
Colonel Puckett arrived in Korea as a Second Lieutenant with his Eighth Army Ranger Company. Just one month later, he took part in the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River and was responsible for taking and holding Hill 205. This position was the first battle that marked China’s entrance into the war.
He was the commanding officer of the 8th Ranger Company, 8213th Army Unit, and led his company in the battle against the Chinese. His Medal of Honor Citation details his Korean War service.
Vietnam War Service
Upon his return from Korea, the Army presented Puckett with the option of medical retirement. However, he chose not to accept it. His dedication led him to continue his service, contributing his skills at the Ranger School and West Point and completing his Special Forces training. In 1967, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he took on the role of a battalion commander for the 101st Airborne Division and was deployed to Vietnam. His exceptional bravery on the battlefield during this period earned him additional awards for valor.
Post Vietnam Service
After Vietnam, he served in the Army Infantry School Ranger Department as commander of the Mountain Ranger Division. He then had subsequent assignments in Columbia and Germany, where his expertise and experience were vital in establishing new procedures.
Before his retirement in 1971, Colonel Puckett had amassed many prestigious awards. This included two Distinguished Service Crosses, one of which was subsequently upgraded to the Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Star Medals with a combat “V” device signifying valor, and five Purple Hearts.
He was honored with his induction into the Order of Saint Maurice at the highest level. Recipients of this recognition are required to serve the Infantry community with distinction, demonstrate significant contributions in support of the Infantry, and embody the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence, and dedication to duty. He joined notable American patriots like General Colin Powell, Ross Perot, and General Edward C. Meyer with this recognition
He also authored the book Words for Warriors: A Professional Soldier’s Notebook and numerous articles.
Shown here are the medals Colonel Puckett earned during his career. They include:
Medal of Honor
Combat Infantryman Badge with 1 Star
Master Parachutist Badge
Glider Badge
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
22. Order of Saint Maurice (Primicerius – Highest Level)
23. South Korean Order of Military Merit
24. Colombian Lancero Ranger Badge
He was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the USAF Gathering of Eagles.
A section of highway in Fort Benning is dedicated to Colonel Puckett.
Even in his late 90s, he remained a vibrant presence at Fort Moore, frequently participating in events such as Ranger School graduations and the yearly Best Ranger Competition. When Congress directed the Army to rename its bases linked to Confederate generals, Colonel Puckett’s name was shortlisted as a potential replacement for Fort Benning. However, last year, Fort Benning was renamed Fort Moore in honor of another veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, Lieutenant General Hal Moore.
Following his death, his remains lay in State in the U.S. Capitol, a rare and deserving honor for his heroism and unwavering support for the Rangers and Army.
