Ret. Army Col Ralph Puckett Jr. awarded Medal of Honor for brave actions taken during WWII, Korean War


WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor to Army Colonel Ralph Puckett in the East Room of the White HouseMay 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.. Army Colonel Ralph Puckett is a decorated combat veteran who served in the army during the Korean War and led a group of 51 men in the capture and defense of Hill 205 against an overwhelming Chinese attack. Colonel Puckett is President Joe Biden’s first Medal of Honor recipient of his administration. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 21: Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor to Army Colonel Ralph Puckett in the East Room of the White House May 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:38 PM PT – Friday, May 21, 2021

Retired Army Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor more than 70 years after his heroic actions.

At the White House on Friday, Joe Biden presented the 94-year-old with the nation’s highest award for combat valor. He earned the medal for actions taken during the Korean War in 1950, including leading a 60-man company to defend their position against hundreds of Chinese soldiers.

Army Colonel Ralph Puckett embraces US Vice President Kamala Harris as US President Joe Biden watches after his Medal of honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House May 21, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Army Colonel Ralph Puckett embraces Vice President Kamala Harris as Joe Biden watches after his Medal of honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House May 21, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Biden said Puckett questioned the need for a ceremony at all, stating they could simply mail the medal to him. However, Biden explained that Puckett had waited long enough and that a ceremony was well-deserved. Puckett stood proudly in the Army’s new Green Service Uniform as he accepted his medal.

Puckett also served during WWII and retired from active duty in 1971. South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended and also commemorated Puckett’s bravery, calling him a true hero of the Korean War. Jae-in’s attendance went down in history as the first time that a foreign leader had participated in a Medal of Honor ceremony.

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Carley Shaffer
Author: Carley Shaffer

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