City to pay tribute to Medal of Honor winner
Published 12:00 pm Saturday, June 11, 2022
- Ralph Puckett Jr. retired as an Army colonel in 1971. His awards include the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars with V device for valor, five Purple Hearts, ten Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal, among others. In addition, he has the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with star, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Wings, Glider Badge and Columbian Lancero Ranger Badge.
TIFTON — The city will honor a Tifton native and Medal of Honor winner.
An event to honor Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. is scheduled for 11 a.m., July 1, as part of Tifton’s 150th anniversary celebration. The Puckett event is set to be held at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Tifton City Council has reviewed naming Victory Drive in honor of Puckett, a Tifton native and a recipient of the congressional Medal of Honor.
Puckett, 95, received the Medal of Honor last year from President Joe Biden for action he took in Korea in the 1950s. Puckett served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
During the City Council meeting earlier this month, City Manager Pete Pyrzenski suggested the city recognize Puckett by naming a street for him.
Lining up with the Independence Day celebrations would be a ceremony held July 1, when Puckett and his wife would be brought to Tifton, recognized in front of the First United Methodist Church and then presented the renamed street in his honor, Pyrzenski said.
The street would be named Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. Drive.
Pyrzenski informed council that a committee has been planning the event, which includes Tifton-Tift County Tourism Executive Director Tyron Spearman, members of Puckett’s family and Pyrzenski.
Puckett received the Medal of Honor 71 years after actions he took during the Korean War.
In the battle for Hill 205 during the Korean War, Army 1st Lt. Ralph Puckett Jr. suffered multiple injuries. He and his men were outnumbered 10 to one. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to check on his men and rally them. He was repeatedly wounded but refused to leave his men.
He was so wounded eventually that he could not move. Despite ordering his men to leave him behind, they fought their way to his side and carried him off the field of battle.
As he recovered from his injuries in the early 1950s, Puckett was told he had been recommended to receive the Medal of Honor. But the recommendation was withdrawn and he was instead awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Cross.
