oped . Ralph and Jean married Nov . 26 , 1952 . They had three children , daughters Martha Kinnett and Jean Raney ( deceased ) and one son Thomas Puckett . They have several grandchildren .
“ I could barely move but she took care of me ,” he said of his wife . “ She ’ s been taking care of me ever since .”
STAYING IN THE ARMY & BEYOND
Given the severity of his wounds , Puckett was offered a medical discharge . He refused it . His military resume grew : he served “ active duty as a combat arms officer at assignments that included the U . S . Army Ranger School and the United States Military Academy , West Point . As a Ranger advisor to Columbia , Captain Puckett established the prestigious Escuela de Lanceros program . Later , after completing Special Forces training in 1960 , Major Puckett commanded ‘ B ’ and ‘ C ’ teams in 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz , Germany . “
He volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam in 1967 . Puckett served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion , 502nd Infantry Regiment ( Airborne ), 101st Airborne Division .
There he was assigned the moniker , “ Ranger .” Puckett personally led soldiers into combat , “ appearing when and where they needed him most .” For his valor , Puckett received a second Distinguished Service Cross and two Silver Stars .
His awards now 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 , 10 Air Medals , the Army Commendation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal .
He has the Combat Infantryman ’ s Badge with star , Special Forces Tab , Ranger Tab , Master Parachutist Wings , Glider Badge and Columbian Lancero Ranger Badge .
He retired in 1971 as a colonel but he wasn ’ t finished serving .
He became national
Ralph Puckett spent months programs coordinator hospitalized and recuperating of Outward Bound and from injuries received during established Discovery , “ a the 1950 battle that would leadership and teamwork lead to a Medal of Honor development program nearly 71 years later . He that focused on ‘ Personal also met his wife , Jean , while Growth through Safe Adventure ,’” according to hospitalized at Fort Benning . his biography . He loved the work and said he considered a mission to help young people develop into capable people .
“ I think the country would be better and stronger if all young people served in some capacity ,” he said . “ It would be good for the country and it would make a difference in the lives of young people .”
About 30 years ago , the Pucketts returned to Columbus , Georgia , where he and Jean still live .
He ’ s written a book about his military experiences . He was the inaugural inductee into the U . S . Army Ranger Hall of Fame . From 1996-2008 , he served as the first honorary colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment .
Other honors include an appointment as an Ambassador of Goodwill by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation , selection as a 2004 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy and a 2007 recipient of the Infantry ’ s Doughboy Award .
And in 2021 , the recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions he performed in combat 71 years earlier .
30 TiftonScene | SEPTEMBER 2022