Biden awards Korean War vet Medal of Honor as South Korea s president takes part
Biden awards 1st Medal of Honor as president
Replay Video UP NEXT As President Joe Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor to a 94-year-old Korean War veteran, he invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to speak the first time a foreign leader has participated in such a White House presentation. President Moon, it s a real honor to have you here participating in this ceremony today, Biden began, in his first time making the award. The strength of the alliance between the United States, the Republic of Korea was born out of the courage, determination, sacrifice, and of the Korean troops fighting shoulder to shoulder with American troops. And having you here today is an important recognition of all that our nation has achieved together, both of them, in the decades since.
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Ranger Legend Colonel Ralph Puckett to Receive Medal of Honor
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Colonel Ralph Puckett (U.S. Army)
U.S. Army Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr., a legend in the Ranger Regiment will be awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on Friday for his own “conspicuous gallantry” during the Korean War. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had planned an official state visit to President Biden, will also attend the ceremony.
Puckett, now 94, has served his country and the Regiment for more than 70 years.
He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy when he was 23 and was assigned to an Infantry company in Japan. Yet, Puckett volunteered for the Ranger Company. However, he was told that there were no more lieutenant positions in the 8th Army Ranger Company. He was nonplussed. Puckett said that he would “take a squad leader’s or rifleman’s job,” taking a rank bust several grades lower than a lieutenant’s. Colonel McGee, who was in charge of forming the Ranger company,
Korean War hero to receive Medal of Honor this week 1 day ago Retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett visits soldiers during the Best Ranger competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on April 16. (Sgt. Kelson Brooks/Army) The White House will award retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett the Medal of Honor this Friday, upgrading the Distinguished Service Cross he received 70 years ago for his heroism during the Korean War. White House officials announced the May 21 ceremony date on Wednesday after a few weeks of speculation about the honor. Earlier this month, Puckett spoke by phone with President Joe Biden about the decision, according to the Washington Post.