 Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us. I'm Sergeant First Class Anthony Hewitt from the Department of Army Public Affairs Today we'll discuss retired Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr.'s heroic actions at Hill 205 in the vicinity of Unsan, Korea November 25th and 26 1950 When then First Lieutenant Puckett served as an infantryman and company commander of the 8th Army Ranger Company He led his Rangers in a daylight attack to secure Hill 205 while his men were pinned down under enemy machine gun fire mortar fire and small arms fire He ran across an open field three times to draw the enemy fire away from his men His actions allowed the Rangers to locate and destroy The enemy machine gun position enabling the company to seize Hill 205 Colonel Puckett is a historic as part of a historic generation of our nation's history and Join the Army out of a sense of patriotism, patriotism, duty, pride, and to make his parents proud Being there and being better every day for the soldiers and families is a mantra Colonel Puckett lives by each and every day his wife Junie a proud a proud Army spouse of 68 years They have two daughters one of one of whom is deceased a son and six grandchildren Colonel Puckett deployed in support of the Korean and Vietnam Wars After 22 years of service to our country. He retired in 1971 He has been an active pillar in the Army and Ranger community Mentoring soldiers for the last 40 years He has a deep connection to the community of Columbus, Georgia and Fort Benning Before I go over the ground rules of the media round table, please allow me to introduce you to the panel With us today our retired is retired Army Colonel John Locke a Long-time friend of the family and one who advocated for Colonel Puckett's distinguished service cross upgrade For the last 19 years Colonel Puckett's son Thomas Puckett Retired Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr Retired Army Master Sergeant Merle Simpson a lifelong friend of Colonel Puckett's and a fellow Ranger at Hill 205 Retired Army Colonel Robert Choppa a long-time friend and president of the National Infantry Association Today's media round table will last 35 minutes ending no later than 435 Colonel Locke will be providing opening remarks. We will then begin taking your questions For the Q&A segment when called upon please provide your name and affiliation and limit yourself to one question and a follow-up I Will provide a notice when we have time for one last question So thank you for joining us today At this time I'd like to introduce John Locke John over to you for opening remarks Sergeant First Class Hewitt good afternoon On behalf of Team Puckett and the intrepid Rangers of the 8th Army Ranger Company as represented by Master Sergeant Merle Simpson I would like to thank you for joining us today As we are all aware of the Medal of Honor is the nation's highest award for Military Valor The Congressional Medal of Honor Society notes that each medal tells the story of its own and the story of Colonel Puckett is certainly no exception Tomorrow during the War Ceremony at the White House President Joe Biden will describe in detail the battlefield courage of Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. and his fellow Rangers of how on a desolate hilltop deep within North Korea and only 60 miles from the border of China Is already battle weary Rangers prepared defenses as the weather grew harsher and a piercing wind Push the chill factor well below zero degrees of how with no fire no warm food No cold weather gear no sleeping bags and the unnerving sound of firefights in the distance as enemy forces overwhelmed friendly units in the dark The Rangers waded in misery their turn to face a similar onslaught against the overwhelming odds of the fanatical enemy However the president's description of the nearly insurmountable requirements that define a Medal of Honor recipient Will only be part of the compelling story of Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. Who has had a life of service to the nation both in and out of uniform In reality and upon reflection the story of Battle Hill 205 and the story of Colonel Puckett extend well beyond the singular Medal of Honor event that spanned the 25th and early morning hours of the 26th of November 1950 The Battle of Hill 205 is a culmination of a series of events that were initiated with Lieutenant Puckett's selection To lead the newly formed Ranger company Personally choosing his soldiers from among non-combatant clerks cooks drivers and mechanics Lieutenant Puckett conceived of and implemented a standard in training regiment that was able to literally forge his Rangers Into it forms his men into Rangers within five and a half weeks It is a standard still emulated today by the elite US Army Ranger school The day prior to the Battle Hill 205 Lieutenant Puckett and his Rangers assaulted another hill hill 224 Suffering killed and wounded from both enemy and friendly fires that night. They dug foxholes into the hills frozen ground No sleeping bags. They endured near zero temperatures fought hypothermia and Suffer sleep deprivation Just how cold was it you ask so cold that the Rangers took turns tucking their bare feet into their buddy's armpits to fight off Frostbite fulfilling the late infantry axiom of travel light freeze at night That was a prelude to the Battle of Hill 205 a company of Rangers built from scratch and manned by non-infantry non-combat experienced soldiers Led by an inexperienced junior Lieutenant It was a unit that had already suffered the deprivation of hardship and battle before the day and night that would come to define them Yet within the short amount of time under the most adverse of conditions Lieutenant Puckett had inculcated within each of his men a faith in each other Army Rangers are unique and elite warfighter who live in accordance with what is called the Ranger Creed Among the principles of the Creed are never shall I fail my comrades And I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy The Rangers who disobeyed Lieutenant Puckett's order to leave him behind on Hill 205 We're not the only ones that night who placed a creed their service to each other above their very lives The Creed is more than an ethos. It is a way to live It is also a way to die. It is an oath written in blood of how the American warrior will always prevail always As to the story of Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr The real question is what type of leader? What kind of man is he beyond the battle of Hill 205 to tell that story the start at the beginning He was newly graduated West Point Lieutenant who had orders for the safety of Okinawa, but requested to be resigned to Korea Though an officer he volunteered to be a squad leader when he learned that the 8th Army Ranger Company platoon leaders positions had already been filled by West Point classmates nonetheless He passed on being promoted to captain prior to Hill 205 because he believed a great friction with his fellow lieutenants Having suffered serious wounds in Hill 205 that almost led to his right foot being amputated Lieutenant Puckett was offered a medical discharge but refused to accept it working hard to retain combat arm status As a ranger advisor to columbia Captain Puckett extended his tour in additional six months doubling his time of separation with his wife and newborn daughter To ensure the establishment of this prestigious School of Lancers a South American Ranger school equivalent In 1967 though, he would not have been assigned. He could have been assigned elsewhere Lieutenant Colonel Puckett volunteered for combat tour in vietnam where he assumed command of the Second battalion 502nd infantry regiment airborne infantry battalion. I'm sorry It's anchoring My apologies, sir Second battalion 502nd infantry regiment airborne hundred and the first airborne division assigned the moniker Ranger by the assistant division commander Colonel Puckett earned a second distinguished cross that august for his fearless and inspirational leadership when the air sold it into a desperate company level night long firefight A platoon leader preparing for a last-stand battle with later comment on lieutenant colonel Puckett's effect On the besieged and elderly exalted soldiers quote word of colonel Puckett's arrival spread like wildfire We all stiffened up and felt nothing bad could happen now because the rangers with us unquote Why did colonel Puckett work so hard to convince his wife genie that he needed to go to vietnam? Because the federal was his duty and that his leadership would help save soldiers lives Those are just some of the big bullet highlights of colonel Puckett's selfless service His more subtle acts of nuance and integrity he refused to wear the coveted cib combat infantry badge After the battle 205 even though he had commanded the army's First ranger company since world war two and been awarded the distinguished service cross his rationale. He didn't have orders to wear it He refused to wear the coveted special forces tab identifying him as a green beret because he retired from active duty Before the tab came into existence Again though earned. He didn't have orders Having earned two of the u.s. Army's most Saw it after identifiers colonel Puckett's character would not allow him to wear these badges without proper authorization I'm using enough such selflessness such protocol such to quorum even transcended colonel Puckett's Colonel Puckett's Personal transactions recently when asked asking his bride of 68 years. How did the colonel propose to her genie's response was? I don't recall I don't recall him proposing. He spent most of the time telling me why shouldn't marry him Colonel Puckett by his own admission was not a perfect person a perfect leader for he cites numerous occasions where upon reflection He would have acted differently for we mere mortals Nice to know you're human sir So in the end why is any of this relevant because it defines colonel route Puckett jr Designs who he is and it defines the standard of leadership that all leaders should try to emulate That is not an opinion. It is a fact It's a fact validated by six consecutive appointments over 12 years It's the honorary colonel the save fifth ranger measurement an appointment that have been chartered by the army chief of staff To be just a one two year assignment It's a fact validated by the nearly two dozen four star generals and numerous command sergeants majors He served as counsel a mentor to over the years It's a fact validated by the hundreds of rank and file soldiers who have all have a colonel Puckett story It's relevant because colonel Puckett was all inclusive A ranger who was mission focused Though the army had only been uh Desegregated by president harry truman two years prior Lieutenant Puckett selected two african-americans to serve the eighth army ranger company Why because they met the standards and to quote we were all americans. The blow was the same color red unquote Later when women were authorized to attend the u.s. Army ranger school colonel Puckett was one of the first to proclaim If they meet the standards they are rangers Truth be told Said I wasn't gonna do that Truth be told the name Puckett is synonymous with leader Colonel Puckett would be the first to tell you that the middle of honor Disrecognition that he did not initiate Which he never saw for himself Which he told me to cease work on all these three occasions Is not his alone as with any team. There is no one individual who can do it all By his own admission colonel Puckett Is just a token representative of those great americans of the eighth army ranger company He was honored and privileged to command that fateful night For those who know colonel Puckett there was nothing about his actions on hill 205s that surprised you You know, this is not a singular incident a moment of courage His actions were not something he did in the heat of combat. It is simply who he is It was literally as one ranger so succinctly put it ralph being ralph In closing I believe general stan mccrystal a former 75th ranger regiment commander Said it more eloquently than I could quote It doesn't take another medal to make you a hero in the eyes of every soldier who has had the pleasure and honor of knowing you In or out of uniform, but that said this is the right recognition for the right soldier Unquote the korean conflict is known as the forgotten war Well, they may be Well, that may be forgotten no longer or colonel Puckett and his rangers of the eighth army company And ain't eighth army ranger company And now if I may sir the floor is yours Good afternoon. I appreciate you coming I was asked to make a speech, but I said I will not make a formal speech, but I will make some comments Which I'd like for you to hear about those rangers and the outstanding job that they did Something I want to emphasize right through the beginning is Those 73 individuals who joined and later 63 who Finished the five weeks of training that we had Were not special soldiers. They were not infantry trained They were good soldiers But have not been trained as combat instrument So we had a great job staring us in the face is to turn them And to me and the other two lieutenant lieutenants and to qualified infantry commanders We knew that we had tough battles ahead of us We knew that success or failure Would depend on how well we trained And how well we fought And how determined we fought We were determined That we would do the best that we could We were convinced that we would be adequate At this time of year Cold winter I often turned my mind to george washington my favorite american And one of the things that happened to him At the beginning of the war the revolution It's one of my favorite stories of him and it occurred in 1775 at valley forge That they was bitter cold Many of the men had never seen that cold before It was terrible They had suffered great hardships Up until that day and they were ready to go home They had only one more day and they'd be home They knew something was up Is the rain as the soldiers assembled they could see General washington astride his horse Off to the side They knew Something was up george washington Wrote to the center of line and spoke to his assembled soldiers Soldiers telling them why they were still needed When the war is not yet over He told them how proud he was of their victory But he urged them begged them to volunteer to stay one month longer Then he turned to the side and rode again He rode to the center of the Off to the side where he had started and he stood there for a moment as a regimental officers asked The soldiers to volunteer Not one man moved They were embarrassed They knew how much washington depended on them They knew that without them The war was over They were it They were the army of our country And they would be disbanded Tomorrow morning They knew the pressure that was on them They could see washington off to the side And the soldiers knew something was up was up Washington Listened to the soldiers listening to what washington had to say And how much he depended on them And then washington strode To the side of striders horse And listened to the soldiers They said nothing They were embarrassed These are the soldiers that had won our choir won our freedom And they'd done it While founding fathers to create our constitution and form our democracy For more than 200 years citizens soldiers and others Have volunteered and fought and died to protect that freedom And maintain it for us While we have many Enemies of this country today Who want to see us fall There's no greater enemy in my opinion Than ourselves We've divided ourselves into Tribes And they've closed our ears to all Who would not think that we would do what we needed to do Our enemies outside our country are aiding and abetting the dissension within our ranks They're watching with satisfaction as they see us Destroying Ourselves Our politician in congress Have together sworn an oath to protect our democracy And it put Their self-interest ahead of their sworn sworn oath Our country Was not created to be the states of america, but rather we were named United states of america It's my hope that all americans will come to think about that And adapt that to their own thought process To their own belief system our country depends on you You me What you do every day and how you live without you We will not be named maintain our freedom. It depends on us Luke Abraham Lincoln Warned us a house to fight it against itself cannot stand We know that we have to come together And fight together As the united states of america and ought to survive as a free nation Thank you for coming here today Mr. Merrill Simpson Merrill Simpson I'm a member of ralph's Rangers Rangers I'm one of the regils We started I have uh living indiana I have three sons and a daughter My son Don Brought me I Have known ralph since the first day that He interviewed me And I I have never seen a better man Than ralph puckett rob choppa. I'm a retired army colonel And i'm proud to be ralph puckett's ranger buddy for the last couple of years We've gone and seen lots of training And met with his rangers as well as other officers and soldiers in our army And the one message that ralph has always Encouraged is for everyone to be better Think about what you did Identify the challenges and be better And that defines ralph puckett Thank you gentlemen of the panel we will Now begin taking your questions beginning with Dan lamoth from washington post Yes, thanks for your time I was interested if you could walk us through the The journey here in terms of I know it took multiple years multiple efforts and there's been a long waiting period How did that feel how did that seem and what did it take to get to where you are now? Thanks, obviously it's been an 18-year journey To get to this point The interesting thing about it is that Had we gotten here or not It really didn't make a difference in terms of the man. We're talking about You know the medal of honor Is quite obviously an amazing Recognition of one's courage and valor as the colonel himself has indicated each and every time It is just a representation of the soldiers that he led on the hilltop that night But all of us who know him just as I said with general mccrystal's quote everybody up here that Whether the medal or placed around his neck tomorrow or not It doesn't make a difference in terms of how we see him how we see the couple of Colonel Bucket and genie Truly an exemplary example for all of us try to aspire to be And the fact that took 18 years I'm just glad we did it. Thank you. Next we have chuck williams from wrbl columbus georgia into the white house Means that our country has survived those many years We survived by luck We survived by good fortune. We survived because the good lord gave us that privilege And we survived because there's some great men Who gave everything To defend and win The freedom for our country for you and me and for all of us who come after We owe it to those soldiers those people who volunteered at the beginning Nobody in my opinion would have really given much Credence to the idea that a motley group of farmers People like that we had in the volunteer army Could have beaten great britain It was the greatest power on earth George washington Was no qualified leader He had little no experienced Yet he had volunteered to take command of our forces Farmers Traders Volunteered to take command of those forces and lead them against the british in a fight for freedom Washington probably was the only man who could have done that He was amazing He never gave up When things were the toughest George washington was there and he did it He led the way George washington was as best as he come Although he was brand new He gave everything that he had To train and to lead his soldiers in the fight for our freedom George washington Is my favorite hero Because for the man that he was the real soldier and leader that he was And all that he did for our country Thank you, sir. Next we have uh steve benyon from military.com Thank you and thank you curl for uh for being this round table with us um When you think about the other guys you served with that, of course the heroic action, how do you Look at the medal of honor and and you awarding it and uh What do you think about the guys you served with you? What they what they would say Steve can you go ahead and repeat the question you had some uh feedback in your phone go ahead and uh Go ahead with your question again. Okay while we uh While we get steve back on the line, uh, let's go ahead and go to davis winke from army times Hey everybody, uh, thank you colonel pocket for taking the time to do this and um The question I have is for him and for other members of the team I I was surprised that I had received a call from the president from the president I never thought he'd be calling to speak to me I was surprised by how Humble and ordinary friendly that he sounded But my wife, I'd like for her to describe the conversation that she had with the president because She expresses it best And she expresses exactly the way I felt about the president when he spoke to me This is a man that's leading our country I think I can depend on him So can you will you give us a few words? No Okay, that's the way it is my family The man of the house is supposed to be the leader, but he's just there. Okay Thank you. Uh, thank you colonel pocket. I just want to remind everybody that's on the line to please Remember to mute your phones if you're not speaking Let's go ahead and go back to uh, steve benyon at military.com. Yeah, can you guys hear me? Yeah, uh, colonel, I appreciate you taking the time out today. Um How do you feel about the gravity of getting the medal and and how do you look at that? Um Legacy and what do you think the guys you work with? Uh, in korean vietnam bank. I'm sure I didn't get the question How do you think about the gravity of this medal the the importance it has and and what the men feel like In your unit about this award. What what the gravity of this mess message is What is certainly the most important mess mess? Medal that we have in our country and I certainly am honored to be the recipient The people and it's people who have earned that medal in the eighth army ranger company or the rangers Like male spasmson Who did more than I ask to do the best that they could in order to maintain our freedom? I think it's important to them. I want them to know that they're the ones who did the job They did the risk they did the fighting They suffered the wounds. They suffered the deaths They're the ones who deserve the credit and I hope that they can get that Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir Next we have jeremy redmond from the atlanta journal Yeah, so I good afternoon my final congratulations on this honor and thank you for doing this all Earlier today, I was at port to it reporting on the third infantry division and honoring the sergeant first following a patch Who's um been approved for a medal of honor has yet to receive it and he has um been recognized for saving On several soldiers from a burning gladly fighting vehicle that was hit by an accident in iraq in 2005 I'm curious Jeremy we caught about half of your question. Can you just can you go back and give that one again? It was it was a little I would just go ahead and speak up a little bit more Yeah, yeah, so uh earlier today the third infantry division at port steward honored sergeant first class all in cash by honoring the memorial garden after and he's up for a medal of honor And it's for saving several soldiers from a burning gladly fighting vehicle that was hit by 19 or rocks in 2005 I'm curious if you're familiar with this story and we would like to hear your thoughts about it. We are proud that The sergeant first class cash Represents the state of georgia and in the city of columbus and we're certainly Looking forward to his ceremony When when he is in his family are presented the medal of honor He brought great credit to the third infantry division and his heroics will go down in history I just as a reminder that that all uh All medal of honor decision is predecisional and it is uh by the white house Uh, is there anybody that uh has a follow-up question as of right now that I did not get to um Please try not to step on each other Okay, since we have no more questions. Is there anything else that uh anybody would like to say as members of the panel Sir, thank you. Thank you for coming support our soldiers The only thing I I want to add is Ralph's entire family is here with him and they've been instrumental In his life and his successful army career and everything he's done after the army Um, it is truly a team pocket effort And we're all proud to be here with him and we're thrilled about tomorrow's ceremony. So genie Marty and thomas and all the grandkids Thank you all for for being part of Ralph and in his legacy Thank you everybody. Thank you to the members of the panel for sharing your time and your stories This ends our media round table If you have any follow-up questions Please do not hesitate to contact me sergeant first class anthony hewitt army public affairs or our office for assistance This concludes today's media round table. Thank you