President Biden to award Medal of Honor to Korean War veteran

President Joe Biden will award the prestigious Medal of Honor on Friday to retired Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. for his "conspicuous gallantry" in the Korean War. The medal will be presented in a ceremony alongside South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, the White House announced Wednesday. 

"Then-First Lieutenant Ralph Puckett, Jr. distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while serving as the Commander, 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company during the period of November 25, and 26, 1950, in Korea," a statement from the White House read.  Puckett, who first enlisted in 1943, led his unit by "courageous example" and showed "extraordinary leadership" in battle, the statement said. During a daylight attack on an enemy hill, Puckett "intentionally ran across an open area three times to draw enemy fire," allowing the Army Rangers to locate and destroy the enemy positions and seize the hill.