WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress gave one of its highest final tributes on Monday — a lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol — to Ralph Puckett Jr., who led an outnumbered company in battle during the Korean War and was the last surviving veteran of that war to receive the Medal of Honor. Puckett, who retired as an Army colonel, died earlier this month at the age of 97 at his home in Columbus, Georgia. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021, the nation’s highest military honor, seven decades after his actions during the wartime. The lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol is reserved for the nation’s most distinguished private citizens. Only seven others have received the honor, and the latest, in 2022, was Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, who was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. The ceremonies for both Williams and Puckett were meant to also recognize the broader generations of veterans who are now dwindling in numbers. |
Judge orders exLive NRL updates: Warriors v Sea EaglesTrump: Court finding first Americans to sit in judgment of former presidentJudge orders exNikki Haley beats Donald Trump in Washington DC for first primary victoryUS and Philippines step up strategic partnership as China threats loom in South China SeaChile will ask Venezuela to extradite citizens suspected of killing an antiColombia's capital starts rationing water after reservoirs hit historically low levelsPope will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in longest trip of papacyChina is surging equipment sales to Russia to help war effort in Ukraine, US intelligence finds