_Colonel Ralph Puckett, who has died aged 97, was a United States Army officer. He led the Eighth Army Ranger Company during the Korean War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on November 25, 1950, when his company of 51 Rangers was attacked by several hundred Chinese soldiers at the battle for Hill 205. He later served in the Vietnam War and retired from the army in 1971 as a colonel. After being appointed on July 19, 1996, he served as the Honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Puckett was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War, following the death of Hiroshi Miyamura on November 29, 2022.