Ralph Puckett

Honorary Hall of Fame inductee Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Pucket, has been a significant contributor to Officer Candidate School for years. Since 2013, he has spoken to every graduating class, providing them with inspiration, encouragement and mentorship. | Colonel Puckett was an inaugural inductee into the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 1992 for extraordinary valor and distinguished service as a Ranger qualified leader. He formed, trained and commanded the Eighth Army Ranger Company in Korea as a second and, later, first lieutenant. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 25-26 November 1950, when he successfully led his 51 Rangers against numerically superior Chinese forces and established defensive positions on the captured objective. Following the Korean War, he served as the Commander of the Mountain Ranger Division of the Ranger Department. As the first Ranger Advisor in the U.S. Army Mission to Colombia, he planned and established the Colombian Army Escuela de Lanceros (Ranger School). He commanded “B” and “C” teams in the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany in 1960-63. He was awarded a second Distinguished Service Cross in the Republic of Vietnam. He has also been awarded the Cross of Gallantry with Palm from the Republic of Vietnam and the Lancero Medal and Order of Merit from Colombia. In 2001, he was awarded the United States Special Operations Command Medal for his outstanding contributions to Special Operations. He was awarded the Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service in 2008. | Colonel Puckett is a graduate of the United States Military Academy class of 1949 and holds a Master’s Degree in Personnel Administration from George Washington University. His military education includes the Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and United States Army War College. His military training includes Airborne, Jumpmaster, Ranger, Glider, Special Forces, Jungle Warfare, Winter Training, SCUBA, Skiing, and Lancero (Colombian Army) Courses.