A life-size bronze statue honoring the late Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. was unveiled at Fort Benning on Tuesday, November 25.
The imposing seven-foot-tall figure stands atop Hurley Hill, overlooking Victory Pond, the site where all Army Rangers earn the prestigious Ranger Tab. The statue depicts Puckett as the honorary colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, a title he held from 1996 to 2006.
Colonel Puckett, who passed away at the age of 97 in 2024, received the Medal of Honor in 2021 for his extraordinary heroism during the Korean War. On November 25 and 26, 1950, Puckett repeatedly risked his life while leading an Army Ranger company in an overnight defense of Hill 205 against six relentless waves of Chinese forces. Though severely injured, he ordered his men to leave him; they refused, carrying him to safety. He later declined a medical discharge, remaining on active duty until his retirement in 1971.
Puckett remained dedicated to the Army Rangers throughout his life. He was an inaugural inductee into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the Infantry’s Doughboy Award in 2007. After retiring, he was a constant presence at Fort Benning, often attending Ranger events.
At the ceremony, speakers, including Major General Colin Tuley, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, and Puckett’s wife, Jeannie Puckett, expressed their profound happiness that this permanent monument now stands at the home of the Army Rangers, honoring the man who gave so much to his country and community.
