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. |
Search for crew member overboard from fishing vessel in Hawke's BayNo joke: UK comedian told to remove hot dog from subway poster over junk food ban5 takeaways from the abortion pill case before the U.S. Supreme CourtNASA satellite blasts off to survey oceans and atmosphere of warming EarthNew strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shows promiseNo, OJ Simpson did not admit on X to the 1994 killings of his exSearch for crew member overboard from fishing vessel in Hawke's BayFirefighters in New Jersey come to the rescue of a yellow Labrador stuck in a spare tireCambodia's prime minister sounds a sour note on trucks' musical hornsHow brown rats crawled off ships and conquered North American cities