Celebrating Medal of Honor, 77 USMA graduates received combat distinction

By By Sherman Fleek USMA Command Historian Date: Thursday, Jul 15, 2021 Time: 13:11 EST
The Medal of Honor for the Department of the Army was established July 12, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln, who signed it into law. It is our nationʼs highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. To date, there have been 77 West Point graduates who have received this medal. In Cullum Hall, the Memorial Room (above) has plaques for the graduates who died during time of war, and the Medal of Honor names and plaques. There are many locations on campus where the image or concept of the award is represented. (Photo by Jorge Garcia/PV)

On May 21, 2021, history was made at the U.S. Military Academy, even though it occurred at the White House in Washington, D.C. On that day, retired Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., received the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden in a ceremony. 


Puckett is 94 years old, and perhaps the oldest living person to receive the award. Puckett is a graduate of the USMA Class of 1949 and his heroic actions occurred in the Korean War in November 1950. 


As with many recent Medal of Honor presentations, the nomination and approval process were years in the making. Regardless, Puckett made history at the academy that day becoming the 77th graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. 


He is also one of three living recipients, along with retired Lt. Gen. Robert Foley, USMA Class of 1963, and retired Capt. Paul “Buddy” Bucha, USMA Class of 1965.


A few weeks ago, the academy’s Memorialization, History and Museum Committee unanimously recommended to the Superintendent for approval and the installation of plaque on MacArthur Barracks to honor Puckett. 


This plaque will join the other 76 plaques of graduate recipients with his name, the date and location of the action, and an account of the official citation. 
These plaques are located mostly in the Central Area to inspire the Corps of Cadets and others of the West Point community of the valor and dedication of the members of the Long Gray Line. 


The history of the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military decoration, is a proud one. Since the American Civil War, some 3,508 awards have been presented (19 are double awardees) and among these are the 77 USMA graduates (there are eight recipients who did not graduate). 


The last West Point graduate to be honored was in November 2014 when 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing, USMA Class of 1861, who was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, received the award posthumously. 


The break down of wars and conflicts of the graduates is interesting. There were 23 recipients during the Civil War, next the Indian Wars account for 21, there was only one for World War I, and now with Puckett there are three from the Korean War. 


There have been five superintendents who received the Medal of Honor: John Schofield, USMA Class of 1853, Oliver O. Howard, USMA Class of 1854, and John Wilson, USMA Class of 1860, all of whom were during the Civil War. Albert Mills of the USMA Class of 1879 served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and, lastly, Douglas MacArthur who was first in his Class of 1903 received the decoration in World War II.


There are several locations on West Point where the Medal of Honor is recognized. As mentioned, the individual citation plaques are the most obvious and ubiquitous. 


In 1989, for its 50th anniversary graduation gift, the Class of 1939 donated the beautiful bronze plaques of the recipients to West Point. 


Because of recent construction and renovations among the barracks and other buildings in the Central Area, some of the plaques were either re-installed or relocated to buildings whose memorialization by name relates to the era, war or conflict of the plaques. Many, though, remain where they were first installed in 1989. 


In Cullum Hall, the Memorial Room has plaques for the graduates who died during time of war, and the Medal of Honor names and plaques. There are many locations on campus where the image or concept of the award is represented.


Officially known as the Medal of Honor, and not the Congressional Medal of Honor as often used, it was first established during the Civil War in December 1861 by Congress.

 
Originally, it was an award for U.S. Navy enlisted “petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.” 


The next year on July 12, 1862, Congress passed another law awarding the same to Army enlisted Soldiers of the federal Army, “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action.”

 
Army officers during the War of Rebellion was authorized the award in 1863, but it was not until 1915, that naval and Marine officers were authorized the Medal of Honor.


Over time the criteria, nomination process, the selection and approval process has changed greatly. Some criticize awards and citations of earlier wars and conflicts because of the lack of substantive background or evidence. 


The Medal of Honor has experienced a vast evolution through laws and statutes, policies and regulations since 1861. 


Some awards of the past would probably not be allowed or approved today. Yet, these few cases should not cloud over the desire and intention to recognize the valor of Americans in the armed forces regardless of the service, time and action.

 
The Medal of Honor is a hallowed ideal and the U.S. Military Academy is a living institution that reflects the amazing valor of a select number of its graduates.