First Lieutenant Ralph Puckett, Jr. led his company across open terrain under constant heavy enemy small-arms fire to capture the objective. During this operation he deliberately exposed himself to enemy machine-gun fire whilst directing the defense of his position against a heavy counterattack, in which he was wounded.

Refusing evacuation, he continued to direct his men through six more counterattacks  In the sixth counterattack, he was wounded again, so seriously that he was unable to move. Realising his company was about to be overrun, he ordered his men to retreat and leave him behind, instead they dragged him from the hill to a position of safety.