World War II Honoree

Donald D. Pucket

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Longmont, Colorado

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. FIRST LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, 98TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP. PLACE AND DATE: PLOESTI RAID, RUMANIA, JULY 9, 1944. ENTERED SERVICE AT: BOULDER, COLORADO. GO 48, JUNE 23, 1945. CITATION: 'HE TOOK PART IN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ATTACK AGAINST VITAL OIL INSTALLATION IN PLOESTI, RUMANIA, ON JULY 9, 1944. JUST AFTER 'BOMBS AWAY' THE PLANE, RECEIVED HEAVY AND DIRECT HITS FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. ONE CREW MEMBER WAS INSTANTLY KILLED AND 6 OTHERS SEVERELY WOUNDED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BADLY DAMAGED, 2 WERE KNOCKED OUT, THE CONTROL CABLES CUT, THE OXYGEN SYSTEM ON FIRE AND THE BOMB BAY FLOODED WITH GAS AND HYDRAULIC FLUID. REGAINING CONTROL OF HIS CRIPPLED PLANE, 1ST LIEUTENANT PUCKET TURNED ITS DIRECTION OVER TO THE CO-PILOT. HE CALMED THE CREW, ADMINISTERED FIRST AID AND SURVEYED THE DAMAGE. FINDING THE BOMB BAY DOORS JAMMED, HE USED THE HAND CRANK TO OPEN THEM TO ALLOW THE GAS TO ESCAPE. HE JETTISONED ALL GUNS AND EQUIPMENT, BUT THE PLANE CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE RAPIDLY. REALIZING THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH FRIENDLY TERRITORY HE ORDERED THE CREW TO ABANDON SHIP. THREE OF THE CREW, UNCONTROLLABLE FROM FRIGHT OR SHOCK, WOULD NOT LEAVE. 1ST LIEUTENANT PUCKET URGED THE OTHERS TO JUMP. IGNORING THEIR ENTREATIES TO FOLLOW, HE REFUSED TO ABANDON THE 3 HYSTERICAL MEN AND WAS LAST SEEN FIGHTING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE PLANE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE FLAMING BOMBER CRASHED ON A MOUNTAINSIDE. 1ST LIEUTENANT PUCKET, UNHESITATINGLY AND WITH SUPREME SACRIFICE, GAVE HIS LIFE IN HIS COURAGEOUS ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIVES OF 3 OTHERS.'