The fact that the last Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War, Col. Ralph Puckett, was allowed to lie in honor under the Dome of our Capitol in Washington on April 29 was an unlikely story in and of itself. However, the fact this was made possible through a young Texas schoolgirl's dream is even more amazing.

Rabel McNutt is the sister of Thomas McNutt, a co-owner of the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana. Rabel originated the idea of honoring all who served in World War II and all of served in the Korean War, through a National Funeral for the last Medal of Honor recipient from each war.

She originated this idea while preparing to attend the funeral of her Godfather, Walt Ehlers, who received his Medal of Honor fighting the Germans in Normandy, France following D-Day in 1944.

“When the last MOH man from World War II, Hershel 'Woody' Williams, was allowed to lie in honor in the Capitol in 2022, it set the precedent that the final Medal of Honor recipient from other conflicts, like Col. Puckett for the Korean War, be allowed the same honor,” said Medal of Honor holder James 'Doc' McCloughan. "The two people at the center of all this activity were young Rabel McNutt and her father Bill McNutt, of Texas."

U.S. Army Ranger Col. Puckett received the Medal of Honor for heroic action on Hill 205 in Korea, in November of 1950.

Responsible for a 51-man unit, over the course of two days he directed mortar, machine gun, and small arms fire against Communist Chinese soldiers. Puckett received multiple wounds and ordered his men to leave him behind and evacuate, but his men refused to leave him.

On April 29, his remains were brought into the Rotunda of our Capitol, in front of eight of his fellow Medal of Honor recipients, a host of Army Rangers, and a delegation from the State Funeral for War Veterans organization that played a role in making it all possible, along with efforts from Lieutenant Col. US Army John Lock, Senator Joni Ernst, the Medal of Honor Society, and Congressman Jake Ellzey. Lt Col. Lock and McNutt lobbied members of Congress last November, including U.S. Senator Bill Haggerty, Congressman Barry Moore, and others.

Speaking at the service were Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell. Attending on behalf of the State Funeral Organization were Gary Murad and Ron Ramseyer of Massachusetts, Don and Doni Loeslie from Minnesota, Scott Mexic of Louisiana, Dr. Danny Reeves, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Corsicana, and four members of the McNutt family: Susana, Rabel, Slone, and Bill. Slone and Rabel are students at the Hockaday School of Dallas, Texas, and they are in the 8th and 10th grades, resp.

"At first the Speaker of the House was not positive towards the request for Col. Puckett to lie in Honor like his counterpart from World War II, Woody Wiliams," said Mr. Bill McNutt. President of the MOH Society and retired United States Navy SEAL Britt Slabinski, and Mr. McNutt spoke about the challenge. The staff of Senator Joni Ernst helped direct the efforts of the 50 State Chairs of the State Funeral organization. After a few days of lobbying, Speaker Johnson said "Yes."

"It is a team effort when you are dealing with Congress," said James McCLoughan, United States Army soldier, Vietnam War veteran, MOH holder, and member of the Board of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. "Everyone played an important role."

Idea originator Rabel McNutt, now a 10th grader, said: “I got to know Korean Medal of Honor Recipient, Hershey Miyamura, who was on our Board of Directors. He taught me that the men and women who served in the 'Forgotten War' on the Korean peninsula deserved to be honored just as much as the men and women of World War II. Thank you, speaker Johnson. All Americans who have grandparents and parents who served in Korea owe him a big thanks.”

Brent Casey of Kentucky, grandson of Hershel 'Woody' Williams, said “My grandfather admired young Rabel McNutt. She always ran up and gave him a big hug and exhibited a love for her country through her charity work for Veterans.”

Medal of Honor holder Donald Ballard said “Bill McNutt and his daughter Rabel are the co-founders of this organization that has already honored the World War II generation. We are happy Speaker Mike Johnson chose to allow Col. Puckett and the Korean Veterans the same honors.”

The Korean conflict might be forgotten by many, but it was front and center in Washington DC on April 29 thanks to a schoolgirl from Texas, Rabel McNutt.