In Honor of Veterans
By: Alumni Publications | Categories: Alumni Association News
On Nov. 10, Georgia Tech held a dedication and unveiling of plans for the Veterans Walk of Honor. Learn about the planned tribute and read stories about a few of the many Yellow Jackets who have served in the military, including Tech’s newest Medal of Honor recipient.
More than ever, Georgia Tech’s legacy of progress and service is embodied by the thousands of Yellow Jackets who have proudly served or are currently serving in every branch of the U.S. military. Among Georgia Tech’s distinguished alumni are four Medal of Honor recipients, including the newest Yellow Jacket to receive the military’s highest honor—retired Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr., Cls 47. Last year, Puckett received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions serving as commander of the Eighth Army Ranger Company in 1950 during the Korean War.
Georgia Tech’s veterans have led successful careers across many industries. Several have even returned to teach as Professors of the Practice, including retired four-star Gen. Philip Breedlove, CE 77, Col. Stephen C. Hall, IM 67, Maj. Gen. Ron Johnson, MS OR 85, and Adm. James "Sandy" Winnefeld, AE 78.
On Nov.10, the Georgia Tech Veterans Resource Center held a dedication ceremony and unveiling of plans for a tribute to Yellow Jackets who have served in the military.
“The Veterans Walk of Honor will be a dynamic space honoring those who have served and recognizing their commitment, service, and sacrifice for our country as well as recognizing Tech’s strong support for our troops and military,” says David Ross, director of the VRC.
The Veterans Walk of Honor, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023, will be located in front of the VRC in the Biotech Quad at 311 Ferst Drive. Existing plaques on campus that are dedicated to Tech’s veterans and Tech’s history in the military will be relocated to the Walk of Honor. Plans also include a new flagpole and granite inlay markers representing each branch of the military. The markers will include the name of the service branch and a line from the branch’s military song written in Morse code.
The idea for a permanent campus tribute near the VRC came from Mike Shannon, MS HP 03, PhD NRE 09, interim executive vice president of Administration and Finance at Georgia Tech, and Ross. Both Ross and Shannon, who are both veterans, spoke during the dedication, which also included remarks from Pres. Ángel Cabrera, MS Psy 93, PhD Psy 95, and Alumni Association Pres. Dene Sheheane, Mgt 91.
Sheheane announced a new program that will send an American flag to the family of a deceased alum who has served in the military. The flags will be flown on campus in honor of the alum.
At the unveiling, members of the Georgia Tech community honored Col. Puckett, who was in attendance with his wife, Jeannie.
“Col. Puckett is an embodiment of the Army values, the Soldier’s creed, the Ranger creed…and the Georgia Tech motto of ‘Progress and Service’,” said Shannon during the event.
Scroll down to read stories about Puckett and a few of the many veterans in the Georgia Tech community:
Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr., Cls 47: Medal of Honor Recipient
The country’s highest military award recognizes individuals whose valor in combat goes above and beyond the call of duty. There is no better way to describe retired Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., who became the fourth Georgia Tech alumnus to receive the Medal of Honor.
1st Lt. Mahdi Al-Husseini, PP 18, BME 18, MS CS 20: Aeromedical Evacuations Officer
Al-Husseini develops technology and policy that ensures aviation safety in both military and civilian circles.
Maj. Gen. Sloan Gill, IM 52: Former Chief of the Air Force Reserve
A 1952 graduate of Georgia Tech, Major General Sloan R. “Sandy” Gill’s highly decorated military career includes decades of proud service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. After he passed away in 2011 at the age of 81, his memorial made history as the first time that all surviving former chiefs of the Air Force Reserve and the current 3-star general at the time had ever been together at the same time and place. Gill retired in 1989 as chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, where he had full responsibility for the supervision of all U.S. Air Force Reserve units around the world. He was appointed to his position by President Reagan in 1982.
Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Allgood, Mgt 11: TOPGUN Fighter Pilot
Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Allgood, Mgt 11, a Navy f-18 fighter pilot, flew scenes in the recent Top Gun Maverick movie. At the time, he was a TOPGUN instruction and was asked to fly shots for the movie.
Retired Col. John Harden, pictured left
Col. John Harden, IM 69, Bio 74, MS Bio 76: 24 Years of Military Service
A triple Jacket, retired Col. John Harden, IM 69, Bio74, MS Bio 76, spent 24 years in the military, including two years in the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve in 1967 and 1968, and later 22 years as an Army officer. He began his career as an ROTC cadet at age 17 in 1961. Following September 11, 2001, he served as the U.S. Army Theater Dental Surgeon for southwest Asia. He was the chief dental officer in the combat theater. He retired as a colonel in 2003.
