Career
Pucket joined the Army from Boulder, Colorado in 1942, and by July 9, 1944 was a first lieutenant piloting bombers with the 98th Bombardment Group. During a raid that day over Ploieşti, Romania, his airplane was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. He ordered his crew to abandon the craft, but three men were too frightened to parachute out.
Pucket voluntarily stayed behind with the men and tried unsuccessfully to regain control of the plane.
The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, killing all on board. Aged 28 at his death, Pucket was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri.
