Leland M. Puckett
6306091 Chief Boatswain Mate
United States Navy
1942- 1963

      Leland Morris Puckett was born 13 Mar 1926 in Sharp County, Arkansas, the fourth son of Earl Ditzler and Dora Minnie Voyles Puckett. Leland grew up with five brothers and two sisters. In 1929 his family moved to Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. As a lad of 15, Leland used his older brother's birthday to seem 16 and entered the CCC. At the end of his enlistment for the CCC, he used his CCC discharge that showed his age as 17 (when he was actually 16) to enlist in the U.S. Navy on 29 September 1942.
    Leland served in WWII and the Korean War, earning eight combat stars and thirteen ribbons, plus a Vietnam Service Medal. After retiring from the Navy he worked for the Veterans Administration in the Nursing Department for 13 years and retired on a
disability, then moved to Cave City, Sharp County, Arkansas.
    He and his wife, Dorothy Imogene Henderson Puckett have four daughters, Joyce Sue, Carol Benita, Cherrie Lee, and Terry Dee Puckett; and two sons, Leland Charles and Langley Puckett. Two of their daughters are adopted.
    Leland, now retired, suffers from heart problems and diabetes. One of his hobbies is family research. He has three registered Revolutionary War Veteran ancestors and he is a lifetime member of the Sons of the American Revolution.