Honor Flight – part 2

Honor Flight Veteran Lisa Puckett

Ms. Lisa Puckett is one of the two participants sponsored by Nolin RECC on the Touchstone Energy Honor Flight. The flight is scheduled for September 17 out of Blue Grass Airport.

Lisa was born into a large family at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1956. One of 13 children, Lisa grew up in a family with a history of military service. Lisa’s maternal grandfather served in World War I, her paternal grandfather was in the Navy just before World War II, and her father served in Korea and Vietnam. Additionally, three of her sisters followed the call to military service as did one of her sons.

In addition to North Carolina, Lisa’s father’s military career in the U.S. Army took the family to stations including Virginia, Germany and Fort Knox. He also served as a civil service worker at Fort Knox and Bluegrass Army depot. Lisa’s family settled in Hart County, Kentucky in 1969.

Right out of high school at 18 years old, Lisa joined the Air Force and was stationed at Lackland Air Force base in 1974. After going through Basic Training and Tech Training, she was transferred to March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA. Though she spent most of her time in the Air Force there, she served 9 months stationed in Crete. During the 4 years she spent in the Air Force, she worked in military law enforcement and achieved the rank of Senior Airman. She recalls being one of the first women to serve in the military police on her base.

After she became pregnant with her first son, she left the Air Force and began working at the United States Bullion Depository on Fort Knox. She spent her 31 years of service there as a police officer working for the Unites States Treasury as a U.S. Mint Police Officer. Her duties included protecting the 50 acres the Treasury owns and operates including the famous “gold vault.”

Though not able to share many specifics about her time as law enforcement at the depository, she says that she underwent extensive training for her duties. She does confirm some former contents of the depository including the Crown Jewels of Hungary and other industrial diamonds and semi-precious jewels. She also remembers boxes wrapped in burlap containing jars of morphine powder. All of these items were removed during her time there. She confirms that, contrary to widespread rumors, during her time there was gold located in the “gold vault.”  

Lisa was on duty when the attacks occurred on 9/11. Though she doesn’t remember having a heightened sense of anxiety serving on post as a result of those attacks, she does recall the many changes that occurred at Fort Knox in the years following. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of more technology and how and where people could enter post.

Lisa retired as a Sergeant with the U.S. Mint Police. She then worked from June 2016 to April of 2022 at the Hardin Count Detention Center in booking and the female SAP program.

Lisa is currently married to Jessie and has three children: James, Sabrina and Chase and five grandchildren. She resides in Elizabethtown.

Regarding her military and government service, Lisa feels like it is in her blood – a part of who she is. She doesn’t see anything “special” about her years of service since they came as second nature to her. Like many others who have selflessly served their country, she sees her important contributions to our security and well-being as just another day on the job.