Pong Punnakan

Pong Punnakan (พงษ์ ปุณณกันต์, ; 30 September 1915 – 28 May 1990) was a Deputy Minister of Transport In the government of Mr. Pott Sarasin, Transport Minister for 4 terms in the government of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn and Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, former Minister of Industry for 1 term in Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn's government and former secretary-general of the Revolutionary Council 1958 Thai coup

History
Gen. Pong was the son of Captain Luang Phonwinaikit (Ampai Punnakan). Gen. Pong was married to Khun Ying Sa-at (formerly Adireksan), and had a son, Professor Dr. Lueporn. Punnakan and Mee Sak is the grandfather of Phuttiphong Punnakanta and Danupon Punnakanta.

Gen. Pong was appointed as Deputy Minister of Transport. In the government of Mr. Pot Sarasin in 1957 and resigned simultaneously with both the Cabinet after the general election of members of the Thai House of Representatives, in December 1957.

He was then re-appointed as the Minister of Transport in the government of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn for three terms and Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat's government.

Gen. Pong joined the 1958 coup in Thailand led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat and played a role as the secretary-general of the Revolutionary Council. He was also a member of the executive committee of the Saha Pracha Thai Party, which includes Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces be the party leader

Honour

 * Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant (1961)
 * Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (1960)
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - 2nd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (1961)
 * Victory Medal - Indochina (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Franco-Thai War
 * Victory Medal - World War II (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Pacific War
 * Safeguarding the Constitution Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Safeguarding the Constitution Medal
 * Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
 * King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal ,3rd Class(1960)
 * King Rama IX Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Coronation Medal (1950)
 * 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal (1957)
 * Ribbon bar of Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class (Thailand).svg Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class

Foreign Honours

 * Italian Republic :
 * Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1961)
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden :
 * Royal Order of the Polar Star (1748-1975) - Commander Grand Cross.svg Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (1963)

Military rank

 * 14 November 1935 - First Lieutenant