Duh!

Okay. I feel really dumb, because I should know this. Old-timers must be setting in. Can the ground wire in a main panel (#4 copper as required) be attached to the conduit coming from the meter box at the punch out hole? Shouldn’t this be run into the ground with a grounding rod?

It must go to Earth , In Canada that can be the Grounding rod or the copper water Supply .
I expect USA is the same .

Welcome to the real world happens to me frequently…

If this is a grounding electrode conductor (GEC) it should run from the neutral to the grounding electrode.

That Robert is an electrical guru…