Puller steadily worked his way up the ranks proving his outstanding leadership qualities. Long revered as the greatest hero in the corps, puller is the only marine to earn five navy crosses. An excellent and wellwritten account of general pullers life, and what it takes to be a combat marine. Puller mastered small unit guerrilla warfare as a lieutenant in haiti in the 1920s, and at the end of his career commanded a. Chesty the story of lieutenant general lewis b puller usmc. Chesty puller enlisted in the marine corps in 1918 at the age of 20. It was december 8, 1950, on the frozen plateau of kotori in the north korean mountains. Marine the life of chesty puller zero day john puller book 1 marine biology for dummies. Featured on the commandant of the marine corps reading list and the chief of naval operations naval power reading list the marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b. The life of chesty puller by burke davis my men are my. Very easy read, always entertaining, never a dull page. Indeed, general puller is revered by the marine corps. Nov 16, 2007 the marines have heroes like chesty puller, john basilone and recent medal of honor recipient jason dunham.
Hoffman, usmcr read 26 apr 2012 this is a 2001 biography of ltgen lewis puller 18981971, written by a marine. Correspondence for the detachment can be mailed to. Ask any marine to name one person that personifies the marine corps and the most likely answer would be chesty. The marines marine, chesty puller, wonders how he got his. He was too tough even for the marine corps chesty puller enlisted in the marine corps in 1918 at the age of 20. Apr 04, 2017 lewis burwell chesty puller june 26, 1898 october 11, 1971 was a united states marine corps lieutenant general who fought guerrillas in haiti and nicaragua, and fought in world war ii and. Beginning his career fighting guerillas in haiti and nicaragua as part of the banana wars, he later served with distinction in world war ii and the korean war as a senior officer. Son, when the marine corps wants you to have a wife, you will be issued one.
In the glorious chronicles of the us marine corps, no name is more revered than that of lt. Lewis chesty puller served in the marines for 30 years, beginning as an enlisted man and rising to one of the highest ranks in the military. The book says relatively little about chestys son, lewis b. These chesty puller quotes show why marines will love and. Burke davis wrote a definitive account of the legendary chesty puller.
Chesty puller marine corps league detachment 96 home. Davis is the author of over thirtyfive books, many of the dealing with the civil war. Marines launch nonprofit to buy chesty pullers house. The life of chesty puller by burke davis goodreads. Paragraph four talks about how those themes apply to the marine corps and who.
Click on title for available copies and formats the marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b. The life of chesty puller marine corps museum store. In the end, i was satisfied with how hoffman addresses one of lingering questions that many marines have about puller s career. By the time he retired from the marine corps in 1951 he had earned more awards than any marine in history. Marine corps league detachment 96 event listing lewis chesty puller mooresville, in. In 1955, puller suffered a stroke and was retired by the marine corps on november 1, 1955. Making the corps by thomas ricks my men are my heroes by nathaniel helms the killer angels by michael shaara primary level enlisted. Biography of reallife hero chesty puller, the most decorated marine in history. Chesty puller marine legend his life in pictures youtube. The oldest active detachment in the department of ohio.
An excellent and wellwritten account of general puller s life, and what it takes to be a combat marine. He earned five navy crosses over his 37 years of service as well as many other combat. Puller mastered small unit guerrilla warfare as a lieutenant in haiti in the 1920s, and at the end of his career commanded a division in. He chased bandits in haiti and nicaragua, commanded the horse marines in peking, battled his way from island to bloody island in the pacific, led the landing at inchon, and fought the most savage rearguard action of the korean war. The history of the united states marine corps has many large figures, but it is possible that there is no single. Not many would understand exactly why, except, perhaps, a marine. He would go on to become a wellknown figure in marine. Puller, who died in 1971 at the age of 73, had one of the most distinguished careers in the marine corps. Spc fournier, shawn lieutenant general lewis burwell chesty puller was an officer in the united states marine corps with a career spanning thirtyseven years from 1918 1955. But his popularity added to his blunt honesty earned him many enemies in. Should be required reading for all military professionals, especially marines. A powerful and often controversial military biography of the us marine corps legendary lieutenant general lewis b.
As one of the most decorated individuals to ever serve in the us military, lieutenant general lewis chesty puller is something of a legend amongst members of the marine corps, with which he served for over 3 decades prior to retirement and death. Chesty puller to his marines, when surrounded by the chinese at chosin reservoir. Navy digital library at rbdigital and overdrive usmc mccs base libraries. Across three wars and two counterinsurgency campaigns, puller won five navy crosses and earned an unrivaled place in the hearts of marines as the. His assignments and activities covered an extraordinary spectrum of warfare. Usmc archives puller, a virginia native, enlisted in the marine corps during world war one and. Marine the life of chesty puller by burke davis is the biography of the marine corps most decorated man. Chesty puller, right, studies the terrain in korea before advancing. Lewis burwell chesty puller june 26, 1898 october 11, 1971 was a united states marine corps lieutenant general who fought guerrillas in haiti and nicaragua, and fought in world war ii. Is it time to give chesty puller the medal of honor. Hoffman, usmcr, is a complete biography of his life, and winner of the marine corps heritage foundations 2001 general wallace m. The book does a good job of presenting the marine corps of the 1920s and 1930s in describing pullers experiences during that time. Marine corps league detachment 96 chesty puller event page.
He received a direct commission and began collecting awards for valor. The senior staff of the 7th marines on cape gloucester, new britain, jan 10 1944. Aug 14, 2001 a powerful and often controversial military biography of the us marine corps legendary lieutenant general lewis b. Chesty puller is the most decorated marine of all time. The slogan good night chesty, wherever you are is an oftenused. Search for copies quanticomcu research library copies. A marine platoons story of courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood by donovan campbell. Smith, hawaii when todays warriors read gates of fire by steven pressfield, they may have a sense of pride well up inside them. The only fighting man to receive the navy cross five separate timesa military honor second only to the congressional medal of honorhe was the epitome of a professional warrior.
Lewis burwell chesty puller was born on june 26, 1898 in west point, virginia his father was a grocer who died when chesty was 10 years old. He is the only marine to be awarded five navy crosses only the navys roy davenport has as many and it can be argued that he is one of the most decorated marines in history. Lewis burwell chesty puller was a united states marine corps lieutenant general. Following his death in 1971, puller was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general. Chesty puller june 26, 1898october 11, 1971 was a u. Through his decades of service and fearless leadership, lewis chesty puller cemented his status as a marine corps icon. Chesty recieved 5 navy crosses and the respect of marines for decades. He chased bandits in haiti and nicaragua, commanded the horse marines in peking, battled his way from island to bloody island in the pacific, led the landing at inchon, and fought. He grew up listening to old veterans tales of the civil war and idolizing stonewall jackson he wanted to enlist in the army to fight in the border war with mexico in 1916, but he was too young and his mother wouldnt give parental consent. Quite fittingly for a legend, many myths have sprung up about pullers combat prowess many of. The marine corps, more so than any other branch of americas military, values and embraces its history. The book does a good job of presenting the marine corps of the 1920s and 1930s in describing puller s experiences during that time. Marine the life of chesty puller by burke davis nook book.
There is no format, but if you need a direction of how to go about it, try this. Ive also learned that this loyalty to ones corps travels both ways. He was promoted to major general in september 1953, and in july 1954 assumed command of. Chesty puller remains to this day among the most decorated us marines in the history of the corps, but what mattered more to puller. In the end, i was satisfied with how hoffman addresses one of lingering questions that many marines have about pullers career. Puller retired from a highly decorated career in the united states marine corps on november 1, 1955 due to. He also had a heavy appetite for reading, pouring through countless books of military tales and history. Lewis burwell chesty puller june 26, 1898 october 11, 1971 served as a united states marine corps officer. A balanced and very well researched book about an american legend and the marines marine. The life of chesty puller by burke davis is a nonfiction story about a marine who was too tough for the marine corp.
He grew up listening to old veterans tales of the civil war and idolizing stonewall jackson. Chesty puller, in full lewis burwell puller, born june 26, 1898, west point, virginia, u. Puller has long been considered the greatest of them all. Marine who saw battle experience in world war ii and in the korean war conflict. Marine corps about the toughest marine in history, and 10 out of 10 of them will say chesty puller. His career included three wars and ten distinct battles. Its as much a biography of puller as it is a history of the corps, for the two were intertwined for the better part of forty years. Marine corps league, detachment 96 lewis chesty puller mooresville, in. This book, well written tells the true story of a great american hero who really never got the credit he was due. The marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b.
Puller 18981971 is regarded by many as a true american hero. Commandants reading list a complete list usmc officer. Today, chesty puller remains a well known figure in marine corps folklore, with both true and exaggerated tales of his experiences being constantly recounted in the u. Sep 28, 2015 marines launch nonprofit to buy chesty puller s house.
From commanding the horse marines in peking to leading the inchon landing, puller was a legend in his own time. In the marine corps, your buddy is not only your classmate or fellow officer, but he is also the marine under your command. Gates of fire is a novel of the battle of thermopylae and what led up to it where a brave few stood against many. Mar 06, 2016 chesty puller to his marines, when surrounded by the chinese at chosin reservoir. Featured on the commandant of the marine corps reading list the marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b. The only fighting man to receive the navy cross five separate timesa military honor second only to the congressional medal of. Constitution sustaining the transformation mcwp 611d by the united states marine corps. Pvtcpl chesty by jon hoffman enders game by orson card gates of fire by steven pressfield marine. Apr 02, 2020 the marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b.
409 897 260 1400 991 996 706 877 451 988 899 1080 854 1604 365 1249 1149 1317 605 877 1437 1238 823 87 44 1089 1460 405 1337 961 520 954 155 1582 401 271 1174 605 652 713 167 1084 301 335 195 324 328 370