b.1898 d.1971
Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps at age 20 and eventually rose to the rank of
Lieutenant General. Along the way he earned many military ribbons and decorations while never forgetting the plight of the enlisted soldier.Chesty Puller was a Marine's Marine. To many he was the greatest Marine ever. His 5 Navy Crosses have never been equalled.
Prior to World War II Puller was posted to Haiti, Nicaragua, and China. When war broke out he was assigned to the Pacific Theatre. He took part in four campaigns there -- most notably at Guadalcanal and Peleliu. During the Korean War Puller took part in the landing at Inchon and the battle for the Chosun Reservoir.
After the Chinese entered the Korean War and the Marines were forced to "attack in a different direction," Puller uttered one of his more famous quotations:
We've been looking for the enemy for several days now. We've finally found them. We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them.
Puller would retire in 1955 shortly after being promoted to Lt. General. At the age of 68, during the
Vietnam War, Puller asked to be put back on
active duty -- he wanted to fight again. The government declined. Chesty Puller died in 1971 at the age of 73.
Awards and decorations:
Navy Cross w/4 Stars
Army Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit w/1 Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal w/2 Stars
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation w/5 Stars
Good Conduct Medal w/1 Star
World War I Victory Medal w/1 Star
Haitian Campaign Medal
Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/1 Star
China Service Medal
American Defense Medal w/1 Star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/4 Stars
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal w/5 Stars
United Nations Service Medal
Haitian Military Medal
Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit w/1 Star
Nicaraguan Cross of Valor
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Ulghi Medal w/1 Palm
Chinese Cloud and Banner