Editing Chesty Puller

{{short description|United States Marine Corps general (1898–1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
| name          = Lewis Burwell Puller
| image         = Chesty-puller.jpg
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = Puller in 1950
| nickname      = "Chesty"
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1898|6|26}}
| birth_place   = [[West Point, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1971|10|11|1898|6|26}}
| death_place   = [[Hampton, Virginia]], U.S.
| placeofburial = Christ Church Cemetery<br/>[[Christchurch, Virginia]], U.S.
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Marine Corps]]
| serviceyears  = 1918–1955
| rank          = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
| unit          = [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]]
| commands      = [[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]]<br/>[[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]]<br/>[[1st Marine Regiment (United States)|1st Marines]]<br/>[[1st Battalion, 7th Marines]]<br/>[[2nd Battalion, 4th Marines]]
| battles       = {{hidden
|See list
|{{tree list}}
* [[Banana Wars]]
** [[United States occupation of Haiti|Occupation of Haiti]]
** [[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Occupation of Nicaragua]]
*** [[Battle of Agua Carta]]
*** [[Battle of El Sauce]]
* [[World War II]]
** [[Guadalcanal campaign]]
*** [[Action along the Matanikau (September 1942)|Actions along the Matanikau]]
**** [[Battle for Henderson Field]]
** [[Operation Cartwheel]]
*** [[New Britain campaign]]
**** [[Battle of Cape Gloucester]]
** [[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign]]
*** [[Battle of Peleliu]]
* [[Korean War]]
** [[Battle of Inchon]]
** [[Second Battle of Seoul]]
** [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]]
{{tree list/end}}
|-
|headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb
|style=text-align:center;
}}
| awards        = [[Navy Cross]] (5)<br/>[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]<br/>[[Silver Star]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] w/ [["V" Device]] (2)<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]] w/ "V" Device<br/>[[Air Medal]] (3)<br/>[[Purple Heart]]
| spouse        = Virginia Montague Evans
| children      = 2, including [[Lewis Burwell Puller Jr.]]
}}
'''Lewis Burwell''' "'''Chesty'''" '''Puller''' (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a [[United States Marine Corps]] officer. Beginning his career fighting [[Guerrilla warfare|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. By the time of his retirement in 1955, he had reached the rank of [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]].

Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/12/archives/cert-chesty-puller-diesi-most-decoralted-marine-commissioned-at-20.html | title=Gen. Chesty Puller Dies; Most Decorated Marine | work=The New York Times | date=October 12, 1971 }}</ref> He was awarded five [[Navy Cross]]es and one [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. With six crosses, Puller is second behind [[Eddie Rickenbacker]] for citations of the nation's second-highest military award for valor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=766|title=Valor awards for Edward Vernon Rickenbacker|website=valor.militarytimes.com|access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> Puller retired from the Marine Corps in 1955, after 37 years of service. He lived in [[Virginia]] and died in 1971 at age 73.

==Early life==
Puller was born in [[West Point, Virginia]], to Matthew and Martha Puller. Puller was of English ancestry; his ancestors who came to America emigrated to the [[colony of Virginia]] from [[Bedfordshire, England]] in 1621.<ref name="Davisp7">{{Harvnb|Davis|1991|p=7}}</ref> His father was a grocer who died when Puller was 10 years old.  Puller grew up listening to old veterans' tales of the [[American Civil War]] and idolizing [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson]].  He wanted to enlist in the [[United States Army]] to fight in the [[Mexican Border War (1910–1919)|Border War]] with Mexico in 1916, but he was too young and could not get parental consent from his mother.<ref name="Wise">{{cite book | last = Wise| first = James E.|author2=Scott Baron| title =Navy Cross: extraordinary heroism in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts  | publisher = Naval Institute Press| year = 2007| page =256 | isbn = 978-1-59114-945-3  }}</ref>

The following year, Puller attended the [[Virginia Military Institute]] but left in August 1918 as [[World War I]] was still ongoing, saying that he wanted to "go where the guns are!"<ref name="Dogged Determination">{{Cite book | last = Wilson| first = Diann W.| title =Dogged Determination: Life Experiences and the USMC Bulldog  | publisher = iUniverse | year = 2008 | page = 98 | isbn = 978-0-59545-358-0  }}</ref>  Inspired by the [[5th Marine Regiment|5th Marines]] at [[Battle of Belleau Wood|Belleau Wood]], he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a private and attended boot camp at the [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island|Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina]].<ref name="Wise"/> Although he never saw action in that war, the Marine Corps was expanding, and soon after graduating he attended its [[non-commissioned officer]] school and [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)|Officer Candidates School]] (OCS) at [[Quantico, Virginia]]. Graduating from OCS on June 16, 1919, Puller was appointed [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Military reserve force|reserves]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/24/mode/2up 24]}}</ref> but the reduction in force from 73,000 to 1,100 officers and 27,400 men following the war led to his being put on inactive status 10 days later and given the rank of corporal.<ref name="Wise" />

==Interwar years==

===United States occupation of Haiti===
Corporal Puller received orders to serve in the ''[[Gendarmerie of Haiti|Gendarmerie d'Haiti]]'' as a lieutenant, [[United States occupation of Haiti|seeing action in Haiti]].<ref name="Davis1991">{{Harvnb|Davis|1991}}</ref> While the United States was working under a treaty with Haiti, he participated in over forty engagements during the ensuing five years against the [[Cacos (military group)|Caco]] rebels and attempted to regain his commission as an officer twice. In 1922, he served as an [[adjutant]] to Major [[Alexander Vandegrift]], a future [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]].

====Supply run====
Puller received orders to deliver supplies to [[Mirebalais]] and [[Lascahobas]]. These two small towns were located in a region where there was a significant presence of Caco guerrillas under the command of Benoît Batraville, who was a high ranking insurgent leader. Puller's supply party consisted of twenty-five mounted Haitian Gendarmes along with the pack animals. Puller kept his force moving rapidly to avoid risking an [[ambush]] or night attack by the Caco.

Later on, the small force of Gendarmes led by Puller ran into an equally surprised column of about one hundred Cacos coming from the opposite direction around a bend in the road.  Puller ordered a charge and spurred his horse forward to attack the Cacos. The Gendarmes charged beside him and scattered the Cacos, who used guerilla tactics and therefore seldom stood their ground if attacked by a significant force. The Cacos fired a handful of shots at the onrushing American-led Gendarmes and then dispersed to make pursuit more difficult. With the burden of the pack mules, Puller could not pursue the evasive Cacos. After the clash ended, one dead Caco bandit was found.

This skirmish was Puller's first engagement in the occupation and showed his adeptness at aggressive action and effective leadership from the front. Puller and his force of Gendarmes reached Mirebalais and delivered the supplies needed by the town. The next day, Puller made a 34-hour round trip to Lascahobas to deliver the final supplies and then returned to [[Port-au-Prince]] completing his supply run.<ref name="Hoffman28">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|pp=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/27/mode/2up 27–28]}}</ref>

====Ambushing the Cacos====
Puller was assigned a new duty to begin offensive operations against the Cacos. Puller inherited a force of one hundred Gendarmes who were supported unofficially by about the same number of female [[camp follower]]s. Puller's assigned chief assistant was acting Second Lieutenant Augustin B. Brunot, a Haitian who was fluent in English. Other pro-American Haitians added to Puller's force were newly commissioned lieutenants Lyautey and Brunot, and a Haitian private named Jean Louis Cermontout, who Puller recruited with the promise of promotion after seeing him return from a successful patrol with the severed heads of two Cacos bandits.

Brunot and Lyautey advised Puller on how to combat the Cacos insurgents. They advised him that daylight patrols had little chance of encountering the Cacos, as they hid during the day, only emerging from hiding to ambush government patrols if they had superior numbers. Chance encounters such as Puller's supply run were rare because the Cacos knew the terrain and had good intelligence of constabulary activities. They advised him that the Cacos encamped at night and that night patrols would have a better chance of surprising them. When Puller and his unit, following this advice, patrolled along a ridge-top trail one night, he observed campfires and heard drums nearby. Puller with Lyautey and some Gendarmes went to scout, while Brunot remained with the rest of the Gendarmes. The noise turned out to be a celebration at a Cacos guerrilla encampment. After returning, Puller came up with a plan to ambush the Cacos at dawn.

Puller placed the main body of men in a line facing the bandit camp and sent the smaller crews with three [[Lewis gun|Lewis machine guns]] to the [[Flanking maneuver|flank]] in a position where they covered the enemy rear, setting an L-shaped ambush. After Puller's force of Gendarmes got into position, Puller executed the ambush. As Puller had predicted, when the main body of men opened fire at first light, the surprised Cacos bandits fled from the source of immediate danger into the fields of fire of the machine guns, where all seventeen were killed. Dozens of machetes and a large flock of gamecocks were found. Puller and his Gendarmes celebrated their victory and feasted on abandoned supplies while using the game cocks for [[cockfight]]ing. Puller later participated in more patrols as he gained experience and learned the peculiarities of small wars.<ref name="Hoffman28-30">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|pp=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/29/mode/2up 29–30]}}</ref><ref name="Davis1991"/>

====Further operations against the Cacos, October–November 1919====
Puller would conduct more offensive operations to suppress the Cacos. On October 28, 1919, Puller went on a patrol with Brunot and a mixed force of fifteen American Marines and Gendarmes. They would stay out ten days, at which time another group would relieve them. The unit, using night movements, made contact on October 31 with a small band, killing two of the enemy and capturing four rifles, several machetes, and some swords. On November 1, they arrested three suspected bandits.<ref name="Hoffman31">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/31/mode/2up 31]}}</ref>

====Infiltrating and raiding a Cacos camp, November 4, 1919====
On the afternoon of November 4, 1919, Puller and his men entered a small village of grass shacks ten miles west of Mirebalais. A priest told Brunot that a high ranking Cacos insurgent leader named Dominique Georges had a camp about fifteen miles away. He and his men decided to take this opportunity to kill or capture Dominique Georges. Despite heavy rain, Puller took a small patrol of Marines and Gendarmes out immediately. Puller, Brunot, and Private Cermontout Jean Louis scouted out ahead of the small column during the night when they came upon the remains of a bonfire, indicating a bandit guard post. A Cacos sentry armed with a rifle challenged Puller's group. The sentry could not see them clearly as it was very dark and his bonfire had been put out by the rain. Brunot replied in his Haitain accent "Cacos", at which the guard let them through. Puller, Brunot, and Jean Louis were able to infiltrate the Cacos camp and came upon a clearing with many huts and [[lean-to]]s. Puller and Jean Louis took firing positions on the ground after Puller sent Brunot to gather the rest of the patrol to assault the camp. Puller aimed his rifle at a man he later believed was Georges, but waited for the main attack instead of firing. A Caco challenged the two prone figures, so that Puller had to shoot the Caco, starting the battle. The marines and gendarmes rushed forward, but the estimated two hundred Cacos scattered, with Puller and Jean Louis firing as fast as they could at fleeing figures. After the government forces had possession of the camp, they found one dead Caco. Puller's patrol took twenty seven rifles, swords, and machetes, and several dozen gamecocks. Among the booty was Georges' personal rifle, identified by his initials in the stock. Puller and his patrol spent the night at the camp and then withdrew safely to their base at Mirebalais.<ref name="Hoffman28-30"/><ref name="Davis1991"/>

====Patrol and raid, November 9, 1919====
On November 9, Puller and Brunot led a patrol of thirty-three Gendarmes. Just before dawn they found a camp and attacked it. This time Puller and his fellow Gendarmes killed ten Cacos and captured two rifles. After the raid of the Cacos camp, they safely withdrew to Mirebalais by a circuitous route and fell into garrison routine for a few days.<ref name="Hoffman32">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/32/mode/2up 32]}}</ref>

====Further patrol operations====
After the successful assassination of [[Charlemagne Péralte]] by [[Herman H. Hanneken]] in a raid, Benoît Batraville became the next leader of the Cacos.  Puller and Brunot each took a part of the company out on a patrol. Brunot spotted a Caco force that turned out to be Batraville's, but before Brunot could get his force into position for an attack, the Cacos broke camp and melted away. Puller had better luck, with two Cacos killed and sixteen captured.<ref name="Hoffman33">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/33/mode/2up 33]}}</ref>

====Ending of the fighting in Haiti====
The Cacos rebellion collapsed altogether when a Marine patrol killed Batraville on May 19, 1920. A month later, the last significant Caco leader surrendered. More patrols by the Gendarmes and American Marines in the following year killed a further eighty-five Cacos. Later on in September 1920, [[Herman H. Hanneken]] penetrated a Caco camp in disguise, arresting five chiefs while killing another. By June 1921, a government military commander declared the country to be "completely tranquil."<ref name="Hoffman39">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/39/mode/2up 39]}}</ref>

====Return to the United States====
Puller returned stateside and was finally recommissioned as a second lieutenant on March 6, 1924 ([[Service number (United States Marine Corps)|Service No.]] 03158). After completing assignments at the Marine barracks in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]; [[The Basic School]] in [[Quantico, Virginia]]; and with the [[10th Marine Regiment (United States)|10th Marine Artillery Regiment]] in [[Quantico, Virginia]], he was assigned to the Marine barracks at [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]], in July 1926 and in [[San Diego, California]], in 1928.

[[File:1stLt Lewis B. Puller with members of the Guardia Nacional.tif|thumb|200 px|left|Puller with members of the Guardia Nacional]]

===United States occupation of Nicaragua===
In December 1928, Puller was assigned to the [[Nicaragua]]n [[Guardia Nacional (Nicaragua)|National Guard]] detachment, where he was awarded his first Navy Cross for his actions from February 16 to August 19, 1930, when he led "five successive engagements against superior numbers of armed bandit forces."  He returned stateside in July 1931 and completed the year-long Company Officers Course at [[Fort Benning, Georgia]], thereafter returning to Nicaragua from September 20 to October 1, 1932, and was awarded a second Navy Cross. Puller led American Marines and Nicaraguan National Guardsmen into battle against [[Augusto César Sandino|Sandinista]] rebels in [[Battle of El Sauce|the last major engagement]] of the Sandino Rebellion near [[El Sauce, León|El Sauce]] on December 26, 1932.

====Patrolling, June 4–6, 1930====
After Puller inherited command of Nicaraguan Guardia Nacional called Company M, he was prepared to conduct operations against the Sandinista rebels, and immediately departed on a patrol. Puller moved eastward for a five-day sweep, but soon received orders to head northeast. The patrol moved by day and camped each night in a village. In the afternoon of June 4, the company was at San Antonio cooking a steer in preparation for a trek into the uninhabited area around Mt. Kilande. After hearing some gunshots to the north, Puller sent thirteen men of the Guardia to investigate a thousand yards beyond the town. The Guardia encountered six rebels who may have been Sandinistas and a firefight occurred. The Guardia killed one rebel while the other five fled. The rebel bandit was armed with a Springfield rifle and Colt revolver. On June 6, the patrol moved toward the village of Los Cedros when it encountered an equally surprised force of Sandinistas who were on top of a brush covered hill that sloped about 175 yards down to the trail. The Sandinistas opened fire on the patrol and the patrol returned fire. Without hesitation, Puller dashed up the rise while yelling for his men to charge. Puller's men joined in the attack and fired their weapons while charging the enemy position. Puller and his Guardia were able to avoid being hit by small arms fire and crude improvised grenades thrown by the rebels. The rebels were routed and fled. Puller and his men realized they stumbled onto an insurgent camp. Seven dead rebel bodies were found and Puller's force suffered no casualties. Puller's patrol found two rifles, one pistol, and ten machetes. They also found rosters and papers in the rebel camp, which revealed that two of the seven dead rebels were leaders of the group. After that, Puller's company returned to [[Jinotega]].<ref name="Hoffman71-73">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|pp=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/71/mode/2up 71–73]}}</ref>

====Further operations, June 12 – July 12, 1930====
Puller departed on a new patrol on June 12. Puller's patrol searched fruitlessly and found nothing. Puller and his men arrived back at their base at June 20. At June 24,  Puller, [[William A. Lee|William "Ironman" Lee]], and their men joined forces with another government patrol of thirty men under the command of Lieutenant M.K. Chenoweth. Together the combined American-Nicaraguan force left Jinotega. At Santa Fe, Puller picked up an additional fifteen Guardias. After patrolling, Puller's men had encountered lone bandits on two occasions and killed them both. Puller's large group operated for nearly two more weeks, often split into two patrols with one following the other at a distance. The reinforced unit finally returned to base on July 12.<ref name="Hoffman71-73"/>

====Attempted ambush against the rebels, further pursuit, and raiding a rebel camp, November 6–27, 1930====
Puller and his Company M went out on a patrol again on November 6, 1930. Puller, Lee, and twenty-one men left Jinetoga to search for the enemy. The patrol picked up a trail of about thirty bandits who were pillaging small ranches near Santa Isabel. Puller's patrol caught sight of the enemy at 9:00 a.m.  on November 19 pursuing them for three miles, and wounding at least one of them. Puller's patrol decided to surprise the bandits. The patrol set up an ambush hiding themselves along a trail when a manager of a local [[finca]] spotted them and walked up to them to provide them information on a rebel band. With the ambush compromised by the finca manager, the patrol moved on. Puller's patrol reported into [[Corinto, Nicaragua|Corinto Finca]] on November 20 for supplies and pack animals, then left on the same day to check out a report of a rebel concentration near Mt. Guapinol. Puller and his patrol struggled through heavy rains, muddy trails, and flooded rivers. On the morning of November 25, the patrol came across a bandit trail. The Guardia under Puller followed this trail and at 10:30 a.m., the point sighted about ten rebels amongst some fallen trees. Puller's men opened fire and the enemy fled. Further along the trail, the pursuers came upon the rebel camp which had four buildings with log barricades in front and a hundred-foot cliff in the rear. There were at least forty or so rebels who fought briefly. Then the rebels threw their belongings and three wounded men into the ravine and then clambered down on ropes and ladders, which they pulled down after themselves. By the time some of the Guardia worked their way down into the draw the enemy had disappeared. Puller's patrol found two dead bandits and some supplies. Puller was certain that the three wounded bandits who had gone over the cliff had died. Puller's force captured documents which showed that one of their previous operations on August 19, 1930, wounded a minor chief of the rebels. After raiding this rebel camp, Puller's unit withdrew and returned to Jinotega on November 27 after three weeks of hard patrolling.<ref name="Hoffman78-79">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|pp=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/78/mode/2up 78–79]}}</ref>
[[File:Chesty Puller and Ironman Lee.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Puller (center left), Sergeant [[William A. Lee|William "Ironman" Lee]] (center right), and two Nicaraguan soldiers in 1931]]

====Patrol and raid against the rebels September 20–26, 1932====
{{main|Battle of Agua Carta}}
Puller discovered a trail which seemed to be used by rebels. Puller, along with Lee, gathered 40 Guardia Nacional members for a [[Raid (military)|raid]] like patrol against the rebels. Puller, Lee, and the Guardia left on September 20. After traveling a long distance, the patrol came by the northwest from the bank of Auyabal river. On September 26, Puller's patrol was ambushed by the rebels. Lee used a Lewis machine gun to keep the enemy pinned down while the Guardia Nacional worked their way up the slope opposite the rebel ambush party. When they gained the crest, they were able to fire directly into the rebel emplacements. Puller's men penetrated the center of a rebel encampment, killing at least 16 rebels. Of Puller's force, two men were killed and four wounded. In order to obtain medical care for the wounded, Puller immediately withdrew back to Jinotega. During Puller's withdrawal, his patrol was ambushed twice, but suffered no more casualties and fought off the ambushers. Puller's Guardia killed at least eight more rebels. Puller's force arrived back at Jinotega on September 30 after their raid on the rebel encampment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/The%20US%20Marines%20in%20Nicaragua%20by%20Bernard%20C.%20Nalty.pdf?ver=2018-10-30-075558-780|title=The United States Marines In Nicaragua|publisher=Department Of The Navy, Headquarters United States Marine Corps Washington D.C. |format=PDF|access-date= October 21, 2020}} p. 33.</ref>

====Final battle in Nicaragua December 26, 1932====
{{main|Battle of El Sauce}}
There were rumors that Sandinista rebels were planning an attack on a ceremony that was going to commemorate the completion of the [[León, Nicaragua|León]]{{En dash}}[[El Sauce, León|El Sauce]] [[Rail transport|railway]]. An expedition of eight American marines and 64 Nicaraguan National Guardsmen led by Puller were sent to El Sauce on the December 26, 1932. As Puller's force of American marines and Nicaraguan national guard were traveling some distance in their train to their destination, they were ambushed by the rebels from both sides of the tracks. Puller and [[William A. Lee]] quickly with their troops immediately engaged the rebel ambushers. After a firefight of one hour and ten minutes, the Marines and Guardia Nacional were able to drive off the rebels. Puller's victorious force had suffered three dead and three wounded for the Guardia Nacional. The rebels suffered thirty one killed and lost 63 live horses to capture by Puller's force. The ceremony went on as planned two days later, while Puller and Lee got promoted.

===Aftermath===
After his [[Occupation of Nicaragua|service in Nicaragua]], Puller was assigned to the Marine detachment at the American [[Legation]] in [[Beijing]], China, commanding a unit of [[China Marines]]. He then went on to serve aboard {{USS|Augusta|CA-31|6}}, a [[cruiser]] in the [[Asiatic Fleet]], which was commanded by then-Captain [[Chester W. Nimitz]]. Puller returned to the States in June 1936 as an instructor at [[The Basic School]] in [[Philadelphia]], where he trained [[Louis Robertshaw|Ben Robertshaw]], [[Pappy Boyington]], and [[Lewis William Walt|Lew Walt]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|1991|p=86}}</ref>

In May 1939, he returned to the ''Augusta'' as commander of the on-board Marine detachment, and then back to China, disembarking in [[Shanghai]] in May 1940 to serve as the [[executive officer]] and [[commanding officer]] of [[2nd Battalion, 4th Marines]] (2/4) until August 1941. Major Puller returned to the U.S. on August 28, 1941.  After a short leave, he was given command of [[1st Battalion 7th Marines|1st Battalion, 7th Marines]] (1/7) of the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]], stationed at [[Marine Corps Air Station New River|New River]], [[North Carolina]] (later [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|Camp Lejeune]]).<ref name=7thMarinesHx>{{cite web|url=http://www.29palms.usmc.mil/fmf/7thmar/history.htm  |access-date=June 30, 2006|title=The History of the 7th Marines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701083748/http://www.29palms.usmc.mil/fmf/7thmar/history.htm|archive-date=July 1, 2007|publisher=7th Marines}}</ref>

==World War II==
[[File:PullerGuadalcanal.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Lieutenant Colonel Puller on Guadalcanal in September 1942]]
Early in the [[Pacific War|Pacific theater]], the 7th Marines formed the nucleus of the newly created [[3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)|3rd Marine Brigade]] and arrived to defend [[American Samoa]] on May 8, 1942.  Later they were redeployed from the brigade and on September 4, 1942, they left American Samoa and rejoined the 1st Marine Division at [[Guadalcanal]] on September 18, 1942.

Soon after arriving on Guadalcanal, Lt. Col. Puller led his battalion in a fierce [[Action along the Matanikau (September 1942)|action along the Matanikau]], in which Puller's quick thinking saved three of his companies from annihilation.  In the action, these companies were surrounded and cut off by a larger [[Imperial Japanese Army|Japanese force]].  Puller ran to the shore, signaled a United States Navy destroyer, the {{USS|Monssen|DD-436}}, and then directed the destroyer to provide fire support while landing craft rescued his Marines from their precarious position.<ref name="Davis1991"/> [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] Signalman First Class [[Douglas Albert Munro]]—Officer-in-Charge of the group of landing craft, was killed while providing covering fire from his landing craft for the Marines as they evacuated the beach and was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for the action, to date the only Coast Guardsman to receive the decoration. Puller, for his actions, was awarded the [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Combat "V"]].

Later on Guadalcanal, Puller was awarded his third Navy Cross, in what was later known as the "[[Battle for Henderson Field]]".  Puller commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1/7), one of two American infantry units defending the [[airfield]] against a [[regiment]]-strength Japanese force. The 3rd Battalion of the U.S. Army's 164th Infantry Regiment (3/164) fought alongside the Marines.  In a [[Battle|firefight]] on the night of October 24–25, 1942, lasting about three hours, 1/7 and 3/164 sustained 70 casualties; the Japanese force suffered over 1,400 killed in action, and the Americans held the airfield. He nominated two of his men (one being Sgt. [[John Basilone]]) for Medals of Honor. Puller was wounded himself on November 8, 1942, during the Battle of Koli Point, suffering arm and leg wounds during a Japanese attack on his command post. His injuries were serious, requiring surgery, and command of 1/7 was temporarily assigned to Major John E. Weber of 3/7.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/202/mode/2up 202]}}</ref> Puller was released from the hospital and resumed command of his battalion on November 18.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=207}}</ref>

Puller was then made [[executive officer]] of the [[7th Marine Regiment (United States)|7th Marine Regiment]]. While serving in this capacity at the [[Battle of Cape Gloucester]], Puller was awarded his fourth Navy Cross for overall performance of duty between December 26, 1943, and January 19, 1944. During this time, when the battalion commanders of [[3rd Battalion, 7th Marines]] (3/7) and later, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5), were under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, he expertly reorganized the battalion and led the successful attack against heavily fortified Japanese defensive positions. He was promoted to colonel effective February 1, 1944, and by the end of the month had been named commander of the 1st Marine Regiment.  In the summer of 1944, Puller's younger brother, Samuel D. Puller, the [[executive officer]] of the [[4th Marine Regiment (United States)|4th Marine Regiment]], would be killed by an enemy sniper on Guam.

=== Battle of Peleliu ===
In September and October 1944, Puller led the 1st Marine Regiment into the protracted battle on [[Battle of Peleliu|Peleliu]], one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history, and received his first of two [[Legion of Merit]] awards. The 1st Marines under Puller's command lost 1,749 killed and wounded out of approximately 3,000 men, but these losses did not stop Puller from ordering frontal assaults against the well-entrenched enemy. He would come under significant criticism for not asking for reinforcements when both he and his regiment were at the point of exhaustion. When the Corps commander, General Roy Geiger visited Puller's command post, he found Puller, shirtless, with a corncob pipe in his mouth and a badly swollen leg that had originally been injured on Guadalcanal but swollen to twice its size. Colonel William Coleman, a member of the corps staff, had the impression that Puller was completely exhausted both mentally and physically. “He was unable to give a very clear picture of what his situation was.” When Geiger asked him if he needed reinforcements and Puller “stated that he was doing alright with what he had.” This was a crucial moment when Puller could have asked for the help that he so badly needed. But like the division commander, General Rupertus, Puller could not bring himself ask for help from U.S. Army units held in reserve. General [[Robert_E._Cushman_Jr.|Robert Cushman]] believed that while Puller was a great combat leader, his aggressive nature limited his understanding of combat to launching constant attacks, regardless of the circumstances. <ref>{{Citation | last = McManus | first = John | title = Fatal Pride at Peleliu| website = warfarehistorynetwork.com | pages = 10 | date = April 2012 | url = https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/fatal-pride-at-peleliu/ | access-date = June 3, 2024 }}</ref> As a result of the strain on both Puller and his regiment, Geiger ordered Rupertus to pull the all but annihilated 1st Marine Regiment out of the line as they were no longer combat-effective. Within days, the other two regiments would also be withdrawn from the island and replaced by three Army regiments who would also be eventually pulled out. <ref>{{cite book|title=Gooch's Marines|last=Giaffo|first=Lou|isbn=9781434933997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mXcTGInloHkC|year=2013|publisher=Dorrance Publishing Company, Incorporated|page=132}}</ref>

=== Return to the U.S. ===
Puller returned to the United States in November 1944, was named executive officer of the Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune and, two weeks later, commanding officer.  After the war, he was made director of the 8th Reserve District at [[New Orleans]], and later commanded the Marine barracks at Pearl Harbor.

==Korean War==
[[File:Puller-Birthday.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Colonel Puller cutting the Marine Corps birthday cake on November 10, 1950.]] [[File:Chesty Puller studies the terrain during the Korean War.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Colonel Puller studies the terrain during the Korean War.]]
[[File:ChestyPullerandWife.jpg|thumb|right|Then-retired Puller and his wife, Virginia, at their home.]]

At the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], Puller was once again assigned as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment. He participated in the [[Battle of Inchon|landing at Inchon]] on September 15, 1950, and was awarded the [[Silver Star Medal]].<ref>SecNavInst 1650.1H, August 22, 2006, ''Silver Star Medal''.</ref> For leadership from September 15 through November 2, he was awarded his second Legion of Merit. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross from the U.S. Army for heroism in action from November 29 to December 4, and his fifth Navy Cross for heroism during December 5–10, 1950, at the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]].  It was during that battle that he said the famous line, "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."<ref name=Russ1998_p230>{{Cite book|last=Russ |year=1998|title=Breakout |page=230}}</ref>

In January 1951, Puller was promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] and was assigned duty as assistant division commander (ADC) of the 1st Marine Division.  On February 24, however, his immediate superior, Major General [[Oliver Prince Smith]], was hastily transferred to command IX Corps when its Army commander, Major General [[Bryant Moore]], died.  Smith's transfer left Puller temporarily in command of the 1st Marine Division until sometime in March. He completed his tour of duty as assistant commander and left for the United States on May 20, 1951.<ref name="Hoffman604">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/604/mode/2up 604]}}</ref> He took command of the [[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]] at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton]] in California until January 1952, and then was assistant commander of the division until June 1952. He then took over Troop Training Unit Pacific at [[Coronado, California]]. In September 1953, he was promoted to [[Major general (United States)|major general]].

==Post-Korean War life==
In July 1954, Puller took command of the [[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]] at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina until February 1955 when he became Deputy Camp Commander. He suffered a stroke,<ref name="Hoffman660">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/660/mode/2up 660]}}</ref> and was retired by the Marine Corps on November 1, 1955, with a promotion to lieutenant general.<ref name="Hoffman668">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/668/mode/2up 668]}}</ref>

His nickname was related to the way his barrel chest stood out due to his aggressive stance,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9762435|title=Dictionary of American military biography|date=1984|publisher=Greenwood Press|last1=Spiller |first1=Roger J. |last2=Dawson |first2=Joseph G. |isbn=0-313-21433-6|location=Westport, Conn.|oclc=9762435}}</ref> with legends claiming that a steel plate had been inserted by surgeons to treat a battle wound.<ref name="Hoffman100">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/100/mode/2up 100]}}</ref> In a handwritten addition to a typed November 22, 1954, letter to Major Frank C. Sheppard, Puller wrote, "I agree with you 100%. I had done a little soldiering previous to Guadalcanal and had been called a lot of names, but why 'Chesty'? Especially the steel part??"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raabcollection.com/chesty-puller-autograph/chesty-puller-signed-marine%E2%80%99s-marine-chesty-puller-wonders-how-he-got-his |title=The Marine's Marine, Chesty Puller, Wonders How He Got His Nickname, and Mentions His Famous Service at Guadalcanal |publisher=The Raab Collection, LLC |access-date=April 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428023324/http://www.raabcollection.com/chesty-puller-autograph/chesty-puller-signed-marine%E2%80%99s-marine-chesty-puller-wonders-how-he-got-his |archive-date=April 28, 2016 }}</ref>

==Relations==
Puller's son, [[Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr.]] (generally known as Lewis Puller), served as a Marine lieutenant in the [[Vietnam War]]. While serving with [[2nd Battalion, 1st Marines]] (2/1), Lewis Jr. was severely wounded by a mine explosion, losing both legs and parts of his hands. Lieutenant General Puller broke down sobbing at seeing his son for the first time in the hospital.<ref>Puller, Lewis B. Jr. (1991). ''Fortunate Son: The Healing of a Vietnam Vet''. New York: Grove Weidenfeld. p. 162. {{ISBN|0-8021-1218-8}}.</ref> Lewis Jr. won a 1992 [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his autobiography, ''Fortunate Son: The Healing of a Vietnam Vet''. He committed suicide in 1994.<ref name="Ryan2008">{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|title=The Other Side of Grief: The Home Front and the Aftermath in American Narratives of the Vietnam War|url=https://archive.org/details/othersideofgrief0000ryan/mode/2up|year=2008|publisher=Univ of Massachusetts Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-1-55849-686-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/othersideofgrief0000ryan/page/32/mode/2up 32]}}</ref>

Puller was father-in-law to Colonel [[William H. Dabney]], a [[Virginia Military Institute]] (VMI) graduate, who was the commanding officer (then Captain) of two heavily reinforced rifle companies of the [[3rd Battalion, 26th Marines]] (3/26) from January 21 to April 14, 1968, in Vietnam. During the entire period, Dabney's force stubbornly defended [[The Hill Fights#Hill 881S|Hill 881 South]], a regional outpost vital to the defense of the [[Khe Sanh Combat Base]] during the 77-day siege at the [[Battle of Khe Sanh]]. Dabney was recommended for the Navy Cross for his actions on Hill 881 South, but his battalion executive officer's helicopter carrying the recommendation papers crashed and the papers were lost. It was not until April 15, 2005, that Colonel Dabney received the Navy Cross during an award ceremony at Virginia Military Institute.

Puller was a distant cousin to U.S. Army General [[George S. Patton]].<ref name="Hoffman656">{{Harvnb|Hoffman|2001|p=[https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff/page/656/mode/2up 656]}}</ref>

He was an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]] and parishioner of [[Christ Church (Saluda, Virginia)|Christ Church Parish]] in [[Saluda, Virginia|Saluda]] and is buried in the historic cemetery there next to his wife, Virginia Montague Evans.<ref name="Christ Church"/>

==Decorations and awards==
Puller received the second-highest U.S. military award six times (one of only two persons so honored): five Navy Crosses and one U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross. He was the second of two U.S. servicemen (after U.S. Navy submarine commander [[Roy M. Davenport|Roy Milton Davenport]]) to ever receive five Navy Crosses.

Puller's military awards include:

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}&nbsp;{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}&nbsp;{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Haitian Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Campaign ribbon 1933.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=China Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Haitian Medaille Militaire.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Cross of Valor.png|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Eulji Cordon Medal.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Order of the Cloud and Banner 4th.gif|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!1st row
| colspan="4"|[[Navy Cross]] with 4 [[5/16 inch star|Gold Stars]]
| colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (Army)
| colspan="4"|[[Silver Star Medal|Silver Star]] (Army)
|-
!2nd row
| colspan="3"|[[Legion of Merit]] with [[Combat "V"]] <br /> and 1 [[5/16 inch star|Gold Star]]
| colspan="3"|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Combat "V"]]
| colspan="3"|[[Air Medal]] with 2 [[5/16 inch star|Gold stars]]
| colspan="3"|[[Purple Heart Medal|Purple Heart]]
|-
!3rd row
| colspan="3"|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] <br /> with 4 [[service star|bronze stars]]
| colspan="3"|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal]] <br /> with 1 [[Service star|bronze star]]
| colspan="3"|[[Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal]] <br /> with 1 [[Service star|bronze star]]
| colspan="3"|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] <br /> with West Indies [[medal bar|clasp]]
|-
!4th row
| colspan="3"|[[Haitian Campaign Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal|Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[China Service Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[American Defense Service Medal]] <br />with 1 [[Service star|bronze star]]
|-
!5th row
| colspan="3"|[[American Campaign Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] <br /> with 4 [[Service star|bronze stars]]
| colspan="3"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
!6th row
| colspan="3"|[[Korean Service Medal]] <br /> with 1 [[Service star|silver star]]
| colspan="3"|Haitian <br /> Médaille militaire
| colspan="3"|Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit <br /> with Diploma (gold star)
| colspan="3"|Nicaraguan Cross of Valor <br /> with Diploma 
|-
!7th row
| colspan="3"|Korean [[Order of Military Merit (Korea)|Order of Military Merit, <br /> Eulji Cordon Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] [[Order of the Cloud and Banner|Order of the Cloud and Banner <br /> with Special Cravat]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Private Law 85-704|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-72/pdf/STATUTE-72-PgA159-3.pdf|publisher=United States Statutes at Large, Volume 72, 85th Congress, 2nd Session|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>
| colspan="3"|[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation|Republic of Korea <br /> Presidential Unit Citation]]
| colspan="3"|[[United Nations Service Medal for Korea|United Nations Service Medal <br /> for Korea]]
|}

===First Navy Cross citation===
'''Citation:'''
<blockquote>For distinguished service in the line of his profession while commanding a Nicaraguan National Guard patrol. First Lieutenant Lewis B. Puller, United States Marine Corps, successfully led his forces into five successful engagements against superior numbers of armed bandit forces; namely, at LaVirgen on 16 February 1930, at Los Cedros on 6 June 1930, at Moncotal on 22 July 1930, at Guapinol on 25 July 1930, and at Malacate on 19 August 1930, with the result that the bandits were in each engagement completely routed with losses of nine killed and many wounded. By his intelligent and forceful leadership without thought of his own personal safety, by great physical exertion and by suffering many hardships, Lieutenant Puller surmounted all obstacles and dealt five successive and severe blows against organized banditry in the Republic of Nicaragua.<ref name=militarytimes>{{cite web|url=http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=5665|title=Military Times|access-date=29 July 2017|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143806/http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=5665|url-status=dead}}</ref></blockquote>

===Second Navy Cross citation===
'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>First Lieutenant Lewis B. Puller, United States Marine Corps (Captain, Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua) performed exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility while in command of a Guardia Patrol from 20 September to 1 October 1932. Lieutenant Puller and his command of forty Guardia and [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[William A. Lee]], United States Marine Corps, serving as a First Lieutenant in the Guardia, penetrated the isolated mountainous bandit territory for a distance of from eighty to one hundred miles north of Jinotega, his nearest base. This patrol was ambushed on 26 September 1932, at a point northeast of Mount Kilambe by an insurgent force of one hundred fifty in a well-prepared position armed with not less than seven automatic weapons and various classes of small arms and well-supplied with ammunition. Early in the combat, Gunnery Sergeant Lee, the Second in Command, was seriously wounded and reported as dead. The Guardia immediately behind Lieutenant Puller in the point was killed by the first burst of fire, Lieutenant Puller, with great courage, coolness and display of military judgment, so directed the fire and movement of his men that the enemy were driven first from the high ground on the right of his position, and then by a flanking movement forced from the high ground to the left and finally were scattered in confusion with a loss of ten killed and many wounded by the persistent and well-directed attack of the patrol. The numerous casualties suffered by the enemy and the Guardia losses of two killed and four wounded are indicative of the severity of the enemy resistance. This signal victory in jungle country, with no lines of communication and a hundred miles from any supporting force, was largely due to the indomitable courage and persistence of the patrol commander. Returning with the wounded to Jinotega, the patrol was ambushed twice by superior forces on 30 September. On both of the occasions the enemy was dispersed with severe losses.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

===Third Navy Cross citation===
'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, during the action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of 24 to 25 October 1942. While Lieutenant Colonel Puller's battalion was holding a mile-long front in a heavy downpour of rain, a Japanese force, superior in number, launched a vigorous assault against that position of the line which passed through a dense jungle. Courageously withstanding the enemy's desperate and determined attacks, Lieutenant Colonel Puller not only held his battalion to its position until reinforcements arrived three hours later, but also effectively commanded the augmented force until late in the afternoon of the next day. By his tireless devotion to duty and cool judgment under fire, he prevented a hostile penetration of our lines and was largely responsible for the successful defense of the sector assigned to his troops.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

===Fourth Navy Cross citation===
'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>For extraordinary heroism as Executive Officer of the Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, serving with the Sixth United States Army, in combat against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, from 26 December 1943 to 19 January 1944. Assigned temporary command of the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, from 4 to 9 January, Lieutenant Colonel Puller quickly reorganized and advanced his unit, effecting the seizure of the objective without delay. Assuming additional duty in command of the Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, from 7 to 8 January, after the commanding officer and executive officer had been wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Puller unhesitatingly exposed himself to rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire from strongly entrenched Japanese positions to move from company to company in his front lines, reorganizing and maintaining a critical position along a fire-swept ridge. His forceful leadership and gallant fighting spirit under the most hazardous conditions were contributing factors in the defeat of the enemy during this campaign and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

===Fifth Navy Cross citation===
'''Citation'''

<blockquote>For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against aggressor forces in the vicinity of Koto-ri, Korea, from 5 to 10 December 1950. Fighting continuously in sub-zero weather against a vastly outnumbering hostile force, Colonel Puller drove off repeated and fanatical enemy attacks upon his Regimental defense sector and supply points. Although the area was frequently covered by grazing machine-gun fire and intense artillery and mortar fire, he coolly moved along his troops to insure their correct tactical employment, reinforced the lines as the situation demanded, and successfully defended the perimeter, keeping open the main supply routes for the movement of the Division. During the attack from Koto-ri to Hungnam, he expertly utilized his Regiment as the Division rear guard, repelling two fierce enemy assaults which severely threatened the security of the unit, and personally supervised the care and prompt evacuation of all casualties. By his unflagging determination, he served to inspire his men to heroic efforts in defense of their positions and assured the safety of much valuable equipment which would otherwise have been lost to the enemy. His skilled leadership, superb courage and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflect the highest credit upon Colonel Puller and the United States Naval Service.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

===Distinguished Service Cross citation===
'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller (MCSN: 0-3158), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, Korea, during the period 29 November to 4 December 1950. Colonel Puller's actions contributed materially to the breakthrough of the First Marine Regiment in the Chosin Reservoir area and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

===Silver Star citation===
'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller (MCSN: 0-3158), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while Commanding the First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces during the amphibious landing resulting in the capture of Inchon, Korea, on 15 September 1950 in the Inchon-Seoul Operation. His actions contributed materially to the success of this operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Service.<ref name=militarytimes/></blockquote>

==Namesakes and honors==
In addition to his military awards Puller has received numerous honors due to his Marine Corps service:
* On October 26, 2017, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Puller Veterans Care Center located in [[Fauquier County, Virginia|Vint Hill, Fauquier County, Virginia]]. The facility was named in honor of Puller and his wife.<ref>{{cite web |title=Governor McAuliffe Breaks Ground on New Puller Veterans Care Center |url=https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/news-room/governor-mcauliffe-breaks-ground-new-puller-veterans-care-center/ |publisher=Virginia Department of Veterans Services |access-date=August 3, 2018 |date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>
* The [[Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate|frigate]] {{USS|Lewis B. Puller|FFG-23|3}} was named after him.
* The headquarters building for 2nd [[Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team]] on [[Yorktown Naval Weapons Station]] in [[Yorktown, Virginia]], is named Puller Hall in his honor.
* Route 33 in [[Middlesex County, Virginia]], is named General Puller Highway. It is the county in which Puller is buried.
* On November 10, 2005, the [[United States Postal Service]] issued its ''Distinguished Marines'' stamps in which Puller was honored.<ref name=USPSpressrelease>{{Cite news
|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-distinguished-marines-saluted-on-us-postage-stamps-55532187.html
|title= Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps
|date=November 10, 2005
|publisher=United States Postal Service
|via=Press Release
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122230323/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-distinguished-marines-saluted-on-us-postage-stamps-55532187.html 
| archive-date=January 22, 2015
|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>
* The [[Military mascot|Marine Corps' mascot]] is perpetually named "Chesty Pullerton." (e.g. Chesty XIII).  He is always a purebred English [[Bulldog]].
* In 2012, [[Military Sealift Command]] announced that a [[Mobile Landing Platform]] will be named after Puller, {{USNS|Lewis B. Puller|T-MLP-3/T-AFSB-1}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/N00p/pressrel/press12/press01.htm |title=Navy Names First Three Mobile Landing Platform Ships |author= Marconi, James |date=January 5, 2012 |work=Military Sealift Command Public Affairs |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221094138/http://www.msc.navy.mil/N00p/pressrel/press12/press01.htm |archive-date=February 21, 2013 }}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
[[File:Chesty Puller memorial in West Point.JPG|thumb|upright|A memorial flagpole erected in Puller's honor in his hometown of West Point]]
Following his retirement Puller lived in [[Saluda, Virginia]], where he was later buried after his death on October 11, 1971, at Christ Church Cemetery next to his wife.<ref name="Christ Church">{{cite web | url=http://www.christchurchmiddlesex.com/Chesty-Puller/ | website=Christ Church Parish Episcopal - The Diocese of Virginia |title=Lieutenant General Lewis B. 'Chesty' Puller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112212528/http://www.christchurchmiddlesex.com/Chesty-Puller/| archive-date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>

Puller remains a well-known figure in U.S. Marine Corps [[folklore]] with both true and exaggerated tales of his experiences being constantly recounted among U.S. Marines.

A common practice in U.S. Marine Corps boot camp is to end one's day with the declaration, "Good night, Chesty, wherever you are!"<ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|1991|p=6}}<!--1962--></ref> Another common encouragement is "Chesty Puller never quit!"

In U.S. Marine Corps [[United States Marine Corps Recruit Training|recruit training]] and [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)|OCS]] cadences, Marines chant "It was good for Chesty Puller/And it's good enough for me" as well as "Tell Chesty Puller I did my best."—Chesty is symbolic of the ''[[esprit de corps]]'' of the Marines.
Also, the recruits sing "Chesty Puller was a good Marine and a good Marine was he."

U.S. Marines, while doing pull-ups, will tell each other to "do one for Chesty!"

Puller insisted upon good equipment and discipline; once he came upon a [[Second Lieutenant (United States)|second lieutenant]] who had ordered an enlisted man to salute him 100 times for missing a salute. Puller told the lieutenant, "You were absolutely correct in making him salute you 100 times, Lieutenant, but you know that an officer must return every salute he receives. Now return them all and I will keep count."<ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|1991|pp=100–101}}<!--1962--></ref><ref name=Combat_Keith_200601>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.combatmagazine.ws/S3/BAKISSUE/CMBT04N1/BUGLE.HTM|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141405/http://www.combatmagazine.ws/S3/BAKISSUE/CMBT04N1/BUGLE.HTM|archive-date=September 29, 2007
|title=The Virtue of Unabashed Awkwardness in Military Leadership and Everyday Life |last=Cossey |first=B. Keith  |journal=COMBAT Magazine |volume=4 |issue = 1 |date=January 2006
|issn=1542-1546   |access-date=November 26, 2006}}</ref><ref name=versus/>

While on duty in Hawaii and inspecting the armory, Puller fined himself $100 for accidentally discharging a .45 caliber pistol indoors, although the charge for his men was only $20.<ref name=versus>{{cite web|last=Marine Corps Social Media|title=Ultimate Marine (Puller Vs Butler)|url=http://marines.dodlive.mil/2013/04/10/ultimate-marine-puller-vs-butler/|work=Marines Blog Official Blog of the United States Marine Corps|publisher=United States Marine Corps|access-date=May 12, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731072526/http://marines.dodlive.mil/2013/04/10/ultimate-marine-puller-vs-butler/|archive-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref>

A section of Virginia Highway 33 running from West Point to the Gloucester County community of Glenns is named Lewis B Puller Memorial Highway.

Puller was also a life-long [[Freemasonry|freemason]]. He was made a [[Masonic ritual and symbolism|master mason]] at Hiram Lodge Number 57 in Virginia, where he was a member until his death.

==In popular culture==
* The book ''Marine!: The Life of Chesty Puller'', {{ISBN|978-0553271829}}, is about his life as a Marine.
* The book ''Chesty Puller's Rules of Success'', {{ISBN|978-1885541079}}, written by Bill Davis, Col, USMC (ret) explores 20 of Puller's "self-imposed principles of action" he gleaned from numerous meetings with the legendary General.
* The biography ''Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC'', {{ISBN|978-0375760440}}, by Col. Jon T. Hoffman, USMCR, won the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's 2001 General Wallace M. Greene Award: Best Marine Corps History Book of the Year.
* [[John Ford]] directed ''[[Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend]]'' a 1976 film documentary.
* In the HBO miniseries ''[[The Pacific (miniseries)|The Pacific]]'' (2010), Puller is played by the American actor [[William Sadler (actor)|William Sadler]].
* In the [[Sidney J. Furie]] film ''[[The Boys in Company C]]'' (1978), a Junior Drill Instructor [Don Bell] puts his Marine Corps recruits to bed with the line 'Good night Chesty, wherever you are' in reference to Chesty Puller.

==See also==
* [[List of historically notable United States Marines]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book
 |last = Boot |first = Max |author-link=Max Boot
 |year = 2002
 |title = The Savage Wars of Peace – Small Wars and the Rise of American Power
 |publisher = Basic Books
 |isbn = 0-465-00721-X |lccn=2004695066}}
* {{Cite book
 |last = Crocker
 |first = H.W.
 |year = 2006
 |title = Don't Tread on me: A 400-year history of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting
 |publisher = Crown Forum
 |isbn = 1-4000-5363-3
 |url = https://archive.org/details/donttreadonme40000croc
 }}
* {{Cite book
 |last         = Davis
 |first        = Burke
 |orig-year    = 1962
 |year         = 1991
 |title        = Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller
 |publisher    = Bantam Books
 |url          = https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/marine-the-life-of-chesty-puller/id1468974108
 |isbn         = 0-553-27182-2
 |access-date  = July 4, 2022
|archive-date = October 25, 2021
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20211025115151/https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/marine-the-life-of-chesty-puller/id1468974108
 |url-status   = dead
}}
* {{Cite book
 |last = Fehrenbach |first = T.R. | author-link = T. R. Fehrenbach
 |year = 1963
 |title = This Kind of War
 |publisher = Brassey's
 |location = Dulles, Virginia
 |isbn = 1-57488-259-7}}
* {{Cite book
 |last = Hoffman
 |first = Jon T.
 |year = 2001
 |title = Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC
 |publisher = Random House
 |isbn = 0-679-44732-6
 |url = https://archive.org/details/chestystoryoflie00hoff
 }}
* {{Cite book
 |last = Russ |first = Martin
 |year = 1999
 |title = Breakout – The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea, 1950.
 |publisher = Penguin Books
 |isbn = 0-14-029259-4}}
* {{Cite book
  |last = Simmons
  |first = Edwin H.
  |title = The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition
  |publisher = Naval Institute Press
  |year = 2003
  |location = Annapolis, Maryland
  |isbn = 1-59114-790-5
  |url-access = registration
  |url = https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesmari0000simm_r8b9
  }}
* {{cite web
|access-date=November 27, 2008
|url=https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/P-R/puller_lb.aspx
|title=Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" B. Puller, USMC
|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
|publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122223233/https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/P-R/puller_lb.aspx
|archive-date=January 22, 2015
|url-status=dead
}}
* {{cite web
|access-date=February 10, 2009
|url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=2109&PERSON_TYPE=General
|title=Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" Puller – Deceased
|work=General Officer biographies
|publisher=United States Marine Corps
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118130846/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=2109&PERSON_TYPE=General
|archive-date=January 18, 2012
}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:Lewis B. Puller |b=no |n=no |q=Chesty Puller |s=no |v=no |species=no }}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Chesty Puller.ogg|date=July 3, 2006}}
* {{Cite journal
  |title=Chesty Puller: Everyone Needs a Hero
  |author=Suttom, SSgt Kurt M.
  |journal=Marine Magazine
  |date=August 1998
  |publisher=HQMC, United States Marine Corps
  |location=Washington, D.C.
  |url=http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6350/chesty2.htm
  |access-date=January 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212162512/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6350/chesty2.htm|archive-date=February 12, 2006}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150122223233/https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/P-R/puller_lb.aspx Marine Corps History Division LtGen Lewis B. Puller Biography]
* [https://archive.today/20130102085709/http://www.devildog.com/history/puller/oh.html Devildog.com Recorded interview with Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller]

{{Authority control}}
{{The Pacific (miniseries)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puller, Chesty}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Virginia]]
[[Category:People from West Point, Virginia]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Banana Wars]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (South Korea)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps generals]]