Chesty Puller - wikipedia Chesty Puller Lewis Burwell `` Chesty '' Puller ( 1898 - 06 - 26 ) June 26, 1898 West Point, Virginia, U.S. October 11, 1971 ( 1971 - 10 - 11 ) ( aged 73 ) Hampton, Virginia, U.S. Buried Christchurch Parish Cemetery Christ Church, Saluda, Virginia, U.S. Allegiance United States of America Service / branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 1918 -- 1955 Rank Lieutenant General Unit 1st Marine Division Commands held World War II : 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and 1st Marines Korean War : 1st Marines Battles / wars Banana Wars Occupation of Haiti Occupation of Nicaragua Battle of Agua Carta Battle of El Sauce World War II Action along the Matanikau Battle for Henderson Field Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu Korean War Battle of Inchon Battle of Chosin Reservoir Awards Navy Cross ( 5 ) Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit ( 2 ), `` V '' Device Bronze Star, `` V '' Device Purple Heart Air Medal ( 3 ) Spouse ( s ) Virginia Montague Evans Relations Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. ( son ) 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, in World War II and the Korean War. Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history. He is one of two U.S. servicemen awarded five Navy Crosses and one Army Distinguished Service Cross. Puller 's six Crosses are next in number to the eight times Eddie Rickenbacker received the nation 's second - highest military award for valor. In 1955 ( after 37 years of service ), Lieutenant General Puller retired from the Marine Corps. He lived in Virginia and died in 1971, at age 73. Contents 1 Early life 2 Interwar years 3 World War II 4 Korean War 5 Post-Korean War 6 Relations 7 Decorations and awards 7.1 First Navy Cross citation 7.2 Second Navy Cross citation 7.3 Third Navy Cross citation 7.4 Fourth Navy Cross citation 7.5 Fifth Navy Cross citation 7.6 Distinguished Service Cross citation 8 Namesakes and honors 9 Puller in U.S. Marine Corps culture 10 In popular culture 11 See also 12 References 13 Bibliography 14 External links Early Life Puller was born in West Point, Virginia, to Matthew and Martha Puller. His father was a grocer who died when Lewis was 10 years old. Puller grew up listening to old veterans ' tales of the American Civil War and idolizing Thomas `` Stonewall '' Jackson. He wanted to enlist in the United States Army to fight in the Border War with Mexico in 1916, but he was too young and could not get parental consent from his mother. 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 ! '' Inspired by the 5th Marines at 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, South Carolina. Although he never saw action in that war, the Marine Corps was expanding, and soon after graduating he attended their non-commissioned officer school and Officer Candidates School ( OCS ) at Quantico, Virginia, following that. Graduating from OCS on June 16, 1919, Puller was appointed a second lieutenant in the reserves, 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. Interwar years First Lieutenant Lewis `` Chesty '' Puller ( center left ) and Sergeant William `` Ironman '' Lee ( center right ) and two Nicaraguan soldiers in 1931 Corporal Puller received orders to serve in the Gendarmerie d'Haiti as a lieutenant, seeing action in Haiti. While the United States was working under a treaty with Haiti, he participated in over forty engagements during the ensuing five years against the 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 Marine Corps. Puller returned stateside and was finally recommissioned as a second lieutenant on March 6, 1924 ( Service No. 03158 ), afterward completing assignments at the Marine Barracks in Norfolk, Virginia, The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, and with the 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. Puller with members of the Guardia Nacional In December 1928, Puller was assigned to the Nicaraguan 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 Sandinista rebels in the last major engagement of the Sandino Rebellion near El Sauce on December 26, 1932. After his 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, 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 Ben Robertshaw, Pappy Boyington, and Lew Walt. 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 ( 1 / 7 ) of the 1st Marine Division, stationed at New River, North Carolina ( later Camp Lejeune ). World War II Colonel Puller Lt. Col. Puller on Guadalcanal in September, 1942 Early in the Pacific theater, the 7th Marines formed the nucleus of the newly created 3rd Marine Brigade and arrived to defend Samoa on May 8, 1942. Later they were redeployed from the brigade and on September 4, 1942, they left Samoa and rejoined the 1st 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, 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 Japanese force. Puller ran to the shore, signaled a United States Navy destroyer, the USS Ballard ( DD - 267 ), and then Puller directed the destroyer to provide fire support while landing craft rescued his Marines from their precarious position. 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 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. He was wounded himself on November 9. Puller was then made executive officer of the 7th Marine Regiment. While serving in this capacity at 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 September and October 1944, Puller led the 1st Marine Regiment into the protracted battle on 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 out of approximately 3,000 men, but these losses did not stop Puller from ordering frontal assaults against the well - entrenched enemy. The corps commander had to order the 1st Marine Division commanding general to pull the annihilated 1st Marine Regiment out of the line. During the summer of 1944, Puller 's younger brother, Samuel D. Puller, the Executive Officer of the 4th Marine Regiment, was killed by an enemy sniper on Guam. 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 Colonel Puller cutting the Marine Corps birthday cake on 10 November 1950. Colonel Puller studies the terrain during the Korean War. 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 First Marine Regiment. He participated in the landing at Inchon on September 15, 1950, and was awarded the Silver Star Medal. 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. '' In January 1951, Puller was promoted to 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 O.P. 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. He took command of the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, 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. Post-korean War In July 1954, Puller took command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina until February 1955 when he became Deputy Camp Commander. He suffered a stroke, and was retired by the Marine Corps on November 1, 1955 with a tombstone promotion to lieutenant general. Regarding his nickname, in a handwritten addition to a typed 22 November 1954 letter to Maj. 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 ? ? '' 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. Lewis Jr. won a 1992 Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography Fortunate Son : The Healing of a Vietnam Vet. Puller was father - in - law to Colonel William H. Dabney, USMC ( Retired ), a Virginia Military Institute ( VMI ) graduate, who was the commanding officer ( then Captain ) of two heavily reinforced rifle companies of the Third Battalion, Twenty - Sixth Marines ( 3 / 26 ) from January 21 to April 14, 1968 in Vietnam. During the entire period, Colonel Dabney 's force stubbornly defended Hill 881S, a regional outpost vital to the defense of the Khe Sanh Combat Base during the 77 - day siege. Following 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 the famous U.S. Army General George S. Patton. He was an Episcopalian and parishioner of Christ Church Parish and is buried in the historic cemetery next to his wife Virginia Montague Evans. 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 to ever receive five Navy Crosses, U.S. Navy submarine commander Roy Milton Davenport was the first to receive five Navy Crosses. Puller 's military awards include : 1st row Navy Cross with 4 gold 5 / 16 inch stars Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Medal 2nd row Legion of Merit with Combat `` V '' with 1 gold 5 / 16 inch star Bronze Star Medal with Combat `` V '' Air Medal with 2 gold stars Purple Heart Medal 3rd row Presidential Unit Citation with 4 3 / 16 inch bronze service stars Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with 1 3 / 16 inch bronze service star Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with 1 3 / 16 inch bronze service star World War I Victory Medal with West Indies clasp 4th row Haitian Campaign Medal ( 1921 ) Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal ( 1933 ) China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal with Base clasp 5th row American Campaign Medal Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 3 / 16 inch bronze service stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal 6th row Korean Service Medal with 1 3 / 16 inch silver service star Haitian Médaille militaire Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Diploma Nicaraguan Cross of Valor with Diploma 7th row Korean Order of Military Merit, Eulji Cordon Medal Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation United Nations Service Medal for Korea First Navy Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' Second Navy Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' Third Navy Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' Fourth Navy Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' Fifth Navy Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' Distinguished Service Cross citation Citation : `` 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. '' 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 Vint Hill, Virginia. `` The new Puller Veterans Care Center will be built on the former Vint Hill Farms Station in Fauquier County, which previously served as a United States Army and National Security Agency Facility. The new care center will deliver top - quality care to Virginia Veterans in a home - like setting. The 128 - bed facility will feature all private rooms that will be organized into households and neighborhoods that surround a central community center. '' dvs.virginia.gov The frigate Lewis B. Puller ( FFG - 23 ) 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. The 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 ). Puller in U.S. Marine Corps culture A memorial flagpole erected in Puller 's honor in his hometown of West Point 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 incantation in U.S. Marine Corps boot camp is to end one 's day with the declaration, `` Good night, Chesty, wherever you are ! '' Another common encouragement is `` Chesty Puller never quit ! '' In U.S. Marine Corps recruit training and 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 push - ups, will tell each other to `` do one for Chesty ! '' Puller was known for his constant actions to improve the working conditions of enlisted Marines. Puller insisted upon good equipment and discipline ; once he came upon a 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. '' 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. 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 book Chesty : The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC, ISBN 978 - 0375760440, by Col. Jon T. Hoffman, USMCR, is a complete biography of his life, and winner of 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 1990s Sitcom Major Dad ( S. 2 / Ep. 14 `` A Bird in the Hand '' ) the supporting character `` Gunny '' brings her prized eagle figurine ( a.k.a. `` Chesty '' ) to the office which she earlier had said she came to own after her `` granddaddy '' had won it in a poker game playing against a young Chesty Puller when the two were stationed together in `` Peking in ' 37. '' In the 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, Puller is portrayed by William Sadler. See also World War II portal United States Marine Corps portal List of historically notable United States Marines References Jump up ^ `` Valor awards for Edward Vernon Rickenbacker ''. valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017. ^ Jump up to : Wise, James E. ; Scott Baron ( 2007 ). Navy Cross : extraordinary heroism in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts. Naval Institute Press. p. 256. ISBN 978 - 1 - 59114 - 945 - 3. Jump up ^ Wilson, Diann W. ( 2008 ). Dogged Determination : Life Experiences and the USMC Bulldog Copyright. iUniverse. p. 98. ISBN 978 - 0 - 59545 - 358 - 0. Jump up ^ Hoffman 2001, p. 21 Jump up ^ Davis 1991 Jump up ^ Template : Country data 1991 Jump up ^ `` The History of the 7th Marines ''. 7th Marines. Archived from the original on 2007 - 07 - 01. Retrieved June 30, 2006. Jump up ^ Davis, Burke, 2016, `` Marine The Life of Chesty Puller '', ASIN : B01BM1TJ48 Jump up ^ Giaffo, Lou ( 2013 ). Gooch 's Marines. Dorrance Publishing Company, Incorporated. p. 132. ISBN 9781434933997. Jump up ^ Keene, R.R. ( 2004 ). `` Wake up and die, Marine ! '' ( Reprinted by www.military.com ). Leatherneck Magazine. Jump up ^ SecNavInst 1650.1 H, 8 / 22 / 2006, Silver Star Medal. Jump up ^ Russ ( 1998 ). Breakout. p. 230. Jump up ^ Hoffman 2001, p. 604 Jump up ^ Hoffman 2001, p. 660 Jump up ^ Hoffman 2001, p. 688 Jump up ^ `` The Marine 's Marine, Chesty Puller, Wonders How He Got His Nickname, and Mentions His Famous Service at Guadalcanal ''. The Raab Collection, LLC. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Jump up ^ Puller, Lewis B. Jr. ( 1991 ). Fortunate Son : The Healing of a Vietnam Vet. New York : Grove Weidenfeld. p. 162. ISBN 0 - 8021 - 1218 - 8. Jump up ^ Hoffman 2001, p. 656 Jump up ^ `` Lientenant General Lewis B. Chesty Puller ''. www.christchurchmiddlesex.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Private Law 85 - 704 '' ( PDF ). United States Statutes at Large, Volume 72, 85th Congress, 2nd Session. Retrieved 22 January 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Military Times ''. Retrieved 29 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps '' ( Press release ). United States Postal Service. November 10, 2005. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 22. Jump up ^ James Marconi ( 5 January 2012 ). `` Navy Names First Three Mobile Landing Platform Ships ''. Military Sealift Command Public Affairs. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013. Jump up ^ Davis 1991, p. 6 Jump up ^ Davis 1991, pp. 100 -- 101 Jump up ^ Cossey, B. Keith ( January 2006 ). `` The Virtue of Unabashed Awkwardness in Military Leadership and Everyday Life ''. COMBAT Magazine. 4 ( 1 ). ISSN 1542 - 1546. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 26. ^ Jump up to : Marine Corps Social Media. `` Ultimate Marine ( Puller Vs Butler ) ''. Marines Blog Official Blog of the United States Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 12 May 2014. Bibliography Boot, Max ( 2002 ). The Savage Wars of Peace -- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power. Basic Books. ISBN 0 - 465 - 00721 - X. LCCN 2004695066. Crocker, H.W. ( 2006 ). Do n't Tread on me : A 400 - year history of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Crown Forum. ISBN 1 - 4000 - 5363 - 3. Davis, Burke ( 1991 ) ( 1962 ). Marine ! The Life of Chesty Puller. Bantam Books. ISBN 0 - 553 - 27182 - 2. Fehrenbach, T.R. ( 1963 ). This Kind of War. Dulles, Virginia : Brassey 's. ISBN 1 - 57488 - 259 - 7. Hoffman, Jon T. ( 2001 ). Chesty : The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC. Random House. ISBN 0 - 679 - 44732 - 6. Russ, Martin ( 1999 ). Breakout -- The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea, 1950. Penguin Books. ISBN 0 - 14 - 029259 - 4. Simmons, Edwin H. ( 2003 ). The United States Marines : A History, Fourth Edition. Annapolis, Maryland : Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1 - 59114 - 790 - 5. `` Lieutenant General Lewis `` Chesty '' B. Puller, USMC ``. Who 's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 27. `` Lieutenant General Lewis `` Chesty '' Puller -- Deceased ``. General Officer biographies. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2012 - 01 - 18. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 10. External links Find more aboutChesty Pullerat Wikipedia 's sister projects Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Listen to this article ( info / dl ) This audio file was created from a revision of the article `` Chesty Puller '' dated 2006 - 07 - 03, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ( Audio help ) More spoken articles `` Chesty Puller ''. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009 - 07 - 22. Suttom, SSgt Kurt M. ( August 1998 ). `` Chesty Puller : Everyone Needs a Hero ''. Marine Magazine. Washington, D.C. : HQMC, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2006 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2007 - 01 - 17. Marine Corps History Division LtGen Lewis B. Puller Biography Devildog.com Recorded interview with Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell `` Chesty '' Puller VIAF : 231267660 LCCN : n00016459 IATH : w6xk8dv8 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chesty_Puller&oldid=809261315 '' Categories : 1898 births 1971 deaths American Marine Corps personnel of World War II American Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War People from King William County, Virginia People of the Banana Wars Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross ( United States ) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Order of Military Merit ( Korea ) Recipients of the Order of the Cloud and Banner Recipients of the Navy Cross ( United States ) Recipients of the Silver Star United States Marine Corps generals Hidden categories : Infobox military person image param needs updating Pages using deprecated image syntax All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017 Spoken articles Articles with hAudio microformats Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Brezhoneg Català Dansk Deutsch Français Italiano עברית 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Slovenščina 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 8 November 2017, at 01 : 25. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who is the most decorated marine in history
Answer: Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller