Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller

Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller
Lewis "Chesty" Puller as Major General
Nickname(s)	"Chesty"
Born	(1898-06-26)June 26, 1898 West Point, Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 11, 1971(1971-10-11) (aged 73) Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Buried at	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 Medal Legion of Merit (2), Combat "V" Bronze Star Medal, Combat "V" Purple Heart Medal Air Medal (3)
Spouse(s)	Virginia Montague Evans
Relations	Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. (son)

Banana Wars

World War II

Korean War

Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who fought guerrillas in Haiti and Nicaragua, and fought in World War II and the Korean War.

Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history. He is one of two U.S. servicemen to be awarded five Navy Crosses and, with the Distinguished Service Cross awarded to him by the U.S. Army, his total of six stands only behind Eddie Rickenbacker's eight times receiving the nation's second-highest military award for valor.

Puller retired from the Marine Corps with 37 years service in 1955 and lived in Virginia.

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.