The book says relatively little about chestys son, lewis b. Fortunate son was published in 1991, and won the pulitzer prize for biography in 1992. Jon hoffman has been given special access to pullers personal papers as well as his personnel record. Chesty navy general library program downloadable books. Chesty puller project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The suicide of general chesty pullers son, lewis, jr. Chesty puller, an outspoken, profane leader revered in the corps, died in 1971. The final story is lewis pullers battle against alcoholism. Suicide of a veteran, amid pain and fame the new york times. One of pullers most prized possessions was a copy of george hendersons biography of stonewall jackson, which chesty had read repeatedly. The title of this autobiography was borrowed from the song fortunate son by creedence clearwater revival, to which he gives credit in the opening pages.
Puller lost both legs, one hand, and most of his buttocks and stomach. Served a short tour in japan and another one year in vietnam. Son of the famous world war ii marine commander chesty puller, lewis puller proudly followed in his fathers footsteps. Quang nam province, 1970 one of the reasons i read the bio about his father as well as the sons own autobio. Long after his death, puller remained a conspicuous presence within the marine corps. Chesty puller to his marines, when surrounded by the chinese at chosin reservoir. Chesty puller june 26, 1898october 11, 1971 was a u. I asked him who that man was and as michael is a veteran of the usmc, he said, why mom, that is chesty puller, one of the most decorated and best loved leaders in the marines. Marine who saw battle experience in world war ii and in the korean war conflict. Patton, puller began his enlisted career during world war i and moved up through the ranks as he proved his battlefield mettle in haiti and nicaragua, with the horse marines in peking, in the pacific theater of world war ii, and in the nightmarish winter engagements of the. Marine the life of chesty puller by burke davis is the biography of the marine corps most decorated man. Very well written book on the son of the marine corps legend, lewis b. Origin brand apparel and jocko gi, with jocko white tea, onnit fitness stuff, and psychological warfare on itunes. His namesake grandson was born just days after his son was so gravely maimed by a boobytrapped artillery round in.
From the time lewis was born there was only one option open for him. At times pullers actions have been called into questionat peleliu, for instance, where, against a heavily fortified position, he lost more than half of his regiment. If ever a soul was delivered to study warfare, it was chesty puller. After stints in china, chesty puller returned to the united states to command the 1st battalion, 7th marine regiment. 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. I probably would have never read this book if my son, michael, had not had this mans picture on his facebook wall. When lewis puller tripped a boobytrapped howitzer round in vietnam. His last statement in the book sums up chesty puller in a way that a lively read that emphasises all the right elements of general pullers character and philosophy. Son of the famous chesty puller, the marines marine, lewis jr.
One of our favorite contributors here at veterans tales, msgt fred barnett copied an old new york time 1994 reprint of their story about the suicide of chesty pullers son, lewis, jr. Quotations by chesty puller, american soldier, born june 26, 1898. August 18, 1945 may 11, 1994 was an attorney and a united states marine corps officer who was severely wounded in the vietnam war. He won the 1992 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography for his autobiography fortunate son. The book chesty pullers rules of success, isbn 9781885541079, written by bill davis, col, usmc ret explores 20 of pullers selfimposed principles of action he gleaned from. The book marine the life of chesty puller, isbn 9780553271829, is about his life as a marine. Fortunate son is a gripping book, partly because of the enormity of pullers loss. This is an except from the nyts may 4, 1994 story by catherine manegold. Chesty the story of lieutenant general lewis b puller usmc. General lewis chesty puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the marine corps.
I am a vietnam vet and was in the same province as chestys son lewis puller jr. Davis is the author of over thirtyfive books, many of the dealing with the civil war. From commanding the horse marines in peking to leading the inchon landing, puller became a legend in his own time. Hoffman 2001, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a marine officer. And then there is the saga of his son, who followed in chestys footsteps as a marine officer only to suffer horrible wounds in vietnam his book, fortunate son, won the. The healing of a vietnam vet grove weidenfeld, 1991, was written as a tribute to his father, the late gen.
He was a pulitzer prize winner for his book, the fortunate son by lewis burwell puller, jr. Jockostore stuff, super krill oil and joint warfare and discipline premission, the muster 005 in dc. Puller, the marine son of the most decorated marine in american history, the late gen. The marines marine, chesty puller, wonders how he got his. And then there is the saga of his son, who followed in chestys footsteps as a marine officer only to suffer horrible wounds in vietnam his book, fortunate son, won the pulitzer prize. Son of legendary marine offers an aside on war upi archives. Chesty died in october 1971 following a series of strokes. Pullers men were ambushed twice more during that same 10day patrol. The book also contained notes on the casualties of chestys men at guadalcanal and his medals. Jon hoffman has been given special access to puller s personal papers as well as his personnel record. It was his misfortune, though, to serve in vietnam in a war that brought not honor but contempt, and exacted a brutal personal price. Chesty puller was one of the two marines who garnered six awards. Adventures of a marine in the rear, to combat in vietnam. The marine son of a marine corps officer who met chesty puller offers his thoughts on the popular marine corps slogan.
Hoffman, usmcr, is a complete biography of his life, and winner of the marine corps heritage foundations 2001 general wallace m. He underlined most of the text, wrote jacksons famous quote never take counsel of your fears. Chesty puller is the most decorated marine of all time. But in the alcohol war, this book just marked the eye of the storm. And then there is the saga of his son, who followed in chesty s footsteps as a marine officer only to suffer horrible wounds in vietnam his book, fortunate son, won the pulitzer prize. He left his job as a lawyer at the pentagon to accept a teaching position at george mason university. He led marines in some of the bloodiest battles of world war ii, including guadalcanal and peleliu, the names of which forever speak of the marines. Puller was the most decorated marine in history, and the only marine to be awarded five navy crosses. Chesty puller, hero in world war ii and the korean war, who was the most decorated soldier in marine corps history. Lewis puller, jr entertainment, books, health, history air date 01211993. All three times, pullers aggressive posture saved his unit from certain death. Evidently the book was entered for the pulitzer prize with a different subtitle.
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