Lewis Puller enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1918 at the age of twenty. That day he and the Corps formed a bond that would forever link them together in history. "Chesty" received his nickname for his barrel chest, but he became a legend in his own time while serving valiantly in Haiti, Nicaragua, the Pacific during WW2, and Korea. His record of earning five Navy Crosses for valor has never been matched, nor has his place in Marine Corps history as one of the finest combat officers ever. Good night, Chesty Puller, wherever you are!


Saturday, October 30, 2010

General "Chesty" Puller Open House


The former home of Lieutenant General Lewis
B. "Chesty" Puller will be open to the public
on November 10, 2010 from noon to 5:00 pm.
Help us to honor the memory of General
Puller, those who have served this Country
and the active military who continue to
protect us.

The Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Lee, VA
will run the 17th Annual Lewis B. Puller
Memorial Relay on November 10th.
The runners are scheduled to pass by General
Puller's home at approximately 1330 (1:30
pm) as they head towards his grave site
located at Christchurch onRt. 33 outside of
Saluda, Virginia.

Each year, the Marines hold a wreath-laying
ceremony at his grave site. A prayer is given
by the commanding officer, everyone signs
the Marines' Hymn and a toast is given to
General Puller. Upon completion of the
ceremony, the Marines are invited to view
General Puller's home in Saluda.

Please join the Marines at General Puller's
house for this special event.

For more information please call
Sharon Sharp at (804) 577-3075

Wednesday,
November 10, 2010
Noon to 5:00
Open to the Public
732 Gloucester Road
Saluda, Virginia

Monday, October 18, 2010

Chesty Puller's 2nd Navy Cross Citation

NAVY CROSS (1st Gold Star)
Rank and Service: First Lieutenant , U.S. Marine Corps (03158)
Organization: Attached to the Nicaraguan National Guard
Conflict: Second Nicaraguan Campaign
Date of Action: 20 September to 1 October 1932
Place of Action: Nicaragua
Authorized by: The Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

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.

Monday, October 4, 2010

General Lewis Puller Pictures

More pictures of one of the finest leaders in United States Marine Corps History, our man Chesty Puller.

Chesty Puller at Inchon 1950

Puller, General Holland "Howlin' Mad" Smith, and Wives 1953

Puller conducting a foot inspection in Korea

Young Marine Captain Puller

Lt. Colonel Puller during World War Two 1943

Many of these photos came from the book
Chesty -- The Story Of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC


I can't stress how good this book is. If you want to learn about Chesty, it is a MUST READ!

Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC

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