Fortunate son is a gripping book, partly because of the enormity of pullers loss. The book also contained notes on the casualties of chestys men at guadalcanal and his medals. The marine son of a marine corps officer who met chesty puller offers his thoughts on the popular marine corps slogan. 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. The book marine the life of chesty puller, isbn 9780553271829, is about his life as a marine. Chesty navy general library program downloadable books. Son of the famous world war ii marine commander chesty puller, lewis puller proudly followed in his fathers footsteps. Marine who saw battle experience in world war ii and in the korean war conflict. Enjoy the best chesty puller quotes at brainyquote. Chesty puller was one of the two marines who garnered six awards. 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. Pullers men were ambushed twice more during that same 10day patrol.
Adventures of a marine in the rear, to combat in vietnam. The marines marine, chesty puller, wonders how he got his. The suicide of general chesty pullers son, lewis, jr. From commanding the horse marines in peking to leading the inchon landing, puller became a legend in his own time. 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. Son of legendary marine offers an aside on war upi archives. He left his job as a lawyer at the pentagon to accept a teaching position at george mason university.
Quotations by chesty puller, american soldier, born june 26, 1898. The healing of a vietnam vet grove weidenfeld, 1991, was written as a tribute to his father, the late gen. One of pullers most prized possessions was a copy of george hendersons biography of stonewall jackson, which chesty had read repeatedly. August 18, 1945 may 11, 1994 was an attorney and a united states marine corps officer who was severely wounded in the vietnam war.
Fortunate son was published in 1991, and won the pulitzer prize for biography in 1992. Chesty died in october 1971 following a series of strokes. 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. Puller, the marine son of the most decorated marine in american history, the late gen.
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. 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. The final story is lewis pullers battle against alcoholism. Chesty puller to his marines, when surrounded by the chinese at chosin reservoir. Chesty puller, an outspoken, profane leader revered in the corps, died in 1971.
Puller lost both legs, one hand, and most of his buttocks and stomach. 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. Chesty puller is the most decorated marine of all time. I probably would have never read this book if my son, michael, had not had this mans picture on his facebook wall. He won the 1992 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography for his autobiography fortunate son. 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. Quang nam province, 1970 one of the reasons i read the bio about his father as well as the sons own autobio. After stints in china, chesty puller returned to the united states to command the 1st battalion, 7th marine regiment.
Jockostore stuff, super krill oil and joint warfare and discipline premission, the muster 005 in dc. Evidently the book was entered for the pulitzer prize with a different subtitle. General lewis chesty puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the marine corps. Jon hoffman has been given special access to pullers personal papers as well as his personnel record.
Suicide of a veteran, amid pain and fame the new york times. Shortly after it was honored with the prize, lewis puller relapsed into alcoholism. 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. Chesty puller project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Puller graduated high school from christchurch school in christchurch, virginia. Puller was the most decorated marine in history, and the only marine to be awarded five navy crosses. His namesake grandson was born just days after his son was so gravely maimed by a boobytrapped artillery round in. When lewis puller tripped a boobytrapped howitzer round in vietnam. Hoffman, usmcr, is a complete biography of his life, and winner of the marine corps heritage foundations 2001 general wallace m. 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. Son of the famous chesty puller, the marines marine, lewis jr.
Marine the life of chesty puller by burke davis is the biography of the marine corps most decorated man. Davis is the author of over thirtyfive books, many of the dealing with the civil war. Long after his death, puller remained a conspicuous presence within the marine corps. 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. But in the alcohol war, this book just marked the eye of the storm. Chesty puller june 26, 1898october 11, 1971 was a u. Hoffman 2001, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Very well written book on the son of the marine corps legend, lewis b.
He was a pulitzer prize winner for his book, the fortunate son by lewis burwell puller, jr. From the time lewis was born there was only one option open for him. This is an except from the nyts may 4, 1994 story by catherine manegold. If ever a soul was delivered to study warfare, it was chesty puller. Served a short tour in japan and another one year in vietnam. Lewis puller, jr entertainment, books, health, history air date 01211993. Origin brand apparel and jocko gi, with jocko white tea, onnit fitness stuff, and psychological warfare on itunes. The book says relatively little about chestys son, lewis b. Chesty puller, hero in world war ii and the korean war, who was the most decorated soldier in marine corps history. 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.
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