He certainly had seen his share of dead men and mangled men in korea, ww ii, nicaraugua, etc. A distinguished combat veteran of the banana wars, world war ii and the korean war, puller is the most decorated individual in the history of the. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Lewis burwell puller is a marine corps legend and american hero. He graduated in 1967 from the college of william and mary, where he also earned a law degree. Puller, son of the late and legendary lewis burwell chesty puller, lost both legs and parts of his hands in vietnam 19 years ago, where as a marine platoon leader he won the silver star, a navy. Lewis burwell chesty puller was so named due to his posture and barrel chest. Leaving the car, i walk into the chapel and am faced with one of the biggest soldiers ive ever seen in uniform. My first inkling that something is amiss is the empty parking lot in front of the post chapel. Marine boot camps will often end their nights with a good night, chesty puller, wherever you are. He retired in 1955 after having a stroke and died in 1971 at age 73. He is one of only two men, and the only marine, to be awarded five navy crosses. A distinguished combat veteran of the banana wars, world war ii and the korean war, puller is the most decorated individual in the history of the united states marine corps. Burwell was born in 1651 or 1652, probably in gloucester county, the only child of lewis burwell 16221652 and lucy higginson burwell.
She soon gave birth to a son, lewis iii, now 25 and a golf instructor. Lieutenant general lewis burwell puller is a legend among the marine corps. Puller is the grandson of marine legend lewis chesty puller, who is the most decorated marine in the corps history. Lieutenant general puller is the only marine to ever be awarded five navy. Puller, lewis burwell chesty 18981971 encyclopedia virginia. Sep 29, 2015 the group sees this as the natural continuation of chesty pullers legacy. Puller is the first expeditionary sea base ship derived from the montford point class expeditionary transfer docks. Gores caddie, lewis puller iii, wore a truckerstyled pabst blue ribbon cap throughout the u.
Lewis burwell chesty puller, whose barrel chest and blunt manner inspired his nickname, was a thirtysevenyear veteran of the united states marine corps who rose to the rank of lieutenant general. Puller, lewis burwell chesty, born 26061898 in west point, enlisted in the marine corps in 1917, he was just serial no. Puller esb 3 is the second ship named after lieutenant general lewis burwell chesty puller, usmc. Namesake named after lieutenant general lewis burwell chesty puller, usmc. Nicknamed chesty for his burly physique, he was one of the most combathardened leaders in military history and saw action in haiti, nicaragua, wwii, and korea. He was wounded worse than anybody on the ward, says nebraska sen. Funeral arrangements were incomplete wednesday night, but mrs. Less than a year after his fathers death, his mother married william bernard, a member of the governors council, with whom she. Lewis burwell chesty puller, whose barrel chest and blunt manner. Puller said her husband would be buried in arlington national cemetery with full military honors, as was his wish. A photo unearthed from the marine corps archives and posted to the archives flickr and facebook accounts shows lt.
Burwell, lewis 1651 or 16521710 encyclopedia virginia. Chesty puller is a war hero from west point, virginia takes his name from three generations of lewis burwells who had a large influence on early virginia. Does anybody know what chestys grandson lewis iii is doing. His mother was elizabeth carter making king carter his maternal grandfather and he was the oldest son of nathaniel burwell 16811721 his paternal grandfater was lewis burwell ii 1652.
Oct 11, 2017 this episode of marine time machine explains the life, legacy and motivation of lt. Son of legendary marine offers an aside on war upi archives. His father was the late general chesty puller, the most decorated marine in history. This episode of marine time machine explains the life, legacy and motivation of lt. Beginning his career fighting guerillas in haiti and nicaragua as part of the banana wars, he later served with distinction in world war ii and the korean war as a senior officer. Right across the compound was a 1st lieutenant named puller who was in charge of the mounted marines of the time. Puller changed her designation from mlp 3 for some reason. Marines have several adages and mottos that honor the late lieutenant general. Lewis burwell puller, jr 19451994 find a grave memorial. While serving with 2nd battalion, 1st marines, lewis jr. Puller, the marine son of the most decorated marine in american history, the late gen. The couples second child, maggie, 23, is a college student in alaska.
Chesty puller, in full lewis burwell puller, born june 26, 1898, west. A bonafide badass leatherneck, with the scars to prove it. Lewis pullers long road back marine generals son fought. August 18, 1945 may 11, 1994 was an attorney and a united states marine corps officer who was severely wounded in the vietnam.
Jason gore celebrates with his caddie lewis puller during round three of the u. General lewis chesty puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the marine corps. Less than a year after his fathers death, his mother married william bernard, a member of the governors council, with whom she had three children before he died on march 31, 1665. Puller iii, 26, who was born weeks after puller returned from vietnam, and a daughter maggie, 23. Marine the life of chesty puller by burke davis nook. Lewis burwell chesty puller, is americas most decorated marine. Lewis chesty puller was born in west point, virginia, on june 26, 1898 to matthew and martha puller. August 18, 1945 may 11, 1994 was an attorney, pulitzer prize winning author and officer in the united states marine corps. Lewis burwell puller, jr picked up a gun one afternoon last may and killed himself. The waters were full of fish, crab and oysters and the woodlands teemed with game. He was 48, a winner of the pulitzer prize for his 1991 autobiography, fortunate son.
Lewis burwell chesty puller june 26, 1898 october 11, 1971 served as a united states marine corps officer. Suicide of a veteran, amid pain and fame the new york times. Lewis burwell, often referred to as president lewis burwell because he served as presidentacting governor of virginia for a year november 17501751. Rare photo shows marine legend chesty puller in civilian. He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a marine.
Their early history is not completely known but by 1607, they were. Lewis burwell puller was born june 26, 1898, into a small boys paradise, the village of west point, virginia, where the pamunkey and mattaponi rivers form the broad york. Chesty puller, fought an enemy he rarely saw on the shores. Statue of marine corps legend chesty puller dedicated. Puller, one of the most decorated members of the marine corps. Gen lewis burwell chesty puller 18981971 find a grave. He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a marine officer. Initially designated as mobile landing platform ships mlp, us secretary of the navy ray mabus officially announced the creation of a new ship designation effective september 4, 2015, and the lewis b. Puller retired from the marine corps with 37 years. May 14, 1994 for not quite three months in 1968, mr. Does anybody know what chestys grandson lewis iii is. He fought in haiti and nicaragua, and participated in battles of world war ii and the korean war. He was severely wounded in the vietnam war lewis burwell puller jr. Patton, was a united states marine corp lieutenant general.
These chesty puller quotes show why marines will love and. The burwell family of virginia originally came from bedfordshire in england. General lewis chesty puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the u. He merely wore the hat for its look and for brand loyalty. Chesty puller remains a well known figure in marine corps folklore, with both true and exaggerated tales of his experiences being constantly recounted in the u. The group sees this as the natural continuation of chesty pullers legacy. Lieutenant general lewis burwell chesty puller military. Lewis burwell chesty puller was a united states marine corps lieutenant general. Puller grew up listening to civil war veterans telling stories of their time in the war, and thomas stonewall jackson was young lewis idol.
Leaving the car, i walk into the chapel and am faced with. World war ii in august 1941, puller, now a major, departed china to take command of the 1st battalion, 7th marines at camp lejeune. Jason gore celebrates with his caddie lewis puller during. His wife had their first child, lewis puller, iii while he was in the hospital of whom chesty was really proud about, but chesty convulsed in tears on seeing his son mangled in the hospital the first time. The group sees this as the natural continuation of chesty puller s legacy. Marine time machine is a short video series that highlights different periods of. In addition to his wife, survivors include their two children, lewis iii, 25, and maggie. Nov 11, 2002 fifteen minutes later i ask the gate guard at ft. Kerrey was wounded by a grenade and lost a leg below the knee. Lewis burwell chesty pullers retirement home in saluda had hit the market, they scrambled to both form a nonprofit and launch a gofundme. Rare photo shows marine legend chesty puller in civilian attire. August 18, 1945 may 11, 1994 was an attorney and an officer in the united states marine corps, severely wounded in the vietnam war. In addition to his wife, puller leaves a son, lewis b.
Silver star, two purple hearts, the navy commendation medal with valor device, the. Lewis burwell chesty puller out of uniform and apparently in retirement. Puller graduated high school from christchurch school in christchurch, virginia, in 1963 and from the college of william and mary in 1967. Bob kerrey, who arrived at the philadelphia naval hospital a few months after lewis puller. By the time of his retirement in 1955, he had reached the rank of lieutenant general. From that modest beginning, the young man rose through the ranks to later become lieutenant general puller. The clinic partners with the center for psychological services and. In the 1930s my father was a marine in peking, china. May 23, 2018 puller s son lewis burwell puller, jr.