Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller

Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller was born in West Point, Virginia, on 26 June 1898, enlisted in the Marine Corps on 1 August 1918, served with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti from 1919 to 1923, and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 5 March 1924. He served in Nicaragua from 1928 to 1932, including actions at Malacate in 1930 and at Agua Carta, San Antonio, and Paso Real in 1932. During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, he was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at Guadalcanal in 1942 and commanding officer of the 1st Marines at Peleliu in 1944. During the Korean War, from 1950 to 1951, he was commanding officer of the 1st Marines at Inchon and Chosin Reservoir in 1950 and assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to lieutenant general and retired on 1 November 1955, and he died in Hampton, Virginia, on 11 October 1971. His personal decorations included five Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with "V" twice, the Bronze Star with "V," three Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.

Virginia · United States