Honoring Chesty Puller

[DEAVILA]

HERES A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT I FOUND ON THE GREAT CHESTY PULLER!

Richmond Times - Dispatch | November 21, 2007
World War I ended days after he enlisted, and his request for active duty in Vietnam in 1966 was denied on account of his age - after all he was 68.

But, Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller was a force to be reckoned with in every other war and armed conflict between those times. Long before he retired as a lieutenant general, he had become a Marine Corps living legend.

On Nov. 20, a grateful hometown honored its hero, remembered that he is the only Marine ever to receive five Navy Crosses for bravery and expressed thanks that he was on our side.

"We owe him more than we can every repay," said Mayor Jim Hudson, one of three speakers who helped commemorate a new Virginia historical highway marker in Puller's honor.

"How meaningful it is that a man of his stature lived amongst us," Del. Harvey B. Morgan, R-Middlesex, said when he took his turn on the podium at West Point High School, where several hundred people had gathered.

"He was a true icon," added retired Marine Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas, president of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

Puller fought in Nicaragua and also saw expeditionary service in China and Haiti. He and his men endured a relentless Japanese assault on Guadalcanal in World War II. In Korea, as commander of the 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, he repelled brutal attacks from surrounding Communist troops that vastly outnumbered the American forces.

"All right," Puller was said to declare as he summed up the bleak situation, "they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us and they're behind us. . . They can't get away this time!" They didn't. The Marines destroyed seven of the enemy divisions.

"Today's Marines learn about Chesty Puller in boot camp," said Marine veteran Ernest Lutz, who drove two hours in pouring rain yesterday from his home in Chesapeake to pay respects.

Puller died in 1971 while living in Middlesex County.

The highway marker will be placed on state Route 33 in West Point, where Puller lived before enrolling at Virginia Military Institute.

It took a Marine's wife to spearhead the drive to install the marker. Jessica Drake's husband, Maj. Chad Drake, is serving in Iraq. Prior to their marriage 13 years ago, Jessica Drake had done her research by reading Puller's memoir and a biography.

"I thought they'd prepare me as a Marine wife," she said. What it did was cause her to revere Puller as much as any Marine, she said.

Drake was surprised to find no historical marker honoring Puller as she drove through West Point last December. When she got home, she contacted the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which oversees the historical marker system, and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, which co-sponsored the sign.

"America's great men come from small towns," Jessica Drake said. "West Point is small-town America - they grew a great man."

[HurricaneRJ]

Greatest Marine to ever live.

[AMW]

An inspiration to all Marines, poolees, and ANYONE who wishes to be a great leader.

He's up in heaven watching his Marines kicking ass all around, probably asking the Supreme Commandant for orders to Iraq!

[RuffNight2007]

All Marines are great!

I take that back... my roommate is a **** bag.

[Big Jim]

Chesty was a Marine's Marine!! I remember praying to him in bootcamp...didn't we all say together, "Good Chesty, whereever you are!", after reciting the rifleman's creed? When did that change by the way...and why?

[LeonardLawrence]

Big Jim.
Still going in 1995....

As for Chesty being the greatest Marine....I would say based on this post that this is debatable.

The Marine that told Chesty "No" at 68 has my vote.... Could you imagine being in that spot??!

[Big Jim]

I know who you're talking about, too. But, personally speaking, to myself and alot of other Marines...Chesty has been and always will be a legend!!
GOODNIGHT CHESTY...WHERE EVER YOU ARE...!!!

[LeonardLawrence]

I know who you're talking about, too. But, personally speaking, to myself and alot of other Marines...Chesty has been and always will be a legend!!
GOODNIGHT CHESTY...WHERE EVER YOU ARE...!!!

Big Jim.,
My response was tongue in cheek. I would not want to tell the man "No" That would take a real hard core MoFo...

I agree with your sentiments.

"Good Night Chesty Puller, wherever you are"