His men were in unfamiliar territory and surrounded by dense, thick jungle. 'Chesty' Puller", "Governor McAuliffe Breaks Ground on New Puller Veterans Care Center", "Four Distinguished Marines Saluted on U.S. Postage Stamps", "Navy Names First Three Mobile Landing Platform Ships", "The Virtue of Unabashed Awkwardness in Military Leadership and Everyday Life", "Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" B. Puller, USMC", "Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" Puller Deceased", Marine Corps History Division LtGen Lewis B. Puller Biography, Devildog.com Recorded interview with Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chesty_Puller&oldid=1139897701, United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II, United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War, American military personnel of the Banana Wars, Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Korea), Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States), Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, On October 26, 2017, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Puller Veterans Care Center located in, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 12:20. Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history. Apparently, Puller wanted to be ready to stab the men he set on fire. On June 6, the patrol moved toward the village of Los Cedros when it encountered an equally surprised force of Sandinistas who were on top of a brush covered hill that sloped about 175 yards down to the trail. He was given the Distinguished Service Cross from the Army for action from November 29 to December 5 of that same year, and his fifth Navy Cross for action during December 510 at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. "[39] Another common encouragement is "Chesty Puller never quit! "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898October 11, 1971) was a U.S. Marine who saw battle experience in World War II and in the Korean War conflict. Chesty Puller (right) discusses a training exercise with Lewis Walt at Camp Pendleton in 1952. Shortly after it was honored with the prize, Lewis Puller relapsed into alcoholism; he and his wife separated. [26], His nickname was related to the way his barrel chest stood out due to his aggressive stance,[27] with legends claiming that a steel plate had been inserted by surgeons to treat a battle wound. In sub-zero temperatures, Puller commanded his men against much larger enemy forces on three separate occasions. Promoted to his . William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. Join Facebook to connect with Lewis Puller and others you may know. Puller's men penetrated the center of a rebel encampment, killing at least 16 rebels. Puller's assigned chief assistant was acting Second Lieutenant Augustin B. Brunot, a Haitain who was fluent in English. Puller and William A. Lee quickly with their troops immediately engaged the rebel ambushers. Puller's Guardia killed at least eight more rebels. The rebels suffered thirty one killed and lost 63 live horses to capture by Puller's force. Integration operations between UAE and U.S. maritime forces are regularly held to maintain interoperability and the capability to counter threats posed in the maritime domain, ensuring freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce throughout the regions heavily trafficked waterways. The younger Puller killed himself two years later. He won his second Navy Cross just six years later. He then took over Troop Training Unit Pacific at Coronado, California. It was during that battle that he said the famous line, "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. Her husband lost both legs in the Vietnam War and spent years fighting depression. USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) is the Navy's first purpose-built expeditionary sea base in decades, and sailors and Marines are hard at work learning how to innovate with a wide cross-section of U.S. and international military partners. Puller, along with Lee, gathered 40 Guardia Nacional members for a raid like patrol against the rebels. Puller was in his early 50s when the Korean War began and already a legend in the Corps. Even though another unit came in to relieve Pullers regiment at dawn, he stayed in command until noon to help coordinate the next wave of Marines. Lewis B. USS John L. Canley (T-ESB 6). On October 28, 1919, Puller went on a patrol with Brunot and a mixed force of fifteen American Marines and Gendarmes. [20], Puller was then made executive officer of the 7th Marine Regiment. He returned to the United States in 1924 and received his commission again as a second lieutenant. Lewis Pullers military pedigree was apparent from the day he was born in West Point, Virginia, in 1898. His skilled leadership, superb courage and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflect the highest credit upon Colonel Puller and the United States Naval Service. Dozens of machetes and a large flock of gamecocks were found. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. "Chesty" Puller is forced to retire from the U.S. Marine Corps because of ill health. Now return them all, and I will keep count. Puller, who died in 1971 at age 73, is one of the most decorated Marines of all time, earning five Navy Crosses over the course of his 37-year career. When war was declared with Germany at the start of World War I, Puller was 17 and he accepted an appointment to Virginia Military Institute as a state cadet, receiving financial assistance in return for later service. Staff Sgt. See all details. In the years after World War II, Puller oversaw a variety of commands including the 8th Reserve District and the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor. [12], The Cacos rebellion collapsed altogether when a Marine patrol killed Batraville on May 19, 1920. 'Chesty' Puller Known For: One of the most decorated U.S. Marines in history, serving in World War II and Korea Born : June 26, 1898 in West Point, Virginia Parents: Martha Richardson Leigh and Matthew M. Puller Died: October 11, 1971 at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia Fast Facts: Lewis B. Despite heavy rain, Puller took a small patrol of Marines and Gendarmes out immediately. He disobeyed a direct order, aware that complying would leave another unit of men completely defenseless. Puller told the lieutenant, "You were absolutely correct in making him salute you 100 times, Lieutenant, but you know that an officer must return every salute he receives. The expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) participates in a photo exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 20, 2020. While there, he led the famed "Horse Marines" before departing to oversee the detachment aboard the cruiser USS Augusta. (He said this while at a flamethrower demonstration. Promoted to major general in September 1953, he was given command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune the following July. The platform supports a variety of rotary wing aircraft. Note the decorations above his left pocket. "Chesty" Puller is promoted to major general of the U.S. Marine Corps. In the Korean War, Puller was again assigned as commander of the 1st Marines, which he led to a landing at Inchon on September 15, 1950, earning his Silver Star in the process. The Puller was christened as the Corps plans to make greater use of its . Puller was father-in-law to Colonel William H. Dabney, USMC (retired), a Virginia Military Institute (VMI) graduate, who was the commanding officer (then Captain) of two heavily reinforced rifle companies of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines (3/26) from January 21 to April 14, 1968, in Vietnam. There were at least forty or so rebels who fought briefly. Coming ashore in September, his men quickly went into action along the Matanikau River. Smith, was hastily transferred to command IX Corps when its Army commander, Major General Bryant Moore, died. A few claimed that he developed the chest from shouting commands above the noise of battle. Puller's men joined in the attack and fired their weapons while charging the enemy position. Born June 26, 1898 in West Point, Virginia, Puller grew up hunting and listening to tales of the Civil War told by his relatives. Receiving a final promotion to lieutenant general, Puller retired to Virginia, where he died after a series of strokes on October 11, 1971. Twice, senior officers of the Marine Corps tried to have the Congressional Medal of Honor bestowed upon Puller. On November 13, 1937, he married Virginia Montague Evans, who he had met a decade before. The action also earned him a promotion to brigadier general in 1951 and major general in 1953. At Santa Fe, Puller picked up an additional fifteen Guardias. His son, Lewis Puller, Jr., became a Marine infantry officer and suffered horrendous wounds after stepping on a booby-trapped artillery shell in Vietnam in 1968. Passing through the course at Quantico, Virginia, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant on June 16, 1919. In the months that followed, Puller prepared his men for war and the battalion sailed to defend Samoa. Completing basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, Puller received an appointment to officer candidate school. Lewis B. Lewis Burwell Chesty Puller, whose barrel chest and blunt manner inspired his nickname, was a thirty-seven-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who rose to the rank of lieutenant general. He completed his tour of duty as assistant commander and left for the United States on May 20, 1951. There are not enough chinamen in the world to stop a fully armed Marine regiment from going where ever they want to go., Benefits of firearm attachment rails and the ones you should invest in, Legends about the most decorated Marine in US history. He was one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history. They advised him that daylight patrols had little chance of encountering the Cacos, as they hid during the day, only emerging from hiding to ambush government patrols if they had superior numbers. In 1908, Matthew died, and in the family's reduced circumstances, Lewis Puller was forced to aid in supporting his family at the age of 10. Chesty Pullers no-nonsense attitude shone through. As the war wound down, he was put on inactive status and given the rank of corporal. Pullers men were ambushed twice more during that same 10-day patrol. He lived with his men. At the outbreak of the Korean War, Puller received command of his old unit, the 1st Marine Regiment, and led them during the landing at Inchon in September 1950. His son, Lewis Burwell Puller Jr., also served as a Marine officer, losing both legs and parts of his hands in action in South Vietnam in 1968. Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. How Lewis Puller Jr. -- son of the late Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, one of America's greatest and most decorated war heroes -- managed to restore that "wholeness" and forge "a separate peace . The patrol set up an ambush hiding themselves along a trail when a manager of a local finca spotted them and walked up to them to provide them information on a rebel band. Lewis Burwell Puller was born in West Point,Virginia, on June 26, 1898. (This was Puller's response to a young Marine who was asking permission to be married. In 1926, Puller was sent to Nicaragua, where his unit fought rebels trying to overthrow the government. Briefly leading the 3rd Marine Brigade at Camp Pendleton, Puller remained with the unit when it became the 3rd Marine Division in January 1952. 1,371. After a firefight of one hour and ten minutes, the Marines and Guardia Nacional were able to drive off the rebels. The younger Puller would go on to write a Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography, Read More Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps officer. Brunot replied in his Haitain accent "Cacos", at which the guard let them through. "[40][41][42], While on duty in Hawaii and inspecting the armory, Puller fined himself $100 for accidentally discharging a .45 caliber pistol indoors, although the charge for his men was only $20.[42]. Returning to the U.S. in March 1924, he was successful in obtaining a commission as a second lieutenant. After stints in China, Chesty Puller returned to the United States to command the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Sound Off: Should Chesty Puller Finally Get the Medal ofHonor? Colonel Puller's actions contributed materially to the breakthrough of the First Marine Regiment in the Chosin Reservoir area and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Hickman, Kennedy. An afloat forward staging base-variant of the mobile landing platform designed to provide dedicated support for air mine countermeasures and special warfare missions. The noise turned out to be a celebration at a Cacos guerrilla encampment. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of responsibility in support of maritime missions and special operations. The rebels numbered 150, and they held the high ground to the right and left. Mistaken for the enemy, shot and mortally wounded by his. Puller kept his force moving rapidly to avoid risking an ambush or night attack by the Caco. Chesty Puller died on October 11, 1971, at the age of seventy-three. "Chesty" Puller dies in Hampton. ), "Son, when the Marine Corps wants you to have a wife, you will be issued one." Dabney was recommended for the Navy Cross for his actions on Hill 881 South, but his battalion executive officer's helicopter carrying the recommendation papers crashed and the papers were lost. In early 1933, Puller sailed to join the Marine Detachment at the American Legation in Beijing, China. 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 exploits and sacrifices. The Sandinistas opened fire on the patrol and the patrol returned fire. A bonafide badass leatherneck with the scars to prove it. 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. [32], He was an Episcopalian and parishioner of Christ Church Parish in Saluda and is buried in the historic cemetery there next to his wife, Virginia Montague Evans.[33]. The Guardia encountered six rebels who may have been Sandinistas and a firefight occurred. Remaining until October 1932, Puller won a second Navy Cross for his performance against the insurgents. After that, Puller's company returned to Jinotega. On the morning of 25 November, the patrol came across a bandit trail. The most-decorated Marine in history, he earned five Navy Crosses, the U.S. Navys second-highest decoration, for fighting in Nicaragua, at Guadalcanal and in New Guinea during World War II (19391945), and at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War (19501953). By his tireless devotion to duty and cool judgment under fire, he prevented a hostile penetration of our lines and was largely responsible for the successful defense of the sector assigned to his troops. He was then given command of the 1st Marine Regiment, which he led at the Battle of Peleliu in the Palau Islands in September and October 1944. Puller's patrol took twenty seven rifles, swords, and machetes, and several dozen gamecocks. 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. Puller, for his actions, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V". 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. Member From: 1992 - 1999 Birth Date: 1945 Birth Place: Cedar Rapids, IA Gender: Female Race: Caucasian Spouse: Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. - son of United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Chesty Puller. New breed? He remained calm under pressure while coordinating the attack. Lewis B. "Chesty is symbolic of the esprit de corps of the Marines. ThoughtCo. ", In U.S. Marine Corps recruit training and OCS cadences, Marines chant "It was good for Chesty Puller/And it's good enough for me" as well as "Tell Chesty Puller I did my best. Performing brilliantly against overwhelming numbers, Puller earned the Distinguished Service Cross from the U.S. Army and fifth Navy Cross for his role in the battle. It was not until April 15, 2005, that Colonel Dabney received the Navy Cross during an award ceremony at Virginia Military Institute. He remained in this role until returning to the United States in May. Mass Market Paperback. Theres not a damn bit of difference as long as its the Marine breed., "Where the Hell do you put the bayonet?" By June 1921, a government military commander declared the country to be "completely tranquil."[13]. [22] For leadership from September 15 through November 2, he was awarded his second Legion of Merit. During the summer of 1944, Puller's younger brother, Samuel D. Puller, the executive officer of the 4th Marine Regiment, was killed by an enemy sniper on Guam. Smith's transfer left Puller temporarily in command of the 1st Marine Division until sometime in March. During Puller's withdrawal, his patrol was ambushed twice, but suffered no more casualties and fought off the ambushers. ), (This was Pullers response to a young Marine who was asking permission to be married.). [4] Although he never saw action in that war, the Marine Corps was expanding, and soon after graduating he attended its non-commissioned officer school and Officer Candidates School (OCS) at Quantico, Virginia. During the entire period, Dabney's force stubbornly defended Hill 881 South, a regional outpost vital to the defense of the Khe Sanh Combat Base during the 77-day siege at the Battle of Khe Sanh. Of Puller's force, two men were killed and four wounded. Lieutenant General Puller broke down sobbing at seeing his son for the first time in the hospital. In the action, these companies were surrounded and cut off by a larger Japanese force. A priest told Brunot that a high ranking Cacos insurgent leader named Dominique Georges had a camp about fifteen miles away. [15], Puller discovered a trail which seemed to be used by rebels. In 1940, he returned to China as the executive officer of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai. Puller's force captured documents which showed that one of their previous operations on August 19, 1930, wounded a minor chief of the rebels. "Don't forget that you're First Marines! Puller and his Guardia were able to avoid being hit by small arms fire and crude improvised grenades thrown by the rebels. Without hesitation, Puller dashed up the rise while yelling for his men to charge. Others state that chesty was an old Marine expression meaning cocky. The fifth and final Navy Cross was awarded after the legendary Marine defended supply routes in Korea in 1950. Plant That Causes Third-Degree Burns And Permanent Blindness Found In Virginia, Karen Friedman Hill: The Wife Of The Infamous 'Goodfellas' Gangster, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Assigned to Haiti, he served in the Gendarmerie d'Haiti as a lieutenant and aided in combating Cacos rebels. He also had a heavy appetite for reading, pouring through countless books of military tales and history. Tyler Perry wrote and will direct the story of an all-female, all-Black battalion that served in Europe. Stonewall Jackson, two military leaders who won battle after battle despite the odds against them. Puller idolized Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. A Virginia Historical Highway Marker honoring him is located nearby on State Route 33, the General Puller Highway., Encyclopedia Virginia946 Grady Ave. Ste. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 11. NORFOLK (July 5, 2018) The expeditionary sea base USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (T-ESB 4) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., after completing its maiden voyage from San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/Released), 200811-A-FT904-1002 ARABIAN GULF (Aug. 11, 2020) Two UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopters, attached to United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command, land on expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3) during an air operations in support of maritime surface warfare exercise in the Arabian Gulf Aug. 11, 2020. A second cousin of General George S. Patton and the grandson of a Confederate veteran, Puller came from a military family and idolized the likes of Thomas J. In December 1928, he received orders to join a detachment of the Nicaraguan National Guard. Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, is a Marine Corps icon who's known for his quotable quotes nearly as much as his battlefield accomplishments. Puller was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War I. Turns out all the Tiger-izing miffed some of the locals, including our man Campbell. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on its inaugural deployment in the U.S. Puller's victorious force had suffered three dead and three wounded for the Guardia Nacional. Puller grew up listening to old veterans' tales of the American Civil War and idolizing Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. After a two-year tour at Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Puller was assigned to Nicaragua, where he earned the first of his five Navy Crosses while fighting rebels led by Augusto Sandino. His forces held until reinforcements finally landed the next morning. The Maj. Richard Star Act would eliminate the dollar-for-dollar offset on retirement pay that combat-disabled vets with less Capt. In November 1950, Chesty, then a colonel with the 1st Marine Division, was dispatched to a remote area in North Korea known as the Chosin Reservoir. While in Haiti, Puller worked to regain his commission and served as adjutant to Major Alexander Vandegrift. ", Puller insisted upon good equipment and discipline; once he came upon a second lieutenant who had ordered an enlisted man to salute him 100 times for missing a salute. The unit, using night movements, made contact on October 31 with a small band, killing two of the enemy and capturing four rifles, several machetes, and some swords. In 1922, he served as an adjutant to Major Alexander Vandegrift, a future Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. (August 18, 1945 - May 11, 1994) was an attorney and a United States Marine Corps officer who was severely wounded in the Vietnam War. He committed suicide in 1994.[31]. After hearing some gunshots to the north, Puller sent thirteen men of the Guardia to investigate a thousand yards beyond the town. The next day, Puller made a 34-hour round trip to Lascahobas to deliver the final supplies and then returned to Port-au-Prince completing his supply run.[8]. Help was 100 miles away, and the men were in the middle of a 10-day patrol of outlying areas. Puller began his military career at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington in 1917, but he dropped out because he wanted to see action in World War I. They also found rosters and papers in the rebel camp, which revealed that two of the seven dead rebels were leaders of the group. He graduated from Officer Training School in 1919 and earned a commission as a second lieutenant. The 3rd Battalion of the U.S. Army's 164th Infantry Regiment (3/164) fought alongside the Marines. Brunot spotted a Caco force that turned out to be Batraville's, but before Brunot could get his force into position for an attack, the Cacos broke camp and melted away. USS Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5) NORFOLK (July 10, 2017) The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) departs Naval Station Norfolk for its first operational deployment. Puller and his patrol struggled through heavy rains, muddy trails, and flooded rivers. 4.8 out of 5 stars. He is considered the most decorated Marine in Marine Corps history. He and his men decided to take this opportunity to kill or capture Dominique Georges. But this badass had one soft spothis fierce loyalty and care for his men. In December 1928, Puller was assigned to the Nicaraguan National Guard detachment, where he was awarded his first Navy Cross for his actions from February 16 to August 19, 1930, when he led "five successive engagements against superior numbers of armed bandit forces." Then the rebels threw their belongings and three wounded men into the ravine and then clambered down on ropes and ladders, which they pulled down after themselves. Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller was a Marines Marine. After raiding this rebel camp, Puller's unit withdrew and returned to Jinotega on November 27 after three weeks of hard patrolling. Puller, Brunot, and Private Cermontout Jean Louis scouted out ahead of the small column during the night when they came upon the remains of a bonfire, indicating a bandit guard post. [19] Puller was released from the hospital and resumed command of his battalion on November 18. In 1936, Puller was made an instructor at the Basic School in Philadelphia. Hickman, Kennedy. In keeping with his badass-itude, he re-enlisted as a private and was sent to Haiti to fight Caco Rebels bent on the violent overthrow of the U.S.-sponsored Haitian government. View the profiles of people named Lewis Puller. [2] Puller retired from the Marine Corps in 1955, after 37 years of service. By his intelligent and forceful leadership without thought of his own personal safety, by great physical exertion and by suffering many hardships, Lieutenant Puller surmounted all obstacles and dealt five successive and severe blows against organized banditry in the Republic of Nicaragua. Landing on the island in September, Puller fought to overcome a tenacious Japanese defense. He enlisted in the United. In this role, he took part in the Battle of Cape Gloucester in late 1943 and early 1944. These two small towns were located in a region where there was a significant presence of Caco guerrillas under the command of Benot Batraville, who was a high ranking insurgent leader. Chesty Puller talking to Army Gen. James MacArthur. The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel Woody Williams (ESB 4) sails in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 17, 2020. This skirmish was Puller's first engagement in the occupation and showed his adeptness at aggressive action and effective leadership from the front. [11], After the successful assassination of Charlemagne Pralte by Herman H. Hanneken in a raid, Benot Batraville became the next leader of the Cacos. One of the most decorated Marines in history, Puller won the nation's second-highest decorations six times and received two Legions of Merit, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. [35], The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel Lewis B. The release of the new document comes after a year in which the Navy saw several major clusters of suicides. All three times, Pullers aggressive posture saved his unit from certain death. Puller and Brunot each took a part of the company out on a patrol. "[5] Inspired by the 5th Marines at Belleau Wood, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a private and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Returning home in 1931, he completed the Company Officers Course before again sailing for Nicaragua. Seven dead rebel bodies were found and Puller's force suffered no casualties. For distinguished service in the line of his profession while commanding a Nicaraguan National Guard patrol. Aug 17 2020. Puller's patrol reported into Corinto Finca on November 20 for supplies and pack animals, then left on the same day to check out a report of a rebel concentration near Mt. Apparent from the hospital this skirmish was Puller 's force suffered no casualties is forced to retire from the.. Meaning cocky and flooded rivers the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel Woody Williams ( ESB 4 ) in! Chesty Puller Finally Get the Medal ofHonor through heavy rains, muddy trails and! Off by a larger Japanese force special operations legend in the attack Cacos guerrilla encampment the day he was as! Lejeune the following July Puller ( right ) discusses a training exercise with Lewis Puller and A.... Jinotega on November 27 after three weeks of hard patrolling that Chesty was an old Marine expression cocky. 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