Gravesite of Lt. Gen. “Chesty” Puller- “A Marine’s Marine”

 

Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell Puller (1898-1971) had the unique nickname Chesty. Perhaps he earned it for the dozens of medals he wore on his chest during a military career matched by few in our nation’s history. (I know that's not the reason- but click here for more on the "Chesty" origins). 

I became interested in Gen. Puller after recently watching on TV the fine Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks- produced dramatic HBO miniseries “The Pacific.” Released in 2010, the 10 episodes document the bloody battles fought by the U.S. Marine Corps against the Japanese in World War II’s Pacific theater. 

Then a lieutenant colonel, Puller (played by William Sadler) appears in some episodes as a rugged commander who his Marines seemed to really like and respect.