Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller

Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (Full Version)

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morvwilson -> Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 8:22:16 PM)
Just finished reading this book. Very interesting! I am starting to think that MANY of the gags I have seen and read over the years may very well have been taken from this guy's real life. Anyone else know anything on this?

Grell -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 8:30:23 PM)
Hi Mort, I've never heard of him/it before, sorry. Regards, Grell

morvwilson -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 9:00:57 PM)
Okay, maybe a short, short resume is in order. Lewis "Chesty" Puller enlisted in the Marine Corp. after one year at VMI near the end of WW1. He fought counter guerilla wars in Haiti and Central America in the 20's then was commisioned in the Marine Corps. Served in China prior to WW2 the had a battallion command on Guadal Canal where he stood off the worst of the Japanesse counter attacks to retake Henderson field. Then fought in New Guinea and Pelilu. He also commanded one of the regiments that headed the landings at Inchon in Korea and handled the rear guard for the Chosin resevoir withdrawl. He retired out of the Corps at the rank of Major General and won 5 navy crosses. One of his favorite quotes on paperwork was from US Grant. "My in box is in my left pocket and my out is in my right." As a regimental commander his HQ was usually set up where you might find a battalions and he was rarely in it. He was usually up on the front lines checking on his men. I am sure there must be a marine or two out there who knows what I am talking about.[8D]

KG Erwin -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 9:12:09 PM)
Grell, see my avatar? That's General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. Morv, you're referring to Burke Davis' book? Not very reliable, as it repeats some stories that are based on legend. More recent, and better researched, is Jon T. Hoffman's "Chesty".

morvwilson -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 9:16:33 PM)
Thanks KG, your were right. It was the Burke Davis book. Guess I have some more reading to do.

marcusm -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 10:53:43 PM)
Can it be found in libraries?

morvwilson -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 11:14:53 PM)
Think it depends on the library. I am sure you could get it through amazon. Anyway here are the particulars of the book "Marine! The Live of Chesty Puller" by Burke Davis Published by Bantam Books, Non fiction. isbn 0-553-27182-2 I know on this side of the Atlantic you can request a local library to get a copy for you. Not sure how it works in Sweeden.

marcusm -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/14/2008 11:20:30 PM)
Yep here too, even online ;). The benefit of living in a larger city I guess. Double check, did he also write a book about Robert. E Lee and the Civil War(Grey Fox)? Might check that out to start with in that case. Btw. As a Nordic person and big fan of Bernard Cornwell. How is your book compared to his Alfred books, are they similar in pacing and story? Nevermind that your book takes place in Norway.

morvwilson -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/15/2008 12:01:17 AM)
As to the book about RE Lee and the Civil war, could be. Don't know for sure. I have read Cornwell's books and liked them. But, I think his protrayal of sheild wall combat is a little off, as well as how deuls were fought. Mine sets a similar pace but is not only set in Norway but roves all over the North Atlantic and Baltic. Happy reading! Mike

KG Erwin -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/15/2008 1:20:12 AM)
RE: "Gray Fox". Yes, Burke Davis did author this one. Again, Mr. Davis was aiming more for the general reader rather than the specialist historian, so his research was not too deep. This one is in my personal library.

KG Erwin -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/15/2008 1:24:30 AM)
As for Col. Hoffman's book on Chesty Puller, see http://www.amazon.com/Chesty-Story-Lieutenant-General-Puller/dp/037576044X/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208211688&sr=8-9 I have this one, and I recommend it highly. As for the gags, yeah, everytime you see a general with a puffed-out chest and a cigar, it's partially based on the legend of Gen. Puller. He was larger than life even during his lifetime, which is one reason I chose his image as my avatar.

Mardonius -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/15/2008 3:14:16 AM)
He is a legend in the Corps. 4 Navy Crosses. Famous, among other reasons, for the "Retreat, Hell! We are just attacking in another direction" quip after the Chinese Attack at the Chosin Reservoir, in N Korea in the frigid December of 1950. The Marines --many under his leadership -- stayed resolute and fought there way through to the coast and were evacuated intact, despite being greatly outnumbered. All Marines know and love him. Semper Fidelis Mardonius Major, USMC PS the book is a good read. My brother got it for me for my 9th birthday. I sleep with it under my pillow.

rogueusmc -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/15/2008 3:53:25 AM)
OOHRAAH Chesty!!! More often than not, when someone in the Corps is being counceled on leadership or a related subject, Chesty's name was dropped as saying this or that...it just added punch to the instruction because Chesty was so revered. Most of it was legend...him and Dan Daly.

ilovestrategy -> RE: Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller (4/17/2008 5:56:34 PM)
Oh man! That's all I ever heard in the Marines. Chesty this and Chesty that! Seriously, he was the Bruce Lee or Elvis Presely of the Marine Corps! [&o]

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