Posted on 02/20/2009 4:00:55 PM PST by SandRat
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — More than three decades after his death, the Marine Corps has found something that may even be too heavy for his famous chest.
A monument is being built for the late Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller to commemorate his 37 years of service to the Corps.
“It should only take a year, from the time we raise the funds required, for the sculptor to complete the work,” said retired 1st Sgt. Jim Barnett, Chesty Puller Statue Committee.
A spot has been selected for the statue in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, in Triangle, Va., next to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Puller’s monument will be placed in the same park as the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune’s monument, as well as other figures from Marine Corps history.
“We had the spot in Semper Fi Park before we had full approval for the statue, but if it were to go anywhere else, it would probably be the Virginia Military Institute, where he enrolled in school before joining the Marine Corps,” said Barnett.
The design for the statue depicts Puller standing beside a Marine carrying a radio and a rifle. The uniform Puller is wearing on the statue places him in either World War II or the Korean War, the two conflicts he served in with distinction.
On the front of the four-foot granite base are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Marine Division logos. On one side of the base will be a list of Puller’s decorations, and on another will be the logo for the Seagoing Marine Association, which is funding the project.
“We only went through basically one design for the statue, which wasn’t very different from the one we have now. The original had one other Marine and a palm tree, but we took those out to better fit in with the overall look,” said Barnett.
Along with being one of the most recognized figures in Marine Corps history, Puller is one of the most decorated as well. His most notable achievements include earning five Navy Crosses, the second highest decoration awarded by the Navy and Marine Corps. Among his other accolades are two Legion of Merit medals with combat-distinguishing devices, the Bronze Star with combat-distinguishing device and a Presidential Unit Citation with four bronze stars. Puller also received the United Nations Service Medal, the Korea Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze star and the Republic of Korea Ulchi Medal with gold star.
Puller’s legacy, while not set into stone or metal until now, has been set into something more permanent, the mindset of being a Marine.
OH RAHH
I found a book in the trash many years ago about Chesty. I picked it up and read it. It was a remarkable story, one of those rare people who are larger than life.
One Hell of a man.
bttt
Have you read “Fortunate Son” by Lewis Puller, Jr? Chesty’s kid’s story is a tragedy.
No I was not aware of the story could you tell us a brief explanation?
Unless I am very much mistaken, and behold that Wikipedia's Chesty Puller page even agrees with me, Chesty Puller was also awarded a Distinguished Service Cross , the Army's equivalent to the Navy Cross. Thus he is the only man to ever win six of the nation's 2nd Highest Decorations for Bravery in the face of the enemy!
He should be awarded the Medal of Honor on general principal alone.
Good night... 
Chesty!
You’d think there’d be some kind of exchange rate where he could trade in a few Navy Crosses for a CMOH. Just ‘cuz.
Five Navy Crosses. Just damn...
You seem to be a logical one to ask: Do you know how the name “Chesty” came about?
Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. was the son of General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in the history of the Marine Corps. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a Marine officer. Upon graduation from the College of William and Mary in 1967, Puller was shipped to Vietnam, where he was badly wounded by a landmine on October 11, 1968, losing both legs and most use of his hands in the explosion. The mine riddled his body with shrapnel, and he lingered near death for days with his weight dropping to 55 pounds, but Puller survived. Those who knew him say that it was primarily because of his iron will and his stubborn refusal to die. Because of his wounds, Puller was medically discharged from the Marine Corps. During his short active-duty military career, Puller earned the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.
For years after he returned to a reasonably sound physical condition, the emotional ground underneath him remained shaky, though he got a law degree,had two children with the woman he had married before going to Vietnam, and raised a family. He even mounted an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1978, representing eastern Virginia. Throughout the years, he battled black periods of despondency and drank heavily until 1981, when he underwent treatment for alcoholism. Despite a return to normality, Puller continued to suffer from severe depression and occasional bouts of alcoholism.
In 1991, Puller told the story of his horrible ordeal and its agonizing aftermath in an inspiring book titled Fortunate Son, an account that ended with Puller triumphing over his physical disabilities, and becoming emotionally at peace with himself. It won the Pulitzer Prize. This autobiography also became the basis for the later song "Fortunate Son" by Bruce Hornsby. Booknotes.org carries an archive which can be accessed to view online the May 1991 hour-long interview of brian lamb with mr. puller.
According to friends and associates, Puller spent the last months of his life in turmoil. In the days leading up to his death, Puller fought a losing battle with the alcoholism that he had kept at bay for 13 years, and struggled with a more recent addiction, to painkillers initially prescribed to dull continuing pain from his wounds.
[edit] Death and aftermath
On May 11, 1994 Puller died due to a self-inflicted gunshot. He and his wife, Linda T. (Toddy) Puller, had separated shortly before his death.
He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. A caisson drawn by six white horses and led by a seventh escorted his remains to the grave. As is the custom, the casket was draped in a U.S. flag. A Marine Corps honor guard led the way through the cemetery as members of the Marine Corps Band kept time. National, state and local lawmakers joined nearly 700 people paying their respects. An overflow crowd spilled out onto the grounds of Fort Myer Chapel. More than a dozen of the attendees were in wheelchairs, as Puller had been before his death. At that service, recalled the Reverend Robert W. Prichard, who delivered the homily, "He said he envied those people who had a faith that came without any sorrow, faith that came without wavering. He envied it for others, but he couldn't claim it for himself." Prichard said that most of the people who knew Puller wished that his life had been different, that his book, "Fortunate Son," would have propelled him from his despair. "We all wanted it that way," Prichard said. "From weakness to strength, from height to height, from victory to victory." But that was not to be.
His chest looked like a barrel.
It's bloody karma.
Like a chicken on a junebug.
Chesty Fuller?
A really sad story.
Colonel Bull Simons lived near where I grew up in DeFuniak Springs, FL. I had long since moved to a different part of the country but my Father met him once.
While visiting my parents, I happened to visit a small gun shop and discovered it was being run by Simon’s Son. I could tell the business was not doing well and it closed not long afterwards.
I have no idea what ever happened to him but he seemed a really fine young man. Hope he had a better end than Chesty’s Son.
Chesty Morgan.
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