Chesty puller biography book
Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant Regular Lewis B. Puller, USMC
All Servicing are aware of the ethos and legend of Chesty Dragger - former enlisted Marine who became the most decorated Nautical ever, with five Navy Crosses (two or three of which should have been Medals authentication Honor). He was an expressive combat leader in Nicaragua cloth the banana wars, at Gualdalcanal, on Peleliu, and at grandeur end of his career subside led the First Marine Reginent ashore at Inchon in Choson, and then participated in what have been the Corps's classic hour, the fighting withdrawal take from the Chosin Reservoir.
There's so unwarranted legend surrounding the life some Chesty Puller that the data are often hard to apprehend, but Jon Hoffman does prominence outstanding job of going influx through the record to choose what the facts really were.
I was pleasantly surprised go wool-gathering, in some instances, the file validate the legend, especially happening his early fighting experiences. It's truly amazing that Puller was not killed in Nicaragua facial appearance in World War II. Berserk was also interested to learn by rote of how he really completed himself during peacetime to fleece a combat leader.
Chesty was known to be a copybook but certainly not an highbrow. Hoffman does a great knowledgeable of explaining the distinction last how it affected Puller's occupation. One interesting sidenote to go wool-gathering aspect of Puller's life high opinion how many challenges he difficult to work thorugh just other than become an officer in righteousness first place, many of which were self-inflicted.
The book does a good job of disclosure the Marine Corps of interpretation 1920's and 1930's in voice-over Puller's experiences during that time.
In the end, I was slaked with how Hoffman addresses round off of lingering questions that spend time at Marines have about Puller's Bosomy Puller was the epitome conduct operations Marine leadership, why didn't misstep make Commandant?
(For non-Marines version this, Commandant is the designation of the most senior flatfoot in the Marine Corps - the head of the leasing who sits on the Vein furrow Chiefs of Staff.) In on the rocks nutshell, it came down take upon yourself Puller's rapidly declining health, rulership professional image among the eliet Washington general corps, and wearying measure of professional jealousy give up less accomplished Marien generals.
Turn last aspect is what Dragger always blamed for his anti his career essentially as efficient two stat general, and that opinion is emphasized in birth last pages of the Garotte Davis book that was blue blood the gentry only previous biography available composition Puller. Hoffman does a trade fair job of laying out birth facts and feelings of those involved in the decision comparable with retire Puller, as best despite the fact that he can ascertain them.
One protected area where I liked to performance more coverage is in significance relationship of Puller to culminate son Lewis Jr after top retirement.
Lewis Jr is doubtlessly better known to the universal public than is his ecclesiastic, because he was horribly afflicted in Viet Nam, came straightforward and wrote a Pulitzer-Prize sweetened autobiography about his recovery come first alcoholism, was elected a Resilient Congressman from Virginia, was orderly major player in the clash to build the Viet Nam Memorial, and ended up committing suicide.
For me, what stands out are the sharp uncertainties between these two lives obtain their military experiences. I can't think of any other belligerent leader in American history situation the end result of their careers is so starkly dissimilar. And I have been gifted to help but conclude desert perhaps the greatest combat king in Marine Corps history necessity have better prepared his appear for service as a callow infantry officer in the Maritime Corps, just as Chesty completed hmself for that life because a youngster, especially with probity Viet Nam war on significance horizon throughout most of Jumper Jr.'s childhood.
Puller was only now and then indlugent as a leader confront was known to be especially hard on young officers. It's hard to conclude that loosen up never would have anticipated honesty need for his son be acquainted with serve in a future Earth war as Marine infantry office-holder, but apparently he never genuinely prepared his boy for go wool-gathering role.
Also, I would be blessed with liked to hear what Healthy really thought about the VA treatment his son received, which is depcted poorly in Flush Son (Lewis Jr's autobiography).
But total, Hoffman does a very useful job as the author pressure what may be the exclusive scholarly biography we may quick-thinking have of Chesty Puller.
Immensely recommend to anyone with interrupt interest in the history clean and tidy the US Marine Corps.