Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller

Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller was a decorated United States Marine Corps officer. His career as a soldier began by fighting guerillas in Haiti and Nicaragua as part of the Banana Wars and later worked in World War II and the Korean War as a senior officer. He retired as a lieutenant general in 1955.

Puller has been one of the most decorated Marine in American history. His award tally includes 5 Navy Crosses and one Distinguished Service Cross. With just 6 crosses, Puller is right behind Eddie Rickenbacker for citations of the nation’s second-highest military award for valor. Puller went on to retire from the Marine Corps in 1955, after spending 37 years in the military service. He lived in Virginia and breathed his last in 1971 at age 73.

With his exploits in Guadalcanal, Korean War he went on to become the most decorated Marine in U.S history.