Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr.
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Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. (August 18, 1945 – May 11, 1994) was an attorney and a
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
officer who was severely wounded in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
. He won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for his autobiography ''Fortunate Son''."Biography or Autobiography"
The Pulitzer Prizes.


Life and career

Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. was the son of Lt. General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a Marine officer. Puller was graduated from the
Christchurch School Christchurch School is a private college-preparatory coed boarding school in Christchurch, Virginia, founded in 1921 by the Episcopal Church Diocese of Virginia. Near the colonial port town of Urbanna, Virginia and located on a 125-acre waterf ...
, in
Christchurch, Virginia Christchurch is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, Virginia, Middlesex County, Virginia, United States. Christchurch is located on Virginia State Route 33 southeast of Urbanna, Virginia, Urbanna. Christchurch has a post office wi ...
, in 1963 and from the
College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...
in 1967. After his graduation from Officer Candidate School, he received orders to South Vietnam in July 1968, where he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader for three months. On October 11, 1968, his rifle jammed during an engagement with North Vietnamese troops; Puller was wounded when he tripped a booby-trapped howitzer round, losing his right leg at the hip, his left leg above the knee, his left hand and most of his fingers on his right hand in the explosion. The shell riddled his body with shrapnel, and he lingered near death for days with his weight dropping to 55 pounds, but he survived. Puller later recalled the first time his father saw him in the hospital. He described how his father broke down weeping and that hurt him more than any of his physical injuries. Those who knew him say that it was primarily because of his iron will and his stubborn refusal to die that he survived. He was medically discharged from the Marine Corps. He was awarded the
Silver Star Medal The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an en ...
, the
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
, two Purple Heart Medals, and the
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal ...
for his service in the Marine Corps.Puller, Lewis B. Jr. (1991). ''Fortunate Son: The Healing of a Vietnam Vet''. New York: Grove Weidenfeld. . For years after he returned to a reasonably sound physical condition, he remained emotionally shaken, though he earned a Juris Doctor degree, had two children with the woman he had married before going to Vietnam, and raised a family. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1974 and began working as a lawyer for the
Veteran's Administration The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and ...
and on President Gerald Ford's clemency board. He mounted a campaign for
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
in 1978 as a Democrat in Virginia but lost in a landslide with only 28% of the vote against incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Trible. Throughout the years, he battled periods of despondency and drank heavily until 1981, when he underwent treatment for alcoholism. Despite that treatment, Puller continued to suffer severe depression and occasional bouts of
alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...
. Puller told the story of his ordeal and its aftermath in his 1991 autobiography, ''Fortunate Son: The Autobiography of Lewis B. Puller Jr.'', published by Grove Press. "Fortunate Son: the autobiography of Lewis B. Puller Jr."]. Evidently the book was entered for the Pulitzer Prize with a different subtitle, ''The Healing of a Vietnam Vet''. The account ended with Puller triumphing over his physical disabilities and becoming emotionally at peace with himself. The following year he won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. The title of this autobiography was borrowed from the song " Fortunate Son (song), Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, to which he gives credit in the opening pages. According to friends and associates, Puller spent the last months of his life in turmoil. He left his job as a lawyer at the Pentagon to accept a teaching position at George Mason University. 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.


Death and aftermath

Puller died from a self-inflicted gunshot on May 11, 1994. He was survived by his wife, Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, from whom he had separated in 1991. Puller's survivors included their two children, Lewis III and Maggie, his twin sister, Martha Downs, and sister, Virginia Dabney. Puller's name is not listed on the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring service members of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Vietnam War. The site is dominated by two black granite walls engraved with the names of those ...
, which is reserved for those who died or who are listed as
missing in action Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. They may have been killed, wounded, captured, ex ...
. However, his name is listed on the nearby In Memory Memorial Plaque, which represents those veterans, like Puller, who "died after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service, and whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement on the memorial wall." Terry Anderson, a former
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...
journalist, who was held
hostage A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized, such as a relative, employer, law enforcement or government to act, or refr ...
in
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...
, recalled the same hope he had had for his friend, Puller. "This is a man who had so many burdens, so many things to bear. And he bore them well for 25 years," he said. "What did I miss?" Anderson asked. "I was his friend. I thought he was winning". In a statement, Puller's wife, Toddy said, "Our family has been moved and humbled by the outpouring of affection for Lewis. The many acts of kindness from our friends across the country have helped us in this very difficult time. It is clear that Lewis affected the lives of people in ways that we never knew." Of her deceased husband, she said, "To the list of names of victims of the Vietnam War, add the name of Lewis Puller ... He suffered terrible wounds that never really healed". In 1991, she was elected to the
Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-number ...
. On
Veterans Day Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than d ...
2010, the Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic at
The College of William & Mary Law School The William & Mary Law School, known historically as the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, is the professional graduate law school of the College of William & Mary. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the school is the oldest extant law school in th ...
was named in honor of Puller.


Awards

During his military career, Puller earned the following:


Silver Star citation

Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. (MCSN: 0-105622), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 11 October 1968, elements of Company G were helicopter lifted into an area near Viem Dong in Quang Nam Province in order to establish a blocking position for a search and destroy operation inside the village. Upon being inserted into the designated area, Second Lieutenant Puller expeditiously reorganized and deployed his men into advantageous positions. Then, completely disregarding the danger of being ambushed by enemy forces, he boldly led elements of his platoon across hazardous terrain in order to quickly establish contact with the company commander and coordinate his efforts with the remainder of the company. As he neared the command group, he inadvertently detonated a large enemy mine and fell seriously wounded. Ignoring the intense pain of his injuries as he received medical treatment, he calmly and effectively continued to direct the efforts of his unit. Directing another Marine to assume command, Second Lieutenant Puller gave him detailed instructions to ensure that he continued the assigned mission. Sincerely concerned for the welfare of his comrades, he remained alert and spoke words of encouragement to his litter bearers while being carried to the landing zone where he was medically evacuated. His resolute determination and composure under extremely hazardous conditions inspired all who observed him and contributed materially to his unit's ability to continue its mission. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Puller upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/41015


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Puller, Lewis Burwell Jr. 1945 births 1994 suicides American amputees Burials at Arlington National Cemetery American military personnel who committed suicide Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography winners Suicides by firearm in Virginia United States Marine Corps officers United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War College of William & Mary alumni Recipients of the Silver Star George Mason University faculty Military personnel from North Carolina Military personnel from Virginia People from Jacksonville, North Carolina Virginia lawyers Writers from Virginia People from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) 1994 deaths American lawyers with disabilities