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A Valorous TV exclusive, original, 60-minute documentary, Chesty Puller: The Marine’s Marine is A sixty-minute look at one of the most well-known and respected Marines in U.S. Military history. The film is narrated by Dale Dye who spent two decades in the U.S. Marine Corps and has lent his expertise to films such as Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers.
Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who, early in his military career, fought guerrillas in Haiti and Nicaragua. He later went on to serve with distinction in World War II and the Korean War.
Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history. He is one of two U.S. servicemen awarded five Navy Crosses and one Army Distinguished Service Cross. Puller’s six Crosses are next in number to the eight times Eddie Rickenbacker received the nation’s second-highest military award for valor.
In 1955 (after 37 years of service), Puller retired from the Marine Corps. He lived in Virginia and died in 1971, at age 73.
“Do One For Chesty!”
A common incantation in U.S. Marine Corps boot camp is to end one’s day with the declaration, “Good night, Chesty, wherever you are!” Another common encouragement is “Chesty Puller never quit!”
In U.S. Marine Corps recruit training and OCS cadences, Marines chant “It was good for Chesty Puller/And it’s good enough for me” as well as “Tell Chesty Puller I did my best.”—Chesty is symbolic of the esprit de corps of the Marines. Also, the recruits sing “Chesty Puller was a good Marine and a good Marine was he.”
U.S. Marines, while doing push-ups, will tell each other to “do one for Chesty!”
Puller insisted upon good equipment and discipline; once he came upon a second lieutenant who had ordered an enlisted man to salute him 100 times for missing a salute. Puller told the lieutenant, “You were absolutely correct in making him salute you 100 times, Lieutenant, but you know that an officer must return every salute he receives. Now return them all, and I will keep count.”
While on duty in Hawaii and inspecting the armory, Puller fined himself $100 for accidentally discharging a .45 caliber pistol indoors, although the charge for his men was only $20.
Runtime – 60 minutes
Director: Edward Fuerherd
Narrated by Dale Dye
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