Featured on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading List and the Chief of Naval Operation's "Naval Power" Reading List
The Marine Corps is known for its heroes, and Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller has long been considered the greatest of them all. His assignments and activities covered an extraordinary spectrum of warfare. Puller mastered small unit guerrilla warfare as a lieutenant in Haiti in the 1920s, and at the end of his career commanded a division in Korea. In between, he chased Sandino in Nicaragua and fought at Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu.
With his bulldog face, barrel chest (which earned him the nickname Chesty), gruff voice, and common touch, Puller became-and has remained-the epitome of the Marine combat officer. At times Puller's actions have been called into question-at Peleliu, for instance, where, against a heavily fortified position, he lost more than half of his regiment. And then there is the saga of his son, who followed in Chesty's footsteps as a Marine officer only to suffer horrible wounds in Vietnam (his book, Fortunate Son, won the Pulitzer Prize).
Jon Hoffman has been given special access to Puller's personal papers as well as his personnel record. The result will unquestionably stand as the last word about Chesty Puller.
Jon Hoffman is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve and is currently serving on extended active duty as the deputy director of the Marine Corps History & Museums Division. He has spent sixteen years on active duty as an infantry officer and historian. He has a Master's Degree in military history from Ohio State and a law degree from Duke University. His first book, Once A Legend, a biography of Major General Merritt "Red Mike" Edson, won the Marine Corps' prize as the best book of the year. LtCol Hoffman lives in Virginia.
Show moreFeatured on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading List and the Chief of Naval Operation's "Naval Power" Reading List
The Marine Corps is known for its heroes, and Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller has long been considered the greatest of them all. His assignments and activities covered an extraordinary spectrum of warfare. Puller mastered small unit guerrilla warfare as a lieutenant in Haiti in the 1920s, and at the end of his career commanded a division in Korea. In between, he chased Sandino in Nicaragua and fought at Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu.
With his bulldog face, barrel chest (which earned him the nickname Chesty), gruff voice, and common touch, Puller became-and has remained-the epitome of the Marine combat officer. At times Puller's actions have been called into question-at Peleliu, for instance, where, against a heavily fortified position, he lost more than half of his regiment. And then there is the saga of his son, who followed in Chesty's footsteps as a Marine officer only to suffer horrible wounds in Vietnam (his book, Fortunate Son, won the Pulitzer Prize).
Jon Hoffman has been given special access to Puller's personal papers as well as his personnel record. The result will unquestionably stand as the last word about Chesty Puller.
Jon Hoffman is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve and is currently serving on extended active duty as the deputy director of the Marine Corps History & Museums Division. He has spent sixteen years on active duty as an infantry officer and historian. He has a Master's Degree in military history from Ohio State and a law degree from Duke University. His first book, Once A Legend, a biography of Major General Merritt "Red Mike" Edson, won the Marine Corps' prize as the best book of the year. LtCol Hoffman lives in Virginia.
Show moreJon Hoffman is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve and is currently serving on extended active duty as the deputy director of the Marine Corps History & Museums Division. He has spent sixteen years on active duty as an infantry officer and historian. He has a Master's Degree in military history from Ohio State and a law degree from Duke University. His first book, Once A Legend, a biography of Major General Merritt "Red Mike" Edson, won the Marine Corps' prize as the best book of the year. LtCol Hoffman lives in Virginia.
Praise for Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B.
Puller, USMC
“There are as many wild tales about Chesty Puller’s battlefield
exploits as there are Marines. Jon Hoffman, like a master
prospector, has separated the fool’s gold from the real nuggets in
telling this glittering story of an ex- traordinary
Leatherneck.”—Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret.), author
of A Fellowship of Valor: The Battle History of the United
States Marines
“Holder of an incredible five Navy Crosses, Marine Corps hero Lewis
B. Puller deserves this definitive biography. Jon Hoffman, in his
meticulously researched and written Chesty, gets past the legends
and reveals the man.”—Brigadier General Edwin Howard Simmons, USMC
(Ret.), director emeritus, Marine Corps History
Praise for Jon T. Hoffman’s Once a Legend: “Red Mike” Edson of
the Marine Raiders
“Jon Hoffman’s biography catches the dark, driven nature of Edson’s
brilliant career. It is faithful to the man and his Marine Corps
and will rank with the best books about American combat leaders. An
outstanding achievement.”—Colonel Allan Millett, USMCR (Ret.),
author of Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States
Marine Corps
“‘Red Mike’ Edson, as brilliantly chronicled in this book, was . .
. courageous and fearless–truly a legend.”—Lieutenant General
Victor H. Krulak, USMC (Ret.)
“Jon Hoffman has captured the qualities and contributions of this
exceptional thinker, fighter, and patriot. Once a
Legend strips the veil from a remarkable career and gives us
the man in true perspective.”—Colonel J. E. Greenwood, USMC (Ret.),
former editor of the Marine Corps Gazette
Praise for Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B.
Puller, USMC
"There are as many wild tales about Chesty Puller's battlefield
exploits as there are Marines. Jon Hoffman, like a master
prospector, has separated the fool's gold from the real nuggets in
telling this glittering story of an ex- traordinary
Leatherneck."-Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret.), author
of A Fellowship of Valor: The Battle History of the United
States Marines
"Holder of an incredible five Navy Crosses, Marine Corps hero Lewis
B. Puller deserves this definitive biography. Jon Hoffman, in his
meticulously researched and written Chesty, gets past the legends
and reveals the man."-Brigadier General Edwin Howard Simmons,
USMC (Ret.), director emeritus, Marine Corps History
Praise for Jon T. Hoffman's Once a Legend: "Red Mike" Edson
of the Marine Raiders
"Jon Hoffman's biography catches the dark, driven nature of Edson's
brilliant career. It is faithful to the man and his Marine Corps
and will rank with the best books about American combat leaders. An
outstanding achievement."-Colonel Allan Millett, USMCR (Ret.),
author of Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States
Marine Corps
"'Red Mike' Edson, as brilliantly chronicled in this book, was . .
. courageous and fearless-truly a legend."-Lieutenant General
Victor H. Krulak, USMC (Ret.)
"Jon Hoffman has captured the qualities and contributions of this
exceptional thinker, fighter, and patriot. Once a Legend strips the
veil from a remarkable career and gives us the man in true
perspective."-Colonel J. E. Greenwood, USMC (Ret.), former
editor of the Marine Corps Gazette
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