The LT Chesty Puller, Research Paper Example

One of the most decorated and highly recognizable figures in the United States military history, Lewis Burwell Puller. Also known as LT Chesty Puller, was born in West Point, Virginia on June 26, 1898. At the age of 18 he tried to join the military. Due to his age at the time his mother didn’t allow him to go off, so in 1917 he attended the Virginia Military Institute, but only stayed for a year. He went off to Paris Islands, South Carolina to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Even though he was a part of the military during the latter half of World War I he had yet going to war. After graduating from Officer Candidates School in 1919, he became a Second Lieutenant in the Reserves, he was then given the ranking as Corporal and order to serve as a Lieutenant in the Gendarmerie d’Haiti. Throughout his many battles fought in Haiti he retain valuable fighting skills, and would soon become an officer once again after Haiti Puller. He served in the Nicaragua after an unsuccessful run as an aviator, he volunteered for two year tours in 1928. After relentless battle, and a supposed bounty placed on his head, he was awarded his first Navy Cross. (Nettally, n.d) He left to join the Company Officers Course in Fort Benning, George, at the Army Infantry School. Once he finished returned to fight in Nicaragua, and earned his second Navy Cross.

He soon would continue to serve in the military as an executive and commanding offer, leading the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division, earning a third Navy Cross. He led several more units at Cape Gloucester, Russell Islands, and Peleliu. He commanded the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor, and led the 1^st Marines in Korea in 1950. He was promoted to brigadier general, Assistant Commander of the 1^st Marine Division, Major General, and appointed to the Deputy Camp Commander in 1955. Prior to retirement he grew ill and tried to serve in Vietnam, but turned down because of age. He later died at the age of 73 in Hampton, Virginia, in 1971.

LT Chesty Puller accomplished several great feats throughout his lifetime. At a young age influenced by old Civil War veterans, he held a great interest in serving in the military. His accomplishment number greatly as he was one of the most highly decorated Marine in the United States’ military history.  His greatest accomplishments includes:

• Awarded Navy Cross in Nicaragua for command of the Nicaraguan National Guard Patrol.
• Awarded Second Navy Cross in Nicaragua for command of the Guardia Patrol.
• Awarded Third Navy Cross for heroism as the Commanding Officer of the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marines, and 1st Marine Division against the Japanese at Solomon Islands.
• Awarded Fourth Navy Cross for heroism as Executive Officer of the 7^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division, in combat at Cape Gloucester.
• Awarded Fifth Navy Cross for heroism as Commanding Officer of the 1^st Marines, 1^st Marine Division victory of Koto-ri Korea.
• Distinguished Service Cross by the President of the United States for his actions in Korea.
• Silver Star
• Legion of Merit with Combat Victory
• Bronze Star Medal with Combat Victory
• Air Medal
• Purple Heart Medal
• Presidential Unit Citation
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
• Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
• World War 1 Victory Medal
• Haitian Campaign Medal
• Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
• China Service Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal
• Haitian Medaille Militaire
• Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Diploma
• Nicaraguan Cross of Valor with Diploma
• Korean Order of Military Merit, Eulji Cordon Medal
• Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
• United Nations Service Medal for Korea

Through his many accomplishments he had had many let-downs that includes, his first attempt enlisting the military was short lived as he was too young at the time, and his mother wouldn’t sign off for him to join. (Hickman, 2014) While at the Virginia Military Institute he didn’t fare well and dropped out after one year to enlist in the USMC. He was put on inactive service after the ranks were decreased, and decommission to Corporal. (Patrick, 2014) In 1926 he attempted to be an aviator but was washed out by the review board. His leadership came into question for aggressive leadership style, and poor tactical decisions after the 1^st Marines suffered over half of their casualties in Peleliu. (Donigan, 1994) While at Camp Lejeune commanding the 2^nd Marines suffered a stroke, and released from service in 1955. (Hoffman, 2002)

Throughout Puller’s highly decorated career he commanded several Marine Units in which he displayed several admirable leadership styles, traits, and behaviors. Our book defines leadership as, “an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes.”(Daft, 2013) He embodied the leadership traits of influence, intention, personal responsibility and integrity, followers, shared purpose, and change. This first began at an early age as he had to take over the leadership role once his father died of cancer as a child. According to several men he served with he was considered “invincible.” “His courage on the battlefield, fighting and commanding along-side his men, fired their imagination and awoke in them the mystical faith that led them to accept, without question, that there was nothing he would not dare; nothing he could not do in the pursuit of victory.” (Quintrall, 1998) Leader at young age, and while he didn’t display any outright superior intellect, military aptitude, or special athletic ability, he had his mind made on serving in the military.

He possessed many of the traits suited for military leadership which was his unselfishness as he placed his life as a commander in place of his men in all the units he led. He was vicious in trying to defeat the enemy, and wanted to remain in the forefront, sharing the hardships, and dangers with his men. He also displayed tact in treating his men and his peers with respect in all regard. This is seen as his firm approach to be cooperative even when he disagreed with the orders, or when he wanted to re-enlist even when he ill. Chesty displayed the behaviors of loyalty in which he had a dedicated commitment to the United States and to the Marine Corps. Even when he was denied entry at a young age, he steadily re-enlisted to join the Marine Corps, and continue move to command the units in war. For a character in which didn’t display much superior abilities, but he did have an apt knowledge for military dexterity in leading his units. As well as a tactical knowledge of how war was fought, and how the enemy behaved. He also displayed the leadership traits of justice, in which he wanted to see the enemies destroyed, and wanted his men to gain the victory in each of his battles. Integrity was a major trait and behavior that Chesty displayed on several occasions. This included commanding all his units throughout his military career.

According to Quintrall, “Sergeant-major tough, Chesty Puller not only set a courageous combat example, he trained his men hard, respected his men’s fearlessness, and worked hard to build unit comradeship.” (Quintrall, 1998) He displayed the initiative to take action without the presence of orders that were clearly defined, and he had enthusiasm to remain exuberant and interest in performing his duties as commander. He also possessed dependability and endurance in people relying on him to perform his duties, and endure the hardships of war. He continually tried to fight to the end, even when he was old and ill. He displayed decisiveness in taking firm and swift action when he needed to, and the courage to face danger head on. More importantly the ability to create cohesion within his units in commanding his presence on and off the battlefield. His ability to motivate his troops, was worthy of them being prepared mentally during times of combat.

Puller’s leadership style resembled that of the principled level or postconventional level leadership. “Leaders are guided by an internalized set of principles universally recognized as just and right.” (Daft, 2013) What made LT Chesty Puller stand out as leader was his many leadership qualities in which he had the bearing, integrity, influence, fearlessness, and tenacity to take charge of his men in times of danger, and command victory in his units.  He relentlessly exposed himself to danger, as he felt that his presence on the battlefield was a successful key to command. In his influence in showcasing his leadership traits and behaviors he was able to motivate his men to be courageous in their times of conflict. He constantly listened as well as discerned the emotions, orders, and actions of his men. Puller wasn’t afraid to say no or conform to others, but rather create outcomes that were successful on the battlefield. In his era he followed the “Great Man” leadership, although he wasn’t born with any innate qualities that made him standout, he learned them overtime, and possess a keen sense of capability of influencing and leading others.

Puller was a mixture of a servant leader in which he put the service of the military over his own self-interest, inspire trust in his unit, and the ability to act without hesitation. While he also followed moral leadership in which, “is about distinguishing right from wrong and doing right, seeking the just, the honest, the good, and the right conduct in achieving goals and fulfilling purpose.” (Daft, 2013)  He is one of the few examples of a leader that encompassed multiple qualities that made him standout as not only an authoritative figure but enhanced and uplifted the lives of others around him. His internal values help craft Puller’s moral development to make choices in which acted on his external policies and internal strengths to do what was right.

References

Daft, Richard L. (2013). The Leadership Experience. Cengage Learning. Canada.

Donigan, Maj Henry J. (1994). Peleliu: The Forgotten Battle. Marine Corps Association. Retrieved from https://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/peleliu-forgotten-battle

Hickman, Kennedy. (2014). World War II/Korean War: Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller. Military History. Retrieved from http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/WorldWarIILeaders/p/World-War-Ii-Korean-War-Lieutenant-General-Lewis-Chesty-Puller.htm

Hoffman, John T. (2002). Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC. Random House Trade Paperbacks.

Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC. (n.d). Nettally. Retrieved from http://www.nettally.com/jrube/text/puller.htm

Quintrall, Maj. Mickey L. (1998). The Chesty Puller Paragon: Leadership Dogma or Model Doctrine. United States Air Force. Print.

Patrick, Bethanne Kelly. (2014). Lt. Gen. Lewis Berwell Puller. Military. Com. Retrieved from http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent?file=ML_puller_bkp