Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller by Burke Davis
(out of 5 stars)
Lewis "Chesty" Puller may well have been the baddest mutha to ever put on a United States uniform and go to war. A career soldier who saw action all over the globe, Puller is a legendary figure to today's Marines, much as I imagine El Cid was to the generations which followed. Here, in Burke Davis's biography of the ultimate soldier, Puller's experiences are drawn together into a swift and enjoyable narrative.
Puller's military career started as WWI came to a close, and he soon found himself serving in Haiti and Nicaragua, garnering praise from superiors and civilians alike. Puller was a natural leader of men, and those who fought for him in those parts of the world would not be the last to think of him as a tremendous warrior.
After spending time in Peking, China, Puller took part in the bloody battles in the Pacific Theater of WWII, including the Battle of Guadalacanal. Despite terrible and misleading orders from his superiors, and the ever-present problems of communications, supplies, and the fog of war, Puller maintained his cool, took responsibility for his men, and displayed enormous guts and tactical leadership during every battle. Later, in the Korean War, Puller oversaw the difficult and deadly rearguard action during the Chosin Reservoir withdrawal.
One of the great warriors of any age, Puller's story as presented by Burke is a fantastic tale of a dedicated and highly-intelligent military legend. Well recommended for any military fan, and especially for anyone with an interest in the US Marine Corps.
