26 Uplifting Chesty Puller Quotes The World Has Loved
Chesty Puller is perhaps one of the most beloved military figures in history – as well as the most decorated one! He is a persona who has been subject to many Marine folklores in boot camps. His phrases have won the attention of many people including those who weren’t part of the army. Chesty Puller quotes are quite famous and quite in par with his accomplishments.
To the U.S. Marine Corps, his name is integrated into many social or military exercises. “Do one for Chesty!” they would say when they encouraged each other to finish a set of push-ups. Another famous cheer to boost their spirits is, “Chesty Puller never quit!” Early morning they would even sing to his valor and integrity – “Chesty Puller was a good Marine, and a good Marine was he.”
Chesty Puller has a knack for giving the most-praised quotes. Below you can find some examples. But, first of all, let’s get to know the man behind the axioms.
Chesty Puller is perhaps one of the most beloved military figures in history – as well as the most decorated one! He is a persona who has been subject to many Marine folklores in boot camps. His phrases have won the attention of many people including those who weren’t part of the army. Chesty Puller quotes are quite famous and quite in par with his accomplishments.
To the U.S. Marine Corps, his name is integrated into many social or military exercises. “Do one for Chesty!” they would say when they encouraged each other to finish a set of push-ups. Another famous cheer to boost their spirits is, “Chesty Puller never quit!” Early morning they would even sing to his valor and integrity – “Chesty Puller was a good Marine, and a good Marine was he.”
Chesty Puller has a knack for giving the most-praised quotes. Below you can find some examples. But, first of all, let’s get to know the man behind the axioms.
Who was Chesty Puller?
His real name was Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, who lived most of his life in Virginia. He was born on June 26, 1898. Puller grew up listening to tales of the military and was inspired to join them. He enlisted himself to army groups and schools like the United States Army, Virginia Military Institute, and the United States Marine Corps and subsequently attended training to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina.
He entered the interwar and World War II years and saved many of his companions from extermination. Puller saw the death of his brother who was killed in Guam by a sniper. During those years he even commanded the Marine Barracks of Pearl Harbor itself.
The Korean War saw the vehemence of Puller and his act of heroism. After the battle, he took a post in North Carolina up until his retirement when he got a stroke in 1955. Puller has been called many names and moniker, but Chesty was the one that got stuck. Puller raised his eyebrow to Major Frank Sheppard in a letter, asking, “Why, Chesty??”
He died on October 11, 1971, and is buried next to his wife at the Christchurch Parish Cemetery. He had a son, named after him, who also enlisted himself with the Marines. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner for his book, the Fortunate Son by Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr.
Chesty Puller was one of the (two) marines who garnered six awards: five Navy Crosses plus the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross. He was the second to receive the Navy Crosses after Navy commander Roy Milton Davenport.
26 famous Chesty Puller lines
Even if you’re not a marine yourself, you’ll find these quotes inspiring you to become a better person or show another side of the coin. Anyway, if you need encouragement today, these lines can perk you straight up. Even if you’re in the office, or doing some home-based job, these Chesty Puller lines can make your day.
Comrades, friendship, family
1. “In the Marine Corps, your buddy is not only your classmate or fellow officer, but he is also the Marine under your command. If you don’t prepare yourself to properly train him, lead him, and support him on the battlefield, then you’re going to let him down. That is unforgivable in the Marine Corps.” – Chesty Puller
2. “Son, when the Marine Corps wants you to have a wife, you will be issued one.” – Chesty Puller
(A Marine apparently asked him for permission to be married.)
3. “The mail service has been excellent out here, and in my opinion, this is all that the Air Force has accomplished during the war.” – Chesty Puller
(Puller was writing a letter to his wife, Virginia Montague Evans while being stationed in Korea)
4. “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.” – Chesty Puller
(Puller told a second lieutenant to return the 100 salutes given to an officer who missed a salute.)
Patriotism
1. “My definition, the definition that I’ve always believed in, is that esprit de corps means love for one’s own military legion – in my case, the United States Marine Corps. It means more than self-preservation, religion, or patriotism. I’ve also learned that this loyalty to one’s corps travels both ways: up and down.” – Chesty Puller
2. “I’ve always believed that no officer’s life, regardless of rank, is of such great value to his country that he should seek safety in the rear… Officers should be forward with their men at the point of impact.” – Chesty Puller
3. “Our Country won’t go on forever if we stay soft as we are now. There won’t be any AMERICA because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race!” – Chesty Puller
Leadership
1. “If you want to get the most out of your men, give them a break! Don’t make them work completely in the dark. If you do, they won’t do a bit more than they have to. But if they comprehend, they’ll work like mad.” – Chesty Puller
2. “What the American people want to do is fight a war without getting hurt. You can’t do that anymore than you can get into a barroom fight without getting hurt… Unless the American people are willing to send their sons out to fight an aggressor, there just isn’t going to be any United States.” – Chesty Puller
3. “Take me to the Brig. I want to see the “real Marines.” – Chesty Puller
(Puller was on a Battalion inspection)
Loyalty
1. “Old breed? New breed? There’s not a damn bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine breed.” – Chesty Puller
2. “Don’t forget that you’re First Marines! Not all the Communists in hell can overrun you!” – Chesty Puller
Puller during the Korean War, Battle of Chosin Reservoir, while motivating his men.
Opportunity
1. “Alright, they’re on our left, they’re on the right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us… they can’t get away this time.” – Chesty Puller
2. “Great. Now we can shoot at those bastards from every direction.” – Chesty Puller
3. “Retreat! Hell, we’re just attacking in a different direction.” – Chesty Puller
4. “We’re surrounded. That simplifies the problem!” – Chesty Puller
War
1. “You don’t hurt ’em if you don’t hit ’em.” – Chesty Puller
2. “Where the Hell do you put the bayonet?” – Chesty Puller
(Puller told his men after a flamethrower demo on that day. They said he still want to stab the men he set on fire.)
3. “Alright you bastards try and shoot me!” – Chesty Puller
(During the Korean War)
4. “They are a damn site better than the U.S. Army, at least we know that they will be there in the morning.” – Chesty Puller
(His answer to an interview about being surrounded by 22 Chinese enemy divisions. The Marines broke through enemy lines and destroyed seven of those units.)
5. “There are not enough chinamen in the world to stop a fully armed Marine regiment from going where ever they want to go.” – Chesty Puller
Training
1. “Paper-work will ruin any military force.” – Chesty Puller
2. “My definition, a definition in the drill books from the time that General Von Steuben wrote the regulations for General George Washington, the definition of the object of military training is a success in battle… It wouldn’t be any sense to have a military organization on the backs of the American taxpayers with any other definition.” – Chesty Puller
3. “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” – Chesty Puller
4. “If we are going to win the next war, in my opinion, 50 percent of the time of training should be allotted to night training.” – Chesty Puller
5. “We make generals today on the basis of their ability to write a damned letter. Those kinds of men can’t get us ready for war.” – Chesty Puller
Honors and Merits
Overall, the number of decorations Puller received was 27. Among these are the: Distinguished
Service Cross, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat among many others.
Additionally, don’t you know that the frigate USS Lewis B. Puller was named after him? A couple of highways and buildings were named in his honor. The Antiterrorism Security Team and Route 33 were named after Puller as well.
America’s postal services dispatched a unique stamp called “Distinguished Marines, ” and Puller was among the men revered in this memorabilia. And yes, the Marine’s mascot, an English purebred Bulldog, is named Chesty Pullerton.
An honest, loving reader
Puller is highly respected on the field and just about everywhere. He may sound crude at times, but that’s because America was at the time of war. If you recount one quote he made to a second lieutenant, it clearly shows that Puller demands equality, respect, and discipline.
In a weapon inspection in Hawaii, he charged himself $100 for accidentally pulling a trigger. Usually, the fine for this and to his men is just $20. So, not only he was good in morals, ethics, and war, Puller had the heart of service. And all the Chesty Puller quotes that can motivate or inspire anyone who reads it.