Happy Birthday, Chesty!

Happy Birthday to you, Chesty Puller, you glorious pipe smoking hardass that kicked and stomped sack across two hemispheres and several islands and two continents. You were so good at killing people and getting other people to kill people that you were awarded not one, not two, not three, NOT FOUR, but FIVE Navy Crosses and one U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross. Which basically means he was awarded the nations second highest award for valor SIX TIMES.SIX TIMES!! Plus all of the additional awards for valor and killing Commies and various other assholes.The man was a hard-charging balls to the wall dealer of mayhem and destruction. Whether he was wielding a rifle, pistol, battalion, regiment, or division, it was a deadly tool in the hands and mind of Lewis B. Puller, United States Marine Corps.The Marine Corps effectiveness is steeped in its lore. We don't want to let our predecessors down and when a high standard is set by men such as Smedley Butler, Dan Daly, and Chesty Puller, we do our best to rise to the occasion. Chesty was one of our best and is remembered as such. Hallowed is his name in the Marine Corps.To get insight into the man and truly do him justice, we'll provide a few of his best quotes, so as much as you're able, understand the man behind the legend, and why he became one.“Don’t forget that you’re First Marines! Not all the Communists in hell can overrun you!”

“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!”

“Paperwork will ruin any military force”

Chesty was a fighter, a warrior, and a leader who was as hard as woodpecker lips. He believed in fighting and he was damn good at it. Happy Birthday, Chesty, wherever you are.