Timeline
Birth- 26 Jun 1898
26 Jun 1898
West Point, Virginia
1775 - 2099Other Service
Conflict Period
Other Service
Branch
Marine Corps
Conflicts
Occupation of Haiti; Occupation of Nicaragua
Rank
Second Lieutenant (1919, 1924) to Lieutenant General (1955)
Served For
United States of America
Marriage- 13 Nov 1937
Saluda, Virginia
Virginia Montague Evans
Spouse Death Date
4 Feb 2006
1939 - 1945World War II- Age: 44 years
Commands held
1st Battalion, 7th Marines; 1st Marine Regiment
Rank
Colonel
Conflict Period
World War II
Branch
Marine Corps
Battles
Action along the Matanikau; Battle of Henderson Field; Battle of Cape Gloucester; Battle of Peleliu
Served For
United States of America
Service Number
003158
Casualty- 8 Nov 1942-Age: 44 years
WIA
HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
1950 - 1953Korean War- Ages: 57 - 20 years
Service End Date
1955
Conflict Period
Korean War
Branch
Marine Corps
Rank
Lieutenant General
Service Start Date
1918
Rank
Brigadier General (1951)
Commands held
1st Marine Regiment
Battles
Battle of Inchon; Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Served For
United States of America
Battle Honors (Korea): Inchon Landing
13 Sept 2017
Battle Honors (Korea): Communist China Aggression
Battle Honors (Korea): First United Nations Counteroffensive
Battle Honors (Korea): CCF Spring Offensive
Battle Honors (Korea): North Korean Aggression
Military Awards: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
1921
Military Awards: Haitian Campaign Medal
Military Awards: 2nd Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
Military Awards: China Service Medal (1937-39)
Peiping, China
Military Awards: Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
2 Awards
Marine Corps Service: Rank at Retirement
Lieutenant General
Marine Corps Service: Serial Number
0-3158
Marine Corps Service: Retirement
1955
Marine Corps Service: Commissioned, 2nd Lieutenant
16 Jun 1919
Marine Corps Service: Reverted to Corporal
26 Jun 1919
Marine Corps Service: Recommissioned, 2nd Lieutenant
6 Mar 1924
Marine Corps Service: Enlistment
1918
Military Awards: Korea Service Medal
5 Battle Stars
Military Awards: National Defense Service Medal
Military Awards: American Defense Service Medal
"Base" clasp
Military Awards: United Nations Service Medal
Korea
Military Awards: ROK Presidential Unit Citation
Military Awards: WWII Victory Medal
Military Awards: ROK War Service Medal
Race or Ethnicity
Caucasian
Occupation
Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps
Marine Corps Service: Grade
O9
Gender
Male
Military Awards: Navy Cross
Military Awards: Navy Cross
Military Awards: Navy Cross
Military Awards: Navy Cross
24 Oct 2025
Military Awards: Navy Cross
5 Dec 2010
Military Awards: Distinguished Service Cross
Military Awards: Legion of Merit w/ "V"
Military Awards: Legion of Merit w/ "V"
Military Awards: Silver Star
15 Sept 1950
Battle Honors (WWII): Capture & Defense of Guadalcanal
Battle Honors (WWII): Finschhafen Operation
Battle Honors (WWII): Capture & Occupation of Southern Palau Islands
Battle Honors (WWII): Bismarck Archipelago Operation (Cape Gloucester)
Military Awards: Bronze Star Medal w/ "V"
Sept 1942
Military Awards: Air Medal
3 Awards
Military Awards: Purple Heart
9 Nov 1942
Military Awards: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal
4 Battle Stars
Education: Place
Lexington, Virginia
Education: To
1918
Education: From
1916
Education: Institution
Virginia Military Institute
Military Awards: Presidential Unit Citation
Guadalcanal
Military Awards: WWI Victory Medal
"West Indies" clasp
Military Awards: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
1924
Military Awards: Presidential Unit Citation
Military Awards: Presidential Unit Citation
Military Awards: Presidential Unit Citation
Peleliu
Military Awards: Cross of Valor w/ Diploma
Nicaragua
Military Awards: Ulchi Medal w/ Gold Star
Republic of Korea
Military Awards: Presidential Medal of Merit w/ Diploma
Nicaragua
Military Awards: Medaille Militaire
Haiti
Oct 1971
Death- 11 Oct 1971
Hampton, Virginia
Burial- Oct 1971-Age: 73 years
Christ Church Cemetery, Saluda, Middlesex County, Virginia
Other Facts
Father
Matthew Miller Puller
Mother
Martha Leigh Richardson
Also known as
"Chesty"
Full Name
Lewis Burwell Puller, Sr.
Full Name
Lewis Puller
Social Security
Social Security Card Issued
Virginia
Last Residence
Saluda, VA
Social Security Number
***-**-2759
