"Chesty" Puller - The greatest combat officer ever. And his words still ring true today.
"We can't hope to win future wars-and we got the hell beat out of us in Korea-unless we have discipline. It is going to take some brutality to get it."
"What the American people want to do is fight a war without getting hurt. You can't do that any more than you can get into a barroom brawl without getting hurt.
Unless the American people are willing to send their sons to fight an aggressor, there's just not going to be any United States. A bunch of foreign soldiers will take us over."
"Our officer corps have had far too much schooling and far too little combat experience. They can't learn war like that."
"We've got to get 'em tougher to survive. Throw all these girls out of camp. Get rid of the ice cream and candy. Get some pride in 'em-that's what we need most of all, pride."
"We should have only one purpose-to fight and win."
"We began to take prisoners who told us that the order was out among the Communist troops: ' Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the Yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army.' Marines were soon ordered to discard their distinctive khaki leggings."
-Lt Gen Lewis "Chesty" Puller, 1952
"What the American people want to do is fight a war without getting hurt. You can't do that any more than you can get into a barroom brawl without getting hurt.
Unless the American people are willing to send their sons to fight an aggressor, there's just not going to be any United States. A bunch of foreign soldiers will take us over."
"Our officer corps have had far too much schooling and far too little combat experience. They can't learn war like that."
"We've got to get 'em tougher to survive. Throw all these girls out of camp. Get rid of the ice cream and candy. Get some pride in 'em-that's what we need most of all, pride."
"We should have only one purpose-to fight and win."
"We began to take prisoners who told us that the order was out among the Communist troops: ' Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the Yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army.' Marines were soon ordered to discard their distinctive khaki leggings."
-Lt Gen Lewis "Chesty" Puller, 1952