Puller is a former United States Marine Corps general and Medal of Honor recipient who served in World War II and the Korean War. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and two Silver Stars during World War II, and the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with Combat "V", and three Purple Hearts. Puller was one of only two living Medal of Honor recipients from World War II at the time of his death in 2004
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He was born on August 15, 1917, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He graduated from Davidson College in 1939 and entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis as a member of its class of 1942. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and received orders to report to Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina, for recruit training.
While serving as a second lieutenant on Guadalcanal he received a chest wound that blinded him in one eye and later required surgery to remove part of his nose. Puller's right arm was amputated shortly after he received additional wounds on Iwo Jima during the Battle for Mount Suribachi.
The Medal of Honor was awarded to Puller by President Truman on March 26, 1950, for his actions during an assault on Hill 902 on February 23–24, 1945.
The citation states that he reached an exposed position that had been left by his platoon leader just before being shot through both lungs by machine gun fire while leading his men up a hill. Puller gave orders for his men to leave him behind but they refused to leave without him so he crawled back down the hill under fire before being rescued by another Marine after three hours.
Puller retired from military service as a major general after 23 years of service at the rank of Brigadier General.
After leaving active duty service in 1954, Puller worked for Naval Intelligence as an adviser working with foreign military forces until 1960 when he joined Texaco as Vice President for Latin American Operations until 1966 when he joined Braniff International Airways as Vice President for Latin American Operations until 1969 when he joined Gulf Oil Corporation as Vice President for Latin American Operations until 1974 when he became President of Texaco until 1977 when he joined Shell Oil Company as Vice President until 1984 when he retired from Shell Oil Company's board of directors until 1987 when Texas Governor Bill Clements appointed Puller to serve on the Texas State Advisory Council on Blind Children until 1989 when
