Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Biography of a Marine Legend
Review: Boy was I suprised to see "Chesty" on a feature table in our local [store]. Although Chesty Puller wasn't that well known outside his beloved Corps, his combat record is well known to all Marines. Col. Hoffman's extensive research of Chesty's military career has lead to an exceptionally fine biography. Covering a span of over seventy years and three major wars this book reads more like a novel. Much like Geoffrey Perret's "Old Soldiers never die" (MacArthur's biography), every detail is included and well documented. Sure to be a historical reference for many years.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Biography of a Marine Legend
Review: Boy was I suprised to see "Chesty" on a feature table in our local [store]. Although Chesty Puller wasn't that well known outside his beloved Corps, his combat record is well known to all Marines. Col. Hoffman's extensive research of Chesty's military career has lead to an exceptionally fine biography. Covering a span of over seventy years and three major wars this book reads more like a novel. Much like Geoffrey Perret's "Old Soldiers never die" (MacArthur's biography), every detail is included and well documented. Sure to be a historical reference for many years.
Rating: 
Summary: A thorough look at a Marine legend
Review: Chesty Puller is one of the most revered warriors in U.S. military history, and it was surprising that until the publication of this biography, there was scant few books on this legend - outside of a slightly exaggerated biography published shortly after his forced retirement from the Corps.Lt. Col. Hoffman presents a thorough, if slightly dry, narrative of the life of Lewis B. Puller. Expecting a slight bias from the author - a Marine himself - I found the biography largely free of bias and very fair. Every facet of Chesty's immense personality, whether it be good or bad, is given equal footing throughout. Also, Lt. Col. Hoffman avoided the trap of basing his biography on the numerous myths that surround Chesty's life. I found the second half of the book to be most interesting. While Chesty's early life and Marine career - including his stints in Haiti, Nicaragua, and China - are worthwhile in establishing his warrior spirit and forging the man, there is not much depth in these topics. I presume this is due to lack of documented information more than any omissions by the author, but it does make for a slightly tedious first half of the biography. Once the narrative begins touching on Chesty's exploits in World War II, Korea, and post-Marine life, the full measure of the man is revealed, and more relevant information is presented. It is here that the "meat" of his life exists, and we get a good picture of how he was equally lauded and criticized for his tactical strategies, personality, and opinions of the military establishment. Also, we get a partial, yet satisfying, glimpse of his interaction with his son, who would later become famous with his book "Fortunate Son". While some reviewers have criticized the author for omitting Lewis Puller, Jr.'s suicide several years ago, I believe that this tangent would only serve to be off-topic and out-of-place in a biography of a man who died in the early 1970's. The interaction of father and son following the son's gruesome wounds in Vietnam are enough of a glimpse - and a powerful one at that - to satisfy most readers. I would highly recommend this book in favor of "Marine!", because it is far more in-depth, fair, and accurate. Lt. Col. Hoffman has done an excellent job with this biography. The only thing that prevents me from rating a full five stars is that the narrative is slightly dry and that the first half of the book is a little slow. As such, the casual reader may find it difficult to plow through the whole book.
Rating:
Summary: One of a Kind
Review: Col. Hoffman has written the definitive biography of the greatest Marine hero of them all. "Chesty" is in the same league as William Manchester's biography of Douglas MacArthur, "American Caesar". It's that good. Any future biographer of Chesty Puller will have to pass through this vibrant, meticulous work. This is no mere hagiographic saga that ignores or dismisses General Puller's faults. Nor does it repeat as gospel some of the more outlandish tales that have sprung up around the General. These flaws doomed a previous biography ("Marine", by Burke Davis) to obscurity. Rather, "Chesty" is that rare thing, a scholarly book that reads like a novel. Chesty Puller was the ultimate grunt's grunt, always leading from the front and never asking his men to do anything he wouldn't. He was, and remains, revered, literally a legend in his own time. Col. Hoffman has captured the essence of both the man and the legend.
Rating:
Summary: One of a Kind
Review: Col. Hoffman has written the definitive biography of the greatest Marine hero of them all. "Chesty" is in the same league as William Manchester's biography of Douglas MacArthur, "American Caesar". It's that good. Any future biographer of Chesty Puller will have to pass through this vibrant, meticulous work. This is no mere hagiographic saga that ignores or dismisses General Puller's faults. Nor does it repeat as gospel some of the more outlandish tales that have sprung up around the General. These flaws doomed a previous biography ("Marine", by Burke Davis) to obscurity. Rather, "Chesty" is that rare thing, a scholarly book that reads like a novel. Chesty Puller was the ultimate grunt's grunt, always leading from the front and never asking his men to do anything he wouldn't. He was, and remains, revered, literally a legend in his own time. Col. Hoffman has captured the essence of both the man and the legend.
Rating:
Summary: At last, a definitive biography!
Review: Jon Hoffman's many years of labor have produced the first definitive, unblinking story of one of the nation's most colorful and iconic combat leaders. "Chesty" reflects Hoffman's unique combination of meticulous research, rigorous analysis, and sparkling narrative that characterized his earlier work on Red Mike Edson. This latest work will earn national awards for history writing and will remain the standard reference for decades. With the publication of "Chesty," Hoffman demonstrates that he is the premiere biographer of the Marine Corps and indeed one of the best in the country. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Chesty, warts and all
Review: Lieutenant General Lewis B. ("Chesty") Puller has an almost mystical quality for all who have borne the title "Marine." Lt Col Hoffman has written the definitive biography of Chesty Puller. The hero of Guadalcanal and the Chosin Reservoir is also criticized for his record casualties at Pelileu. General Puller's perserverance overcomes poor performance in various schools, scorn towards staff officers and controversial viewpoints that shortened his career. His story is one for all students of military history to enjoy. I recommend it with the utmost enthusiasm.
Rating:
Summary: Who says we can't handle the truth?
Review: Like many Marines, both active and ex, I was interested in learning more about this icon. Hofmann does an excellent job of telling Chesty's story in straight forward and efficient manner that keeps the focus on his subject without wandering too far astray into military minutia.
In the latter stages of his career it appears Chesty's single minded ambition for rank and fame becomes the focus of his day to day life. One is left to wonder if his well known affinity for enlisted men has some basis in the fact they were not competing for spots on the promotion list.
This ambition becomes clear when Chesty questions the fitness of another regimental commander in Korea because the guy did not spend enough time in command billets during WWII. The fact that the officer in question escaped from the Japanese to help wage guerilla war in the Phillipines and upon being liberated led a battalion of Marines on Okinawa seems to highlight Chesty's double standard for evaluating those who are vying for spots he wanted.
All in all, a good unvarnished tale that makes Chesty more human while not diminishing his outstanding career as a Marine.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Biography of a deceptively complex man
Review: There's a marvelous scene in one of the first Viet Nam war movies, "The Boys in Company C." The movie begins with the obligatory first-day-at-boot-camp sequence, which ends with lights out. The drill instructor makes the recruits lie in bed at attention and shout "Goodnight Chesty Puller, wherever you are!" and then turns the lights out and leaves. After a moment, one of the recruits says into the darkness "Who the hell is Chesty Puller, anyway?" For most who are or were in the Marines, he needs no introduction, but for the public at large, this book will fill the gap for those who are interested. Lewis Burwell Puller joined the Marines at the end of WW1, and spent most of the 20s as an enlisted man seconded to the Haitian Gendarmerie, acting as an officer in that organization. He became an officer in the Marine Corps in the mid-20s, and spent the late 20s and early 30s in Nicaragua. By the mid-30s, his reputation as one of the premier small unit tactics experts in the Marine Corps resulted in his teaching that course at the Marines Basic school for three years. About a third of the junior officers in the Corps during the period took the course from him. When WW2 started, he served first on Guadalcanal, then New Britain, and finally Peleliu. He later saw extensive action in Korea, retiring in 1955 and dying in 1971. He had an extensive combat record and a series of awards that are hard to match: he remains the only Marine ever awarded five Navy Crosses. It's difficult to understand or explain what he personifies to Marines (and I should point out that I'm not a Marine myself). Puller was an iconoclast from the moment he became a Marine, and also something of a subversive. At the same time he was very insistent on loyalty to the Corps and the country, and worked very hard to make sure that these things were always held dear by his troops. One of the revelations of the book, to me, was that he turns out to have been an excellent training officer (though he disdained the duty) and a relatively decent staff officer (though he despised this duty, and everyone else who did it). Hoffman does a rather good job of recounting Puller's career, and is surprisingly frank and critical (not neccessarily negative) when examining the choices Puller made and the opinions he expressed. Chesty Puller is a hard subject to write about. Given his legendary status (note I didn't use the word almost: the man had more stories made up about him than Elvis) the author admits to more than a bit of trepidation in writing the book, and merely notes that the only book-length treatment of Puller's life is Marine!, the authorized biography which is really more of a memoir, and not terribly reliable. Hoffman's book, by comparison, is a balanced, well-researched, incisive biography of a man who turns out to have been much more complex than he let on, and a more rounded soldier (or Marine) than his legend implies. This is an excellent book; I would recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Surprised by an omission
Review: This is an amazing portrait of Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, a Marine's Marine! This book has been scrupulously researched and documented by the author, and then rendered into an exacting biography that reveals the true nature of "Chesty Puller. Even with the "warts" that were glossed over in the past by previous biographers, the legendary status of "Chesty" Puller continues to remain intact. He was decorated with five Navy Crosses for valor, more than any other Marine. Puller was a tough, aggressive leader who expected the most from his Marines. He led from the front, never expecting more from his men than he himself was willing to give.
The details of his leadership in battles from Haiti to Nicaragua, to Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Korea give a true, concise insight into the mind of Puller, and clarify why he made the decisions that he did.
The author's use of direct quotations from Puller's official and unofficial records and correspondence gives an authentic flavor of the times, the man and the attitudes of other towards Puller. It provides a unique perspective that is an integral part of this biography.
His love for his wife and his family are clearly shown in the personal letters between "Chesty" and his wife, Virginia. While this tender, loving side of Puller may seem to some as almost incongruous, it in fact appears to be a key aspect of his heart and soul. This caring side is shown repeatedly in his reflections on the Marines and sailors wounded and killed under his command. His aggressive fighting tactics had a purpose, to win each battle as rapidly as possible, thereby reducing his losses.
He was an outspoken Marine, not one to worry much about being "politically correct", openly and honestly commenting on, and criticizing those people and decisions he saw as compromising the war effort. Many of his beliefs are as true today as they were when he stated them. He believed that airpower was not a complete solution and never would be. He also believed the view of going to war and not suffering any casualties was a flawed and dangerous philosophy. He believed that the American people needed to know that a "clean war" was not a realistic view of what was needed to win a war...."We can lick 'em, if America gets hard....Just as long as Americans have the will to fight." He knew that freedom wasn't free and Americans had to be willing to pay the price, both individually and as a country. HIS BELIEFS ARE TIMELESS. His voice is as important now as it was then, perhaps more so in light of the horrendous events of 9-11-01.
This is an accurate, well researched, open, honest and revealing portrait of "Chesty" Puller, Marine, leader, teacher, husband, father and American.
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