Lewis Burwell Puller Jr.
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Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. (1945 - 1994) was a noted attorney, author and former Marine Officer. He was the son of General Lewis "Chesty" Puller who is the most decorated Marine in the history of the United States Marine Corps (General Puller is the only man to win five Navy Crosses). His son followed in his father's footsteps and became a Marine officer. Upon graduation, he was shipped to Vietnam where he was badly wounded by a landmine. The young Puller lost both legs and most of his hands in the explosion and was medically discharged from the Marine Corps. Puller overcame his handicaps to graduate from law school and raise a family. He served on a board set up by President Gerald Ford and ran for Congress in 1978. However, he suffered from severe depression and alcoholism and on May 11, 1994, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Lewis Puller won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1991 autobiography Fortunate Son. His wife Toddy is a member of the Virginia legislature.