OOH RAH MOMENT - LEWIS BURWELL "CHESTY" PULLER

25 July 1930 - Lieutenant Lewis Puller is awarded the first of five Navy Crosses (highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor)  for distinguished service while commanding a Nicaraguan National Guard patrol into five successful engagements against superior numbers of armed Sandino guerrillas in Nicaragua.

Rank and Service: First Lieutenant , U.S. Marine Corps (03158)
Organization: attached to the Nicaraguan National Guard
Conflict: Second Nicaraguan Campaign
Date of Action: 16 February to 19 August 1930
Place of Action: Nicaragua
Authorized by: The Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

Citation:
 
For distinguished service in the line of his professional while commanding a Nicaraguan National Guard patrol. First Lieutenant Lewis B. Puller, United States Marine Corps, successfully led his forces into five successful engagements against superior numbers of armed bandit forces; namely, at LaVirgen on 16 February 1930, at Los Cedros on 6 June 1930, at Moncotal on 22 July 1930, at Guapinol on 25 July 1930, and at Malacate on 19 August 1930, with the result that the bandits were in each engagement completely routed with losses of nine killed and many wounded. By his intelligent and forceful leadership without thought of his own personal safety, by great physical exertion and by suffering many hardships, Lieutenant Puller surmounted all obstacles and dealt five successive and severe blows against organized banditry in the Republic of Nicaragua .
 





















Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell Puller