The Free Press
NORTH MANKATO — American Legion Post 518 will fly a flag in April in honor of Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller — the most-decorated U.S. Marine in history.
At 10 a.m. April 5, members will gather at Wheeler Park in lower North Mankato to begin the monthlong tribute.
Puller was born in West Point, Virginia, June 26, 1898. After his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1955, he and his wife lived in rural Virginia.
Puller received five Navy Crosses, the U.S. Navy and Marines’ second highest decoration after the Medal of Honor. During his military career, he fought in Haiti and Nicaragua and was at some of the bloodiest World War II and Korea battles.
He received his fifth Navy Cross for action at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during which he made the now-famous quote, “We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded, that simplifies things.”
Puller died Oct. 11, 1971, at Saluda, Virginia. He is buried in Christchurch Parish Cemetery.
Post 518 is seeking nominations of deceased veterans for Vet of the Month honors. For more information, call Mark Conrad at 507-380-8405 or Post 518 at 507-625-1264.