Gunny G's Globe and Anchor
Ye Olde Salts Tavern On The Web! By
R.W. "Dick" Gaines
Gny Sgt USMC (Ret.)
1952 (Plt #437)
-1972 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED! Chesty Puller On "Loyalty Down"
Puller: "I
also learned that this loyalty to one's Corps travels both ways, up and
down."
Amid
a nationwide public outcry regarding the whole matter of the drownings
in particular and Marine Corps training practices in general, LtGen
Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller
was recalled to active duty to testify at the trial regarding Marine
training and tradition. Mrs. Puller protested to her husband citing previous
trouble and controversy in Puller's
career. Puller
told her, "...The important thing is the Marine Corps. If we let 'em,
they'll tear it to pieces. Headquarters won't speak up. It's my duty to
do it."
At the trial, Puller
was asked questions pertaining to his own military service, the mission
of the Marine Corps, the most important element of Marine training,
etc. In part, Puller
replied that:, "...The definition of military training is success in
battle. In my opinion, it is the only objective of military training..." He
quoted Napoleon. "He stated that the most important thing in military
training is discipline. Without discipline an army becomes a mob." Puller
was asked what he had learned here (PISC) as a recruit. He replied,
"Well, the main thing--that I have rememberd all my life--is the
definition of espirit de corps. Now my definition--that I was taught,
that I've always believed in--is that espirit de corps means love for
one's military legion. In my case the United
States Marine Corps. I
also learned that this loyalty to one's Corps travels both ways, up and
down.
"Q: Now, general, I want you to assume
that what is the
evidence in this case is a fact. That on a Sunday evening a drill
instructor took a platoon that was undisciplined and lacked spirit and
on whom he' tried other methods of discipline. And that for purposes of
teaching discipline and instilling morale he took that platoon into a
marsh or creek--all the way in front of his troops--would you consider
that oppression? A: In my opinion it is not." "Q: So, in your
opinion, was this act of this drill instructor in leading his troops,
under those conditions and for that purpose, good or bad military
practice? A: Good... ...I would train my troops as I
thought--as I knew they should be
trained--regardless of a directive." "Q:
...I lead these recruits into water over their heads and I lose six of
those men by drowning. Would you say that some action should be taken
against me? A: I would say that this night march
was and is a deplorable accident." "Q: Would you take any action against
me if I were the one who did
that, if you were my Commanding Officer, sir? A:
...I think, from what I read in the papers yesterday of the testimony
of General Pate before this court, that he agrees and regrets that this
man was ever ordered tried by general court-martial."
"Puller
went into the noncom's club that night with Berman, two Marine generals
and other officers; the big crowd stood, shouting until he spoke: 'I've
talked enough for today. This will be my last request. Do your duty and
the Marine Corps will be as great as it has always been for another
thousand years.' The applause was deafening."
Re The book, " Marine, The Life of Lt.
Gen. Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller,
USMC (Ret.)" By Burke Davis, 1962, Bantam
