Lewis B. Puller, Jr. papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Lewis B. Puller, Jr. papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
.42 Linear Feet 1 Legal size Hollinger box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Lewis B. Puller, Jr. papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes papers such as correspondence, printed material, correspondence, audio-visual materials and a draft of a manuscript entitled "Fortunate Son."

Biographical / historical:

Lewis B. Puller was born on August 18, 1945, the son of Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the US Marine Corps. Like his father, Lewis Jr. joined the marines during the Vietnam War in July 1968. On October 11, 1968, while encountering North Vietnamese troops, Puller's rifle jammed and he tripped a booby-trapped howitzer round, causing him to lose his right and left legs along with his left hand and most of his fingers on his right hand. After surviving his injuries, he was discharged receiving the Silver Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Purple Heart Medals, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross for his service in the Marine Corps.

After the Vietnam War, Puller experienced bouts of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), depression and alcoholism. Despite these issues, he became an attorney graduating with his Juris-Doctor (JD) from William & Mary Law School. As a lawyer he worked for the Veteran's Administration and on President Gerald Ford's Clemency board. Puller also became involved in politics, though unsuccessful, he ran a campaign for congress representing Virginia in 1978. He later won the Pulitzer Prize for his memoire, Fortunate Son: The Autobiography of Lewis B. Puller Jr. The memoir documents his life, particularly his relationship with his father Lewis Puller Sr., his experiences during the Vietnam War and life with his wife Linda "Toddy" Puller as well as children Maggie and Lewis III. Puller continued to suffer from depression and PTSD and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on May 11, 1994.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard