Puller Chronicles Volume 1

Meriwether Ball

Description

Puller Chronicles is the first volume of Meriwether Ball''s book series. She reveals the heroic ancestral faith - and the mysteries and secrets within the life and family of Lt.Gen Lewis B. Puller - the greatest U.S. Marine who ever lived.Meriwether Ball reveals the deep faith borne of Lt.Gen. Lewis Burwell Puller''s Colonial Episcopalian roots. Miss Ball''s shared ancestry with the most famous and well-respected Marine in U.S. history led to research discoveries explaining his secret familial devotion--that neither life nor death could transcend. In this first volume she begins to explore the acts of devotion previously unrevealed--which secretly defined the five-time Navy Cross recipient.Perhaps the Good General came by his undaunted courage far more naturally than anyone has ever known before now.

Sujets

• Lettres et linguistique
• USA
• Military history
• World War II
• History of the Americas
• Christianity
• États-Unis

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design eBook Publishing
• Date de parution: 15 septembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781622877102
• Langue: English

Extrait

Puller Chronicles, Volume 1
Meriwether Ball


First Edition Design Publishing
PULLER CHRONICLES
Volume 1

By
MERIWETHER BALL
Puller Chronicles, Volume 1
Copyright ©2014 Meriwether Ball

ISBN 978-1622-877-09-6 PRINT
ISBN 978-1622-877-10-2 EBOOK

LCCN 2014950988

September 2014

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means ─ electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other ─ except brief quotation in reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.

Cover design by Meriwether Ball
Cover photos courtesy Allen Conlon, Meriwether Ball & Virginia Military Institute Library Archives
Dedications

For ASC, who inherited his ancestor’s bravery.
&
For JPM, who set my writing’s north.
Epigraph

“As so often I’ve written to you, worry does not help – just trust the good Lord to bring me safely back to you – I am confident that he will.”
Chesty to Virginia, September 1950
Acknowledgements

When one writes this section it may seem each individual or organization noted had a direct hand. Indeed, most have. However, in the case of this book there are those who had an indirect influence.
Either way, I received influence or assistance from the following:
Dr. Arthur A, Kirk, my family patriarch, LtCol. John Monahan, USMC (Ret.) my mentor, Col. Robert Abblitt, USMC (Ret.), my advisor.
Fr. Paul Andersen, Rector, Christ Church Episcopal Church, Saluda, VA, Fr. Les Ferguson, Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VA, Col. Jon Hoffman, USMCR (Ret.), Stan Mayer, David & Michaelle Lauzon.
John Northstien, Damon Horsley, Sally Mears, Debbie Horsley, MGySgt Frank Garvey USMC (Ret.), Dr. Turner Gray, Margaret Walker, Phil & Carol Irizarry, Warren T. Getz, Michael Brinkley, William Mager.
Debbie Carnes, Lynn Kirk Rose, Terry Jones Brady, Rick Guyot, Alex Kitsakos, Barney Cummings, Norm Hatch, Jeff Schuller, Agostino von Hassell, Ellis & Cleo Cozine, Joseph Zubie, Betty Evans, Virginia Dabney, Madalyn & Linwood Grimes.
Greg Cina and Jim Ginther at Archives and Special Collections at Library of the Marine Corps, Marie Carpenti at National Archives, Col. Keith Gibson and Col. Diane Jacob at VMI.
Table of Contents

Dedications
Epigraph
Acknowledgements
Forward
Introduction
Vignette vs. Chapter
Chesty’s Significance
Brave Lines
Divinely Untouched
As it was in the beginning…
Wed, Finally
…so shall it be in the end.
Matrimonial Sanctity
Departure Explained
Kind Lines
Gallant John William
Unsatisfactory, Unfortunately
Legacy
Sweet Beginnings
Coming Aboard Ark
Gracious Gatekeeper
Progress, However
The Guide
Exquisitely Unseen
Conspirators
Priceless Records
Family Heroine
Valiant Emily
Ah, Briefly
Destiny Awaits
Even in Academia
Beloved Brother
Sweet Sister
Fortunate Father
Astonished
Perchance
Quietly Lived
Considerations
Better
Table of Illustrations
References
Forward

The curious reader will be enticed to discover the satisfaction found in ancestral research as you walk with this author in her discovery of family truths. To the avid military historian you will enjoy a renewed approach to the recording of factual research. Those who wore the Eagle Globe and Anchor and all Marines who revere the name of Chesty Puller, will begin a journey with the author and learn as she is discovering a deeper side to this legend.
In spite of bravery, heroism and gallantry during the circumstances that arise from time to time in the course of wars; all participants must return to the home front. Those individuals made “legends” of their time through the direct and indirect observations of others must still participate in the toughest fight: living their life not by man’s standards but by the standards demanded and yet relieved through the saving grace of God’s son Jesus Christ. Chesty Puller was raised in the Christian Faith and from birth to death there remains a deeper side to his story that is as relevant as his status as a hero.
This series you are about to read on a hero of our Corps will introduce you to the notion of Chesty Puller’s faith. It is written by an author who has been dedicated to the “Story Telling” of Marines and their families. One does not escape an interview with this author Ms. Meriwether Ball without telling their story from the heart. She unravels the real threads of truth about “who the person is”. Chesty Puller’s story will unfold in a series of Chronicles with regard to his home front. What shaped him, who was his hero, and where did he perhaps struggle with personal decisions of the faith and of the heart? He will become more real and relatable to the reader because of this author’s journey.
The chronicles’ style of writing is not for the world of academia but rather for a much larger world of those who are moved by the passion of truth. Our hero Chesty Puller remains a legend in this series of chronicles. The reader will be taken on a marvelous journey that pays tribute to this warfighting legend who still “toiled” in life decisions outside of combat with the joys, pride, hurts and realities of living.
Col. Robert J. Abblitt, USMC, (Ret.)
Introduction

A conversation with Marine Corps History Division's Annette Amerman ended with a plan to complete Lewis Burwell Puller, Sr.’s family tree, undocumented as yet in their collection.
Having embarked on the Great Marines book series, a Puller tome appeared a slight and light detour.
I did not expect to learn he and I are cousins. Or to learn his wife Virginia and I are cousins. Or his destiny was an absolute natural outcome of his ancestry. Or Jon Hoffman's book, Chesty, would be the unequivocal bible for all events of Puller's career. However, indeed, all are true.
Does weight of responsibility bear mercilessly upon me? True, that.
There are far more expert historians in and around our Marine Corps than your author. There are those who know the psychology of Marines, of great Marines, with greater clarity than I could dream to possess. There are theologians versed in the spiritual makings of our great leaders, territory I could not even border upon.
Complicating matters, the reverential voice required to express genetics’ impact on his life has been a stealthily moving target. Yet writing with any other tone would not only be disrespectful, it would fail to capture the history demanding to be shared.
Shutter the thought: chronicling Chesty’s quietly lived devotion may seem to some as endearing, but not important. Truly, this may not be a book for all who revere him. We remaining, however, may be delighted and inspired.
Consider this: for nearly 400 years, Chesty and his ancestors were members of less than a half-dozen churches. Their entire lives were born, raised, celebrated, mourned, baptized, married and interred in a handful of Virginian Episcopal Church parishes.
Does this fact alone not wholly describe his devotion to God? Does his continuation of his family’s rites of passage with such humbly duty not clarify the place of faith in his heart? It does.
Through my research, I believe Chesty was likely not a particularly brave man – and I realize some will read this and consider me treasonous.
He was something entirely more honorable: he believed himself completely unable to ignore God’s directions in his heart. His heroic actions were literally not optional.
He could no more have stayed at the rear while his young Marines faced peril at the front than you or I could stop breathing at will.
He could no more behave well politically when his knowledge would save young Marine’s lives than you or I could go indefinitely without food or water.
Still, the directions in Chesty’s heart may have differed from the norm. Perhaps the important choices over his lifetime seemed inappropriate or simply unwise, to others, upon review.
My research reveals little regarding how he processed regret, with one striking exception. Imaginably the greatest Marine once again remained honorable: he learned from his mistakes, or he withheld judgment of others, or he refrained from burdening others with his sorrow. Or, perhaps, all of the above.
His courage was borne of his faith, and the actions of his faithful, humble, and immensely courageous ancestors – immortalized only to him, and his family members.