His division, the 101st Airborne, known as the Screaming Eagles, consisted of

ten battalions of airmobile light infantry, plus a half dozen battalions of

artillery supported by three aviation battalions of gunships and transports. It

had fully arrived in Vietnam in 1967 and had fought its way across the Central

Highlands. One of its most famous engagements was the battle for Hill 937, more

famously known as Hamburger Hill. Puller Sr. had been right in the middle of the

fight commanding his regiment in some of the most difficult terrain imaginable

against an entrenched foe. He had been wounded twice, but had never once left

the field of battle. Later, as they were stitching him up, he was barking orders

over the radio detailing how the next engagement should be fought.

 

Throughout his tours in Vietnam, Puller Sr. had accomplished whatever had been

demanded of him by his commanders and more.

 

Once he gained ground he did not give it up. He had been nearly overrun multiple

times by an enemy that valued dying in battle as a great honor. He had killed

and nearly been killed—sometimes by his own side as errant bombs exploded

dangerously close to his positions. He gave no quarter, asked for none, and

expected his men to perform at ever higher levels.

 

The 101st was the last division to leave Vietnam and did so with over twenty

thousand men killed and wounded during the course of the war. This was more than

twice the division’s losses in World War II.