Lewis Puller

The author of Fortunate Son, Lewis B. Puller, Jr. (1945-1994) was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and lived on various military installations until his father’s retirement from the Marine Corps in 1955, when his family settled in Saluda, Virginia. Upon graduation from the College of William and Mary, he joined the Marine Corps, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and served in Vietnam until his wounds caused his evacuation and subsequent retirement. He was awarded the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, the Navy Commendation Medal with valor device, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He graduated from Marshall Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary. He was a senior attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Department of Defense.