Fortunate Son: An Autobiography

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The author is the son of WW II hero ``Chesty'' Puller, arguably the most colorful and admired Marine of them all. Seeking to emulate his father, the author joined the Corps after college and entered officers' training with the intention of becoming a combat leader. In 1968, while commanding an infantry platoon in Vietnam, Lieutenant Puller tripped a booby trap and lost both legs and one hand in the explosion. He describes his protracted hospitalization, which included a series of operations and an unsuccessful attempt to learn how to walk with the use of artificial limbs. Puller eventually became a lawyer, served on President Ford's Clemency Board, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Virginia and joined the Pentagon's legal department. His well-written autobiography is an inspiring account by a man who fought hard to win major battles over physical helplessness, severe depressions and alcoholism. Readers will treasure the author's recollections of ``Chesty'' (clearly a wonderful father) but may find the description of the old general's decline and death as painful as the account of the son's ordeal. 50,000 ad/promo; author tour. (June)

Library Journal

Son of Korean War hero ``Chesty'' Puller, Lewis B. Puller Jr. graduated from college and then volunteered for the Marine Corps in order to carry on the family tradition. His Vietnam tour in the spring of 1968 was terminated by a booby-trapped howitzer round which left him without legs and parts of both hands. Returning home to his wife and soon-to-be-born child, his predictably difficult readjustment had dark periods of alcoholism. However, he faced his challenge and climbed from the pit of despair. His greatest accomplishments include running for Congress in Virginia, completing his law degree, and his current, longstanding service as a lawyer at the Pentagon. His is an inspiring story of genuine courage, written with intelligence and restraint. This compares well with Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic's more visceral classic of overcoming severe disability, Born on the Fourth of July (McGraw, 1976.) Highly recommended.-- Richard W. Grefrath, Univ. of Nevada Lib . , Reno

School Library Journal

YA-- This personal narrative of one man's struggle to reconcile family military traditions with a brutally realistic present is a worthy addition to YA collections. Lewis Puller, son of ``Chesty'' Puller, the Corps' most decorated Marine, volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam. Three months later he returned home with both legs missing and extensive damage to his hands. What followed was a courageous struggle to get on with his life. With the support of his wife and family, Puller went to law school. He served on President Ford's Clemency Board, ran for Congress from Virginia, and became active in veterans' affairs. He also battled alcoholism. Teens will get a strong feeling for the Vietnam War era and how veterans were affected as well as a vivid picture of a man who overcame tremendous adversity to succeed. --Carol Clark, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA