Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller died in 1971 after a career in the Marine Corps that spanned 37 years and three wars. To this day, “Chesty” is the Corps’ most decorated Marine and a giant every jarhead knows by name. At boot camp, recruits often shout, “Goodnight Chesty! Wherever you are!” in homage to the legendary leatherneck. Fifty years after his death, Chesty Puller is still serving the Marine Corps, most recently by lending his name to the evacuation efforts in Kabul.
When the situation at Hamid Karzai International Airport deteriorated into crowds of desperate Afghans vying for limited seats on departing flights, the difference between success and failure sometimes came down to creativity. Through the coordination of veterans in the United States, Marines on the ground in Kabul, and a former Afghan interpreter, a clever plan was devised to help one man stand out amid the unruly crowds.
