MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- "Goodnight Chesty Puller, wherever you are."
-- Unofficial line spoken at the end of the Marines Prayer.
Most of us have heard the commercials where nine out of 10 dentists recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum, and variations thereof. But invariably, it is always nine out of 10, no matter what profession is doing the touting or what product is being sold.
Ask a Marine who Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller is though, and 10 out of 10 will know. Every time.
For those service members in other branches, or civilians, who don't, Chesty Puller was a Marine officer and enlisted man for 37 years, a colorful and highly decorated veteran of expeditionary service in China, Haiti and Nicaragua, in addition to heroically serving in World War II and the Korean War. He is the only Marine to have earned the Navy Cross five times for gallantry in combat, and once remarked during a battle, "We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem." To put it simply, Chesty Puller was a Marine's Marine.
And there's a bit of Chesty Puller right here at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.
That's because Chesty's great niece, Matthew C. Perry High School sophomore Cassie Evans Carson, 15, now calls Iwakuni home.
"I never realized the true significance of being related to Chesty Puller until we moved to Iwakuni and onto a Marine base," said Carson. "People just kind of stare at me when I tell them he was my uncle and don't really seem to believe me."
Well, they can start believing, because Carson?s grandfather on her father's side, Bob McC Evans, was the brother of the former Virginia Evans, who would later became Mrs. Lewis B. Puller.
"He died 16 years before I was born," said Carson, referring to Chesty Puller's death on October 11, 1971 at the age of 73. "And even though I never got to meet him, his presence was always alive at their house in Saluda, Va. Aunt Virginia is still living, and she always talks about Chesty. I can tell by listening to her stories that they were very much in love. His medals are displayed all over the house and there are also pictures of him everywhere. He is gone but his memory is definitely kept alive."
Carson got plenty of opportunity to learn of Chesty?s lore through frequent visits to the Puller household, which is located just over the river from where Carson grew up in Urbana, Va.
"Every thing I learned about Chesty I learned from Aunt Virginia," said Carson, who spent her time playing with Chesty's grandchildren when she wasn't listening to her aunt's stories. "I learned that even though he was a tough Marine, he had a softer side at home. At home he was dad, grandpa or uncle, just like anybody else."
According to Cassie's stepfather, Phil Carson, a math teacher at M.C. Perry High School, Cassie is just starting to understand the significance of being the niece of Chesty Puller.
"Before coming to Iwakuni she had never lived on a Marine Corps base," said Phil. "The importance of Chesty Puller and his legend have really gained in her mind since we first arrived here, and in my mind also."
For her part, Cassie said she couldn't agree more.
"I feel a certain responsibility now to conduct my self in the best way I possibly can at all times," said Cassie. "I wouldn't want to disrespect his name in anyway by not doing my best in everything I do."
There seems little problem of that happening, as Cassie maintains her average as a top student while juggling the extra curricular activities of cheerleading, jazz choir, Model United Nations, softball and soccer.
Cassie also has big plans for the future.
"I want to attend college at Florida State, continue to cheer, and study forensic medicine or Marine biology," said Cassie.
When asked if there was any chance of her following in her uncle's footsteps to a career in the Marine Corps, Cassie could only smile.
"I said I wanted to be a Marine biologist, not a Marine," said Cassie playfully. "Seriously though, you never know, maybe I will join the Corps one day, or maybe I'll end up marrying a Marine someday."
Somewhere, Chesty Puller is smiling, wherever he is.