Who was the toughest of all Marines throughout U.S. history? Why??

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Tue, 19 May 2015 13:54:26 -0400

Simple. Who was the toughest Marine in U.S. history, in your opinion? Support your argument....

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 19 at 2015 1:59 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 19 May 2015 13:59:49 -0400

Chesty Puller with out a doubt. For a Marine to have been awarded 5 Navy Crosses in my book makes him a bad ass! Not to mention Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit (2), Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal, Combat "V", and a Purple Heart Medal

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 19 at 2015 2:04 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:04:57 -0400

Cpl Carpenter jumped on a grenade, lived, then ran a marathon.

Legend has it his glass eye had the purple heart on it at one point.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:14 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:14:02 -0400

“Toughest” could have serval meanings….i’m going to go with “Not easily broken.” Using that definition I would have to say Marine SSgt Albert Luke Ireland is the toughest Marine. I support this with one fact…he was awarded 9 Purple Heart Medals during his service in WWI and Korea (5 and 4 respectively.) the most ever awarded to a single individual of the United States Armed Forces.

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made May 19 at 2015 2:21 PM

SGT Anthony Bussing — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:21:27 -0400

lets not forget Dan Daily and Smedly Butler...they were both awarded TWO MoH's....thats pretty bad ass,if you ask me...lol..

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 19 at 2015 2:28 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:28:12 -0400

Not to take anything away from any other nominees, but SgtMaj Kasal comes to mind.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:35:38 -0400

MG Smedley Butler, MAJ Louis Cukela, SGM Daniel Daly, SGM Ernest Janson, PVT John Kelly, SGT Matej kocak, CPL John Pruitt.........All 2 time MOH recipients

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made May 19 at 2015 2:47 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:47:19 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver - so THAT's why...don't know how come it took so long to figure out.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 4:00 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 16:00:29 -0400

Sgt Mjr Dan Daly, GySgt John Basilone, Col John Glenn, Lt Gen Chesty Puller, Mjr Gen Smedley Butler

There is no ranking they are all equally bad ass

Response by Cpl Peter Martuneac made May 19 at 2015 10:18 PM

Cpl Peter Martuneac — Tue, 19 May 2015 22:18:06 -0400

Easy. PFC Jack Lucas. Look him up, his story is incredible.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 10:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 22:39:28 -0400

I'm pretty sure this is blasphemy.

Response by Cpl Joshua Wehrman made May 20 at 2015 12:45 PM

Cpl Joshua Wehrman — Wed, 20 May 2015 12:45:26 -0400

I think this is a stupid post and find it offensive to the 25 brothers I lost and the hundreds physically wounded and more mentally during our 2010-2011 deployment with 3/5 in Sangin Afghanistan

Response by Sgt Jim Brooks made May 20 at 2015 1:56 PM

Sgt Jim Brooks — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:56:33 -0400

Sgt Dan Daly is the toughest Marine. One of only two Marines to be awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Learn more about this Bad Ass Marine at: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/daly.html

There are a lot of Chesty and Mattis sayings but Sgt Daly is remembered for the following. "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" at the battle of Belleau Wood.

Badass of the Week: Dan Daly

The ultimate list of all badasses past and present.

Response by Cpl Kristoffer Mischel made May 20 at 2015 11:15 PM

Cpl Kristoffer Mischel — Wed, 20 May 2015 23:15:00 -0400

There are too many Marines from history that have left their mark. They all earned their titles, they all served, and they all deserve to carry the title the toughest. I have seen some pretty tough SOB's in my time with the Corps. It's not the amount of medals or ribbons that get put on your chest that makes you tough. Its the getting the crap kicked out of you day to day and still lacing up the boots in the morning and marching on. Its picking up your brother so he can have a chance to march on another day and being able to face back down range. Each of my brothers that I served with, and all of my brothers still serving deserve the title. Granted Chesty, Daly, Basilone and all of the icons of history are tough, but there are so many unsung hero's out there lacing up and marching on, whether it be in the service still or making a life for themselves outside the military.

Response by SSG Paul Setterholm made May 21 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSG Paul Setterholm — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:06:14 -0400

You've never been batman and I in the same room at the same time either. Just saying. ;)

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 6:24 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 18:24:03 -0400

Hmmm... Don't know his rank but one name comes to mind. "White feather" as the North vietnamese named him.... Carlos Hathcock. Marine sniper. 93 confirmed kills during the vietnam war. And his story with the enemy sniper named "cobra" makes him more of a badass than anyone

Response by SSG John Erny made May 22 at 2015 6:23 PM

SSG John Erny — Fri, 22 May 2015 18:23:01 -0400

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pappy_Boyington

I have to put my 2 cents in for Pappy Boyington, shooting down 26 enemy Aircraft has to count for something plus being a Flying Tiger Prior to the war.

Pappy Boyington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912– January 11, 1988) was a highly decorated American combat pilot who was a United States Marine Corps fighter ace during World War II. He received both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made May 22 at 2015 8:56 PM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Fri, 22 May 2015 20:56:12 -0400

Master Chief of course.

Response by LCpl Brent Callender made May 24 at 2015 9:31 PM

LCpl Brent Callender — Sun, 24 May 2015 21:31:56 -0400

Every marine to earn the eagle globe and anchor

Response by LCpl Larry Miller made May 31 at 2015 12:05 AM

LCpl Larry Miller — Sun, 31 May 2015 00:05:03 -0400

As leader Chesty Puller he work his as off with his troops and always led from the front not from behind a desk

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2017 7:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:33:54 -0500

I know this might sound lame coming from a ret ARMY NCO, but I think during a time of war all soldiers who fought honorably in every branch have been, are and always will be some of the greatest heroes I have ever had the pleasure of serving with and learning from. I can only hope as a mother that all my children share in the same patriotic love and respect for our country, it's Flag and all of those who proudly protect it. Thank you everyone for your service and selfless sacrifice.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Jan 26 at 2017 4:33 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:33:58 -0500

2 of my older brothers both Marines in Vietnam one was wounded twice once by grenade (Still has the shrapnel in his back) at Saigon and shot on patrol before rotating home. The other had 2 trucks blown out from under him (had shrapnel in his back also till the day he died 30 years later from skin cancer Agent orange)

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 6:21 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 06:21:39 -0500

In all, the Guadalcanal Marines get my vote.

Response by SMSgt Roger Horton made Feb 14 at 2017 6:47 AM

SMSgt Roger Horton — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 06:47:37 -0500

There has been some good responses and each one that responded had their reasons for their choice but to pick one would be the toughest task. I think back to my tour in Vietnam of the tunnel rats who crawled into tunnels with a 45 and a flash light, to the chopper pilots and crews that flew in for the wounded, the COs that wrote letters to a loved one of their loss, and the Docs that took care of the wounded under fire. The toughest as as group I would have to say Mothers ans wives of those shipped off to war.

Response by Sgt William Collins made Feb 14 at 2017 8:37 AM

Sgt William Collins — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:37:01 -0500

I don't think you can answer this question fairly. On first impression I figured Kyle Carpenter took the call because jumping on a hand grenade, surviving and then fighting back to health rated it. But he's only the current tough guy. When you go back in Marine history, there are so many heroic Marines who proved themselves over and over again that you'll never make a choice which doesn't exclude a bunch of guys who also deserve the title.

Response by LtCol William Coenen made Feb 14 at 2017 8:47 AM

LtCol William Coenen — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:47:21 -0500

Fortunately, just about all of them

Response by LCpl James Robertson made Feb 14 at 2017 9:22 AM

LCpl James Robertson — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:22:14 -0500

Chesty Puller and Colonel "Bull" Fisher, I meet Colonel Fisher years ago before retiring off the Police Department.

Response by SGT Richard DeVoe made Feb 14 at 2017 1:30 PM

SGT Richard DeVoe — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:30:53 -0500

Every Man or Woman who has ever put on a uniform of the United States Marine Corps.
Semper Fi

Response by Cpl Don "GUNNY" Miller made Feb 14 at 2017 5:12 PM

Cpl Don "GUNNY" Miller — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 17:12:37 -0500

Chesty Puller

Response by SSgt James Nicholas made Feb 15 at 2017 1:45 AM

SSgt James Nicholas — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 01:45:36 -0500

If I had to choose only one, it would be Chesty Puller. However, I have to give some respect to my fellow Marine Cpl Carpenter. So Cpl Carpent, HOO RAH!! and as for Chesty Puller, goodnight where ever you are. SEMPER FI!!

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Feb 15 at 2017 2:36 AM

Cpl Christopher Bishop — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 02:36:19 -0500

I think the question itself is rather vague, and far too open to different interpretations...

Define "Toughest", and if possible, distinguish it from "Most decorated".

Define "Most decorated". I mean Chesty Puller may have 5 Navy Crosses, but not a single MoH. Does "most decorated" have to include a MoH? Why or why not?

Is it possible to establish an actual standard of measure about "During which conflict or scenario" such that the very timing of certain awards issued would mean some hold more "weight" than others?

Duding which Administration were the awards issued? This should be a valid question because some are more stingy in the interest of preserving their value, whiles hand them out like candy in the interest to show more appreciation (or at least appear as such publicly).

I might consider limitting the question a bit.

IIRC 2nd BN 5th MarDiv is the most decorated unit. I am not sure if it means the most decorated individual has to have been in that unit or not.

My pointbis that if the question implies an answer to be measurable (MOST) then the answers must also actually be measurable.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 10:43 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:43:19 -0400

Chesty Puller, no further explanation required.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Feb 10 at 2020 2:40 AM

SPC Nancy Greene — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 02:40:08 -0500

‘Chesty’ Chesterton!
No Explanation or Arguement Needed!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 5:52 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 05:52:06 -0500

Prepare to mount, Aye sir. Mount. Zero. Goodnight Chesty wherever you are! Rest.

Basilone with Puller on the canal, Ole Gimlet Eye Smedley Butler, THE SgtMaj Dan Daly, just too many to name in recent years - Wilson Fox Vargas Livingston Modrzejewski Barnum Kellogg Howard Pitman and from all wars past. Then there's the next generation. Corporal Dunham, Sergeant Meyer, and Corporal (one of many, along with PFCs and PVTs in years past) Carpenter. Such as Regiments hand forever. Semper Fidelis

https://valor.defense.gov/Recipients/Marine-Corps-Medal-of-Honor-Recipients/

Marine Corps - Medal of Honor Recipients - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3

Note to users: To search this list for a specific name, hit both "Ctrl" and "F" on your keyboard. This will bring up your browser's "Find" function, where you can enter the last name of an individual and skip to them on the list. Additionally, you can jump to the letter of the alphabet that their last name starts with on the blue alphabet found below. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Feb 10 at 2020 6:41 AM

1SG John Highfill — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 06:41:20 -0500

Back in my day it was Chesty Puller I’m sure his name is still revered But all combat Soldiers are hero’s

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 10 at 2020 10:27 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:27:06 -0500

The toughest marine can easily be someone we don’t know of.