This article chronicles the life of Lewis Puller from birth (1945) to suicide by a gunshot to his head in 1994. It describes his childhood as the son of a famous USA marine, brief involvement in the Vietnam war which destroyed both legs & damaged both hands, his views on the war, his depression, an unsuccessful bid to run for Congress, turn to alcoholism, first attempt at suicide in 1979, & a dependency to painkillers. Two years prior to his suicide, his autobiography had won a Pulitzer Prize.