Awards
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
A New York Times Notable book of the Year
Synopses & Reviews
Lewis B. Puller, Jr.'s memoir is a moving story of a man born into a proud military legacy who struggles to rebuild his world after the Vietnam War has shattered his body and his ideals.
Raised in the shadow of his father, Marine General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, a hero of five wars, young Lewis Puller volunteered for the Vietnam War and served with distinction as an infantry officer in his father's beloved Corps. But when he tripped a booby-trapped howitzer round, triggering an explosion that would take his legs, his career as a soldier ended and the battle to reclaim his life began.
Lewis B. Puller, Jr.'s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir is an unforgettable account of one man's struggle to rebuild his world after the Vietnam War shattered his body and his ideals. It is an eloquent tribute to the true meaning of patriotism and the redemptive power of love.
Review
"Fortunate Son, like its protagonist, is frank, tough, and completely honest. On the surface, it is the story of a man's emergence from the shadow of a famous father, only to be challenged by war, crippling injury, and alcoholism. But underneath, Fortunate Son is an absorbing, inspiring, and very personal tale of how grit, courage, and the love of a good woman combined to overcome repeated adversity. This is compelling reading for anyone who wants to understand how deeply the Vietnam War affected its veterans on an individual, personal level." Senator Charles S. Robb
Review
"A haunting tribute to the names on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial....An important contribution to the personal literature of war." Herbert Mitgang, The New York Times
Review
"Captures with aching immediacy the turmoil that has been our recent past." Senator Robert Kerrey
Review
"Fortunate Son is a gripping book, partly because of the enormity of Puller's loss, but also because his candor reveals such human and unadorned truth." Gail Caldwell, The Boston Sunday Globe
Review
"One of the more honest and moving books ever written about the Vietnam War and its aftermath....[Puller is] a truly honorable witness to history." Patricia Holt, San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"An extraordinary story of survival. And of love." Mary Jordan, The Washington Post