Chesty Puller

Born in West Point, Virginia, Chesty Puller was, to put it mildly, not Jewish. His family tree appears to be rooted firmly in good old American soil, with nary a rabbi or a shofar in sight. He was, by all accounts, a devout Episcopalian, which is about as far from a Jew as you can get while still acknowledging the Old Testament.

Puller served with distinction in multiple conflicts, including the Banana Wars, World War II, and the Korean War, earning five Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Service Cross, and a slew of other medals. He famously said, "They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away this time." A true kvell-worthy achievement, particularly if your nachas comes from watching Marines do battle.

While he might not have been lighting menorahs, Chesty's unwavering courage and leadership embodied a certain chutzpah. He inspired generations of Marines, proving that sometimes, simply refusing to lose is a victory in itself. Though we can't claim him as one of our own, we can certainly appreciate his steadfast dedication to telling the enemy precisely where to shove it.