Bennet Puryear Jr.

Bennet Puryear Jr. (January 9, 1884 – February 11, 1982) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. During his service in World War I, he was decorated with the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Puryear spent his career mostly in Quartermaster Department of the Marine Corps beginning in the field assignments, ultimately reaching the general's rank and capacity of the Assistant Quartermaster of the Marine Corps and deputy to Seth Williams.

He subsequently entered the Marine Corps service and was commissioned second lieutenant on September 12, 1905. Puryear was subsequently ordered to the School of Application at Annapolis, Maryland, for further officer training, which he completed in September 1906. He was subsequently attached to the Marine Expeditionary Force and sailed to Cuba in order to suppress armed revolt of independence war veterans who defeated the meager government forces. Puryear remained in Cuba for more than two years and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in May 1908.

Following the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in November 1918, armistice was signed and Puryear and all his service with 5th Marines was rewarded with Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Retirement

Following his retirement, general Puryear Jr. settled in Arlington, Virginia, and was active in the Marine Corps Historical Foundation, where he received a Certificate of Appreciation by Commandant Robert H. Barrow for his contributions to the Oral History Program.

General Puryear died of heart attack on February 11, 1982. Puryear was married to Harriet Newell Ragland Hill until her death in March 1942. He then remarried to Elizabeth Gary (1898–1987). He had a son from first marriage, Alan Christian Puryear (1914–1986) who served as first lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. General Puryear Jr. is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in his native Richmond, Virginia.