Lewis B. Puller earned five Navy Crosses and, in Nicaragua, commanded a force of how many Marines?

• A. 32 Marines
• B. 20 Marines
• C. 50 Marines
• D. 12 Marines

Answer: (A)

In that Nicaragua period, leadership and tactics often outweighed raw manpower. He commanded a small detachment of Marines—32 fighters—and used aggressive patrols, mobility, and close familiarity with the terrain to achieve decisive results. The ability to lead effectively with a tight, well-disciplined unit is a hallmark of his storied career, which is also reflected in his multiple Navy Cross recognitions. So the force size at that time was 32 Marines.