John J. Pullen

Background

John J. Pullen was born on December 17, 1913, in Amity, Maine, United States. He was the son of Orrin Willis Pullen and Grace D. Reed Pullen.

Education

John Pullen studied at Colby College where he received a bachelor's degree in 1935.

He also received honorary degrees from Bowdoin, Colby, and Ricker colleges.

Career

John Pullen, after earning his degree in 1935, worked as a reporter for the Daily Kennebec Journal in Maine and then for Baker Advertising in Hartford. When World War II began, he enlisted in the army and became an artillery captain. After the war, he returned to advertising, this time with N. W. Ayer & Son in Philadelphia, where he was promoted to vice president and executive director of the copy department in 1958. He left advertising in 1965 to focus on his writing career.

Pullen's first published book, The Twentieth Maine: A Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War (1957), brought the all-but-forgotten story of Joshua Chamberlain and his heroic acts at the Battle of Gettysburg back to public attention. He wrote about Chamberlain again in Joshua Chamberlain: A Hero's Life and Legacy (1999). Pullen was also the author of several other books on American history and biography, including A Shower of Stars: The Medal of Honor and the 27th Maine (1966) and Comic Relief: The Life and Laughter of Artemus Ward, 1834-1867 (1983). He was also a regular contributor of feature articles for the Country Journal.

Achievements

• John Pullen was a recognized journalist who is considered to be one of the most highly respected Civil War journalists. He is best remembered for his historical writings about Union Army General Joshua Chamberlain. He was nominated for the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Joshua Chamberlain: A Hero's Life and Legacy

    (Joshua Chamberlain was much more than a war hero, and Pul...)

    1999
  • A Shower of Stars: The Medal of Honor and the 27th Maine

    (Since 1941 the Medal of Honor has been more often awarded...)

    1966
  • The Twentieth Maine: A Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War

    (This book tells the history of the brave Civil War soldie...)

    1957
  • Comic Relief: The Life and Laughter of Artemus Ward, 1834-1867 1983

Religion

John was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Brunswick.

Membership

John Pullen was a member of the Civil War Round Table and Joshua Chamberlain Statue Committee.

Connections

John Pullen was married twice. After the death of his first wife, Jean A. DeLong Pullen, he married Margaret Rogers on December 29, 1989.

Father:

Orrin Willis Pullen

1876-1962

Mother:

Grace D. Reed Pullen

1881-1972

late wife:

Jean A. DeLong Pullen

1911-1982

Wife:

Margaret Rogers