Victor Harold Krulak was a decorated United States Marine Corps officer who saw action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Personal life

Krulak was born in Denver, Colorado, to Jewish parents, Bessie (Zall) and Morris Krulak. He later denied Jewish ancestry and claimed to have been raised Episcopalian. He was married to Amy Chandler from 1936 until her death in 2004. The couple had three children.

Marine Corps Career

Krulak was commissioned a United States Marine Corps second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy on May 31, 1934. Of diminutive stature, to receive his commission Krulak received an exemption; he was nevertheless a keen wrestler while at the Naval Academy, earning the nickname "Brute". In 1936, Lt. Krulak was coxswain in Navy's unsuccessful eight-man boat at the Olympic trials in Princeton, NJ.

His early Marine Corps service included sea duty aboard USS Arizona, an assignment at the United States Naval Academy; duty with the 6th Marines in San Diego and the 4th Marines in China (1937–39); completion of the Junior School, Quantico, Virginia (1940); and an assignment with the 1st Marine Brigade, FMF, later the 1st Marine Division.

While stationed as an observer in Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Krulak took photographs with a telephoto lens of a ramp-bowed landing boat that the Japanese had been using. Recognizing the potential use of such a craft by the U.S. armed forces, Krulak sent details and photographs back to Washington, but discovered years later that they had been filed away as having come from "some nut out in China". Krulak built a model of the Japanese boat design and discussed the retractable ramp approach with boat builder Andrew Higgins who incorporated elements of Krulak's input into the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or "Higgins boat", which played critical roles in the Normandy Landings and amphibious assaults in the Pacific.

Post-Military Career

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Krulak worked for Copley Newspapers, including serving as president of Copley News Service and vice president of Copley Press. He retired from Copley in 1977, though he continued to contribute to their news service.[15] Krulak also wrote a number of books, including the iconic Marine Corps history First to Fight. Krulak was a personal friend of Ronald Reagan. They wrote each other regularly.

In retirement, Krulak was active in community organizations, as well as participating in Marine Corps activities. He served as president and trustee of the Zoological Society of San Diego. His wife, Amy, died in 2004.

On December 29, 2008, Lieutenant General Krulak died at age 95 in San Diego, California. He was survived by his three sons – retired Marine Corps Commandant General Charles Krulak, Reverend Victor Krulak (Commander Navy Chaplain Corps), Reverend William Krulak (Colonel USMCR) – four grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Krulak's funeral was held on January 8, 2009, in the chapel at MCAS Miramar, with burial at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.