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Smedley ButlerAmerican military leader, major general of the US Marine Corps, twice recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Date of Birth: 30.07.1881
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Smedley Butler
Early Life and Military CareerSmedley Butler was an American military figure, a US Marine Corps major general, and a two-time recipient of the Medal of Honor. Known for his uncompromising character, he earned nicknames such as "Old Gimlet Eye" and "Old Duckboard" during his 34 years of service in the US Marine Corps. By the time of his death, he held the record for the highest number of military awards in the history of the Marine Corps.
After graduating from Haverford School, Butler began his military career and participated in combat operations around the world for one-third of a century. He served in the Philippines, China (during the Boxer Rebellion), Nicaragua (1910-1912), Cuba (1912), Mexico (1914), Haiti (1915), the Dominican Republic (1916), and fought in France during World War I. Butler received medals from the US Congress, the Distinguished Service Medal (1919), as well as numerous awards from other countries. By the end of his career, he had received 16 military awards, including 5 for personal heroism and bravery.
Retirement and Activism
Butler retired from military service on October 1, 1931. After leaving the US Armed Forces, he served as the Director of Public Safety in Philadelphia for two years and became a staunch critic of American military adventurism. In his book "War is a Racket" (1935), Butler exposed the nature of the military-industrial complex and the vested interests of its leaders and magnates in perpetuating wars. He quickly became a popular speaker, addressing gatherings of veterans, pacifists, and religious groups throughout the 1930s.
In 1934, Butler was involved in a major scandal related to his public accusations of a conspiracy by military industrialists to stage a coup against President Franklin Roosevelt. The individuals targeted by Butler's sharp criticism denied these accusations and laughed off his so-called exposés. However, the final report of a special committee in the US Congress confirmed the existence of a conspiracy, although no one was prosecuted. Many historians believe that the conspiracy among industrialists and high-ranking military officials was still in its early planning stages and had only rough outlines that were being discussed.
