It's a shame they don't make'em like this anymore.
Smedley Butler
July 30, 1881(1881-07-30) – June 21, 1940(1940-06-21) (aged 58)
Smedley D. Butler
Nickname "Old Gimlet Eye"
"The Fighting Quaker"
"Old Duckboard"
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania
Place of death Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Place of burial Oaklands Cemetery West Chester, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1898–1931
Rank Major General
Commands held 13th Marine Regiment
Marine Expeditionary Force, China
Battles/wars Spanish-American War
Philippine-American War
Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), nicknamed "The Fighting Quaker" and "Old Gimlet Eye", was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. During his 34-year career as a Marine, he participated in military actions in the Philippines, China, in Central America and the Caribbean during the Banana Wars, and France in World War I. By the end of his career he had received 16 medals, five of which were for heroism. He is one of 19 people to twice receive the Medal of Honor, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor, and the only person to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.
In addition to his military achievements, he served as the Director of Public Safety in Philadelphia for two years and was an outspoken critic of U.S. military adventurism. In his 1935 book War is a Racket, he described the workings of the military-industrial complex and, after retiring from service, became a popular speaker at meetings organized by veterans, pacifists and church groups in the 1930s.
In 1934 he was involved in a controversy known as the Business Plot when he told a congressional committee that a group of wealthy industrialists had approached him to lead a military coup to overthrow Franklin D. Roosevelt. The individuals that were involved denied the existence of a plot, and the media ridiculed the allegations. The final report of the committee stated that there was evidence that such a plot existed, but no charges were ever filed. The opinion of most historians is that while planning for a coup was not very advanced, wild schemes were discussed.
Butler continued his speaking engagements in an extended tour but in June 1940 checked himself into a naval hospital, dying a few weeks later from what was believed to be cancer. He was buried at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania; his home has been maintained as a memorial and contains memorabilia collected during his various careers.
Battle of Noveleta
Boxer Rebellion
Battle of Tientsin
Battle of San Tan Pating
Banana Wars
Siege of Granada
Battle of Coyotepe Hill
Infiltration of Mexico City
Battle of Fort Dipitie
Battle of Fort Riviere
Mexican Revolution
Battle of Veracruz
World War I
Western Front
Awards Medal of Honor (2)
Marine Corps Brevet Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
French Order of the Black Star
Other work Coal miner, Author, Public speaker, Director of Public Safety (Philadelphia) (1924–1925)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
Smedley Butler
July 30, 1881(1881-07-30) – June 21, 1940(1940-06-21) (aged 58)
Smedley D. Butler
Nickname "Old Gimlet Eye"
"The Fighting Quaker"
"Old Duckboard"
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania
Place of death Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Place of burial Oaklands Cemetery West Chester, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1898–1931
Rank Major General
Commands held 13th Marine Regiment
Marine Expeditionary Force, China
Battles/wars Spanish-American War
Philippine-American War
Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), nicknamed "The Fighting Quaker" and "Old Gimlet Eye", was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. During his 34-year career as a Marine, he participated in military actions in the Philippines, China, in Central America and the Caribbean during the Banana Wars, and France in World War I. By the end of his career he had received 16 medals, five of which were for heroism. He is one of 19 people to twice receive the Medal of Honor, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor, and the only person to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.
In addition to his military achievements, he served as the Director of Public Safety in Philadelphia for two years and was an outspoken critic of U.S. military adventurism. In his 1935 book War is a Racket, he described the workings of the military-industrial complex and, after retiring from service, became a popular speaker at meetings organized by veterans, pacifists and church groups in the 1930s.
In 1934 he was involved in a controversy known as the Business Plot when he told a congressional committee that a group of wealthy industrialists had approached him to lead a military coup to overthrow Franklin D. Roosevelt. The individuals that were involved denied the existence of a plot, and the media ridiculed the allegations. The final report of the committee stated that there was evidence that such a plot existed, but no charges were ever filed. The opinion of most historians is that while planning for a coup was not very advanced, wild schemes were discussed.
Butler continued his speaking engagements in an extended tour but in June 1940 checked himself into a naval hospital, dying a few weeks later from what was believed to be cancer. He was buried at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania; his home has been maintained as a memorial and contains memorabilia collected during his various careers.
Battle of Noveleta
Boxer Rebellion
Battle of Tientsin
Battle of San Tan Pating
Banana Wars
Siege of Granada
Battle of Coyotepe Hill
Infiltration of Mexico City
Battle of Fort Dipitie
Battle of Fort Riviere
Mexican Revolution
Battle of Veracruz
World War I
Western Front
Awards Medal of Honor (2)
Marine Corps Brevet Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
French Order of the Black Star
Other work Coal miner, Author, Public speaker, Director of Public Safety (Philadelphia) (1924–1925)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
