The most decorated Marine in history became a fierce critic of American military intervention.

History · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Smedley Butler earned two Medals of Honor and sixteen decorations during a thirty-four-year career spanning the Boxer Rebellion to the Banana Wars. Yet, after retiring, he famously denounced the military as a tool for corporate profit, claiming his service had largely protected the interests of wealthy American business owners.

Born in 1881 to a politically connected Pennsylvania family, Smedley Butler enlisted in the Marine Corps at seventeen, lying about his age to join the Spanish-American War. His rapid ascent was marked by combat in the Philippines, China, and across Central America. By the time he led the 1915 assault on Fort Rivière in Haiti, he had secured his second Medal of Honor, a rare distinction shared only with Dan Daly. His reputation for bravery was matched by his administrative skill, notably transforming the chaotic Camp Pontanezen in France during World War I into a model debarkation hub.

Despite his battlefield success, Butler grew disillusioned with the motives behind U.S. foreign policy. During his time in Nicaragua and the Caribbean, he observed that military force was frequently deployed to secure monopolies for American companies, such as the United Fruit Company. In his 1935 book, he argued that imperialist goals, rather than national defense, drove many of the interventions he had personally led. He became a vocal anti-war advocate, speaking to veterans and pacifists until his death in 1940, while simultaneously maintaining a complex legacy as a decorated soldier who turned against the system he helped build.

Butler’s later years were defined by controversy, most notably his 1933 testimony regarding the Business Plot. He alleged that a group of wealthy industrialists had approached him to lead a coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While the accused denied the claims and the media mocked his testimony, a special House of Representatives committee investigation eventually confirmed parts of his account. This episode underscored his transition from a reliable military officer to a disruptive public figure who challenged the intersection of American political power, corporate influence, and military force.

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