july june united_states marine_corps major general highest rank authorized time time death decorated marine history year career marine participated military actions philippines china central_america caribbean banana wars france world war butler known having later outspoken critic wars consequences exposing alleged plan overthrow government end career butler received medals heroism men receive medal honor twice awarded marine_corps medal medal honor marine awarded medal medals honor separate actions involved controversy known told congressional committee group wealthy planning military coup overthrow butler selected lead march veterans dictator similar fascist regimes time individuals involved denied existence plot media ridiculed allegations final report special confirmed butler testimony butler wrote book entitled war described criticized workings united_states foreign actions wars including american corporations motivations retiring service popular activist speaking meetings organized veterans church groups 1930s early life born july pennsylvania eldest sons parents thomas née butler descended local families parents entirely english ancestry united_states father lawyer judge years congressman chair maternal grandfather republican congressman butler attended followed secondary school popular sons upper class philadelphia families athlete captain baseball team quarterback football team wishes father left school days seventeenth birthday enlist marine_corps spanish american war awarded high school diploma june end final year stated completed scientific course credit military career spanish american war anti spanish war butler lied age receive direct commission marine second lieutenant trained corner 8th streets july went bay cuba arriving shortly invasion capture company soon returned short break assigned armored cruiser uss new_york months came home mustered service february april accepted commission lieutenant marine_corps philippine american war marine_corps sent manila philippines garrison duty little butler turned alcohol relieve drunk temporarily relieved command unspecified incident room october saw combat action led marines town filipino rebels known initial moments assault sergeant wounded butler briefly panicked quickly regained led marines pursuit fleeing enemy noon marines dispersed rebels taken town marine killed wounded marines humid tropical heat excitement combat garrison duty routine butler large eagle globe anchor tattoo started throat extended waist met fellow marine maintained lifelong friendship received command company guam allowed select officers chose butler departed orders changed sent china aboard uss help boxer rebellion boxer rebellion china butler initially deployed took july subsequent saw mutilated remains japanese soldiers saw marine officer fall wounded climbed trench rescue butler shot thigh marine helped safety shot despite leg wound butler assisted wounded officer rear enlisted men receive medal honor battle butler commanding officer major personally commended wrote reward proper following officers lieutenant admirable control men fights week saving wounded man risk life severe fire commissioned officers eligible receive medal honor butler instead received promotion captain recovered hospital weeks nineteenth birthday eligible marine_corps medal created marines receive citation reads secretary navy takes pleasure lieutenant medal awarded accordance distinguished conduct public service presence enemy serving near china july march lieutenant butler appointed captain rank july banana wars butler participated series police actions united_states central_america caribbean commonly called banana wars goal protect american commercial interests region particularly company significant financial stakes production tobacco sugar cane products caribbean central_america northern portions south_america trying advance political interests maintaining influence region especially control panama canal started spanish american war ended withdrawal troops haiti president good neighbor policy retirement butler outspoken critic business interests caribbean criticizing ways businesses wall street imposed agenda united_states foreign policy period honduras butler stationed puerto_rico hearing rumors revolt united_states government ordered unit supporting naval detachment sail honduras miles west defend honduras converted banana boat renamed butler marines landed port town letter home described action prepared land shoot everybody breaking peace instead found quiet town marines boarded continued coast line looking rebels towns found arrived heard gunfire came battle progress waged hours rebels called government soldiers local fort sight marines fighting ceased butler led detachment marines american found consul wrapped american flag hiding floor beams soon marines left area shaken consul battle resumed soon controlled government expedition butler earned nicknames old eye attributed eyes suffering unnamed fever time enhanced penetrating marriage business campaign butler returned philadelphia married philadelphia new_jersey june best man wedding commanding officer china lieutenant colonel couple eventually children daughter sons butler assigned garrison duty philippines launched resupply mission stormy waters isolated outpost ran rations diagnosed having nervous breakdown received months sick leave spent home successfully managed coal west_virginia returned active duty marine_corps opportunity central_america butler served nicaragua enforcing policy led battalion relief rebel besieged city time degree fever december commanded panama august temporarily detached command expeditionary battalion participated september bombardment assault capture nicaragua october remained nicaragua november rejoined marines battalion camp panama veracruz mexico medal honor butler family living panama january ordered report marine officer battleship squadron coast mexico near veracruz monitor revolutionary movement like leaving family home established panama intended request orders home soon determined needed march butler navy lieutenant later admiral went ashore veracruz way mexico purpose trip allow butler discuss details future expedition mexico plan required butler way country develop detailed invasion plan inside borders spy mission butler enthusiastic started admiral explained plan commanders washington agreed butler given ahead entered mexico way mexico_city posing railroad official named johnson chief railroad inspector city saying searching lost railroad employee lost employee fact employee said lost existed ruse gave butler access areas city process called search located weapons use mexican army determined sizes units states readiness updated maps verified railroad lines use impending invasion march returned veracruz information gathered presented commanders invasion plan eventually scrapped authorities loyal detained small american naval landing party mexico known president discovered arms shipment arrive mexico sent contingent marines sailors veracruz intercept april days street fighting sniper fire posed threat butler force door door search rooted resistance april landing force marines sailors secured city held months end conflict americans reported dead wounded mexican forces dead wounded actions veracruz united_states decided minimize changed plans invasion mexico simply maintaining city veracruz actions april butler awarded medal honor citation reads distinguished conduct battle engagement april major butler eminent conspicuous command battalion exhibited courage skill leading men action final occupation city occupation veracruz military personnel received medal honor unusually high number diminished somewhat prestige award army presented went marines bestowed navy personnel world war butler major attempted return medal explaining deserve medal returned orders wear haiti second medal honor members populace killed president response united_states ordered uss connecticut haiti major butler group marines board october estimated ambushed butler patrol mounted marines approached surrounded marines maintained perimeter night morning charged larger enemy force breaking directions fled early november butler force marines sailors returned mountains clear area temporary headquarters base fought attack americans took forts following days old french built stronghold atop left operation butler given companies marines sailors uss connecticut men encircled fort gradually closed butler reached fort southern 15th company found small opening wall marines entered opening engaged hand hand combat butler marines took rebel stronghold november action received second medal honor medal honor entire battle lasted minutes marine injured assault struck rock lost teeth fort killed butler exploits impressed assistant secretary navy recommended award based butler performance engagement medal approved presented butler achieved distinction shared marines receive medal honor twice separate actions citation reads extraordinary heroism action commanding officer detachments 5th 13th companies marine sailor detachment major butler led attack haiti november following concentrated drive different detachments marines gradually closed old french fort effort cut avenues retreat reaching fort southern small opening wall major butler gave signal attack marines 15th company poured breach engaged hand hand combat took crushed resistance action major butler conspicuous bravery forceful leadership subsequently initial organizer commanding officer native police force butler established record capable administrator supervision social order administered dictatorship largely restored vital public works projects successfully completed recalled later time haiti troops hunted like pigs world war world war butler disappointment assigned combat command western requests posting france writing letters personal friend butler superiors considered brave brilliant described unreliable october promoted rank brigadier general age placed command camp brest france depot troops camp disorganized secretary sent novelist report camp later described butler tackled problems butler began solving problem mud ground tents mud raided wharf brest longer needed trenches mile hill camp provided way protection men sleep general authorized shoulder patch units earned butler nickname old service awarded citation medal states president united_states_of_america authorized act congress july takes pleasure presenting brigadier general exceptionally distinguished services government united_states duty great responsibility world war brigadier general butler commanded ability energy brest time developed largest camp world confronted problems extraordinary magnitude supervising reception entertainment departure large numbers officers soldiers passing camp solved conspicuous success performing services highest character citation states president united_states_of_america takes pleasure presenting brigadier general exceptionally distinguished services france world war brigadier general butler organized trained commanded 13th regiment marines 5th brigade marines commanded ability energy camp brest time developed largest camp world confronted problems extraordinary magnitude supervising reception entertainment departure large numbers officers soldiers passing camp solved conspicuous success performing services highest character following war commanding general marine_corps base virginia transformed wartime training camp permanent marine post training exercise western virginia told local farmer arm buried nearby replied squad marines dig spot prove wrong butler found arm box later replaced wooden box metal arm left plaque granite monument marking burial place jackson arm plaque longer marker viewed battlefield visitor center china service butler commander china influence generals protection interests ultimately winning public acclaim chinese leaders butler returned united_states promoted major general age youngest major general marine_corps directed camp growth corps butler won national attention taking thousands men long field marches led civil war battle sites conducted large scale crowds distinguished spectators butler violated diplomatic norms publicly gossip dictator allegedly struck killed child speeding automobile hit run accident italian government protested president strongly disliked butler forced secretary navy court martial butler general officer placed arrest civil war apologized secretary adams court martial canceled director public safety urging butler father newly elected mayor asked leave marines director public safety official charge running city police fire departments philadelphia municipal government corrupt butler initially refused asked president intervene contacted butler authorized necessary leave corps request president butler served post january december began new job assembling city police shifts introduce inform things change charge replaced corrupt police officers cases switched entire units city local protection hours taking butler organized raids ordering cases destroyed addition raiding attempted eliminate illegal activities prostitution gambling police corruption political ordered social elite favorite drinking establishments served working class effective reducing crime police corruption controversial leader instance statement promote officer kill stated don believe single notch policeman guns sic city local citizens police felt raids raids continued weeks implemented programs improve city safety security established policies guidelines administration developed philadelphia police uniform resembled marine_corps changes included military style city chasing squads armed armored police cars press began reporting good bad aspects butler personal war crime reports praised new uniforms new programs reductions crime reflected public negative opinion new director felt aggressive tactics resented reductions civil rights stopping citizens city butler frequently swore radio addresses causing citizens suggest behavior particularly language inappropriate rank stature suggested butler acted like military dictator charging active duty marines raids major federal prohibition commissioner visited city months butler appointed announced great progress city attributed success butler eventually butler leadership style actions undermined support community departure imminent mayor reported press bring philadelphia fire feeling duties philadelphia coming end butler contacted general prepare return marine_corps city felt bad job news started break leaving people began gather group supporters assembled negotiated truce mayor philadelphia longer president authorized year extension butler devoted second year executing arrest cracking police enforcing prohibition january leave marine_corps ended president declined request second extension butler received orders report san_diego prepared family belongings new assignment light pending departure butler began mayor key city officials eve departure article printed paper stating intention stay finish job mayor surprised furious read press release morning demanded resignation years office butler resigned pressure stating later cleaning philadelphia worse battle military retirement commandant marine_corps major general died july butler time senior major general corps candidate position significant support inside outside corps including marine_corps generals seriously considered petitioned president garnered support senate flooded secretary navy desk letters support recent death influential father butler lost protection civilian superiors characterized run ins mayor philadelphia mentioned superiors opposing posting western comments resurfaced end position commandant went fuller years commissioned service butler considered controversial butler requested retirement left active duty october later years retiring corps butler began developing career took commission established oregon governor commission laid foundations began events conferences retirement marines took time donated earnings lucrative lecture circuits philadelphia unemployment relief toured western united_states making speeches returning daughter marriage marine aviator lieutenant wedding time wore dress blue uniform left marines senate campaign butler announced candidacy republican primary pennsylvania march proponent prohibition known dry butler allied defeated april primary election vote incumbent senator candidate received remainder votes according biographer butler moved politically far left voting president senate campaign butler spoke veterans bonus veterans world war work beginning great depression sought immediate cash payment granted years earlier world war adjusted compensation act service certificate issued qualified veteran soldier bore face value equal soldier promised payment plus compound interest problem certificates like bonds matured years date original issuance extant law june approximately world war veterans families affiliated groups protested washington known marched washington advocate passage soldier bonus service world war congress bonus remained city july bonus shot police causing entire mob hostile fbi known checked records obtain police records individuals arrested riots participated bonus march veterans camp flats awaited congressional decision pay bonus motion known bill decisively defeated veterans stayed camp butler arrived young son thomas mid july day official administration walked camp spoke veterans told fine soldiers right lobby congress corporation son spent night ate men morning butler gave speech camping veterans instructed sense humor cautioned cost public sympathy july army cavalry units led general dispersed riding gas conflict veterans killed injured butler declared president republican lectures widely known outspoken lectures war military viewed nascent united_states december butler toured country recruit members described effort trying educate soldiers class speeches denounced economy act called veterans organize politically win benefits condemned administration ties big business reprinted speeches title got mad magazine said believe taking wall throat shaking believed rival veterans group controlled banking interests december said known leader sold mean addition speeches groups served spokesman wrote war condemnation profit motive warfare views subject summarized following passage november issue socialist magazine spent years months active military service period spent time high class muscle man wall street short gangster capitalism helped mexico especially safe american oil interests helped haiti cuba decent place boys collect revenues helped half dozen central american benefit wall street helped nicaragua brought light dominican_republic american sugar interests helped honduras right american fruit companies china helped went way looking given hints best operate districts operated continents november butler claimed existence political conspiracy business leaders overthrow president roosevelt series allegations came known media special committee house_of_representatives headed representatives massachusetts new_york later alleged paid agent heard testimony secret committee precursor american activities november butler told committee told group businessmen supposedly backed private army soldiers intended establish fascist dictatorship butler asked lead said bond salesman new_york_times reported butler told friends general head installed dictator banking firm plot butler told congress told attempted coup backed million dollars men probably assembled washington following year parties alleged involved publicly said truth story calling joke fantasy report committee stated unable confirm butler statements conversations investigations followed historians questioned coup actually contemplated historians reported independent evidence apart butler report told says news media dismissed plot new_york_times editorial gigantic hoax committee final report released times said committee purported report month investigation convinced general butler story fascist march washington true alleged definite proof found publicized fascist march washington led major retired according testimony hearing actually contemplated individuals involved denied existence plot despite evidence contrary media ridiculed allegations final report special confirmed butler accusations confirmed butler testimony final report weeks committee official life received evidence showing certain persons attempt establish fascist organization country question attempts discussed planned placed execution financial deemed death retirement butler bought home square pennsylvania lived wife june checked hospital sick weeks earlier doctor described illness condition upper tract probably cancer family remained bringing new car window chance drive june died naval hospital philadelphia funeral held home attended friends family politicians members philadelphia police force officers marine_corps buried near pennsylvania death family maintained home died including large quantity memorabilia collected varied career honors awards military awards addition medal honor american military decorations butler received awards countries including merit black star honors recognition uss butler class destroyer named honor vessel participated theaters operations second world war later converted high speed boston massachusetts chapter veterans peace called honor butler featured canadian documentary film corporation book days white house senator louisiana stated elected presidency butler secretary war childhood home listed national_register_of_historic_places published works butler mexico philadelphia philip little nation story war speech america philadelphia papers general murphy april general letters isbn retrieved october july annals american academy political social science american marines china old eye new_york isbn miller dear personal correspondence war los_angeles isbn
Smedley Butler