Smedley Butler

United States Marine Corps general, two time Medal of Honor recipient, activist, lecturer, official, and writer (1881-1940) · United States · Activists · Died at 58

Smedley Butler is read about 874 times a day, in 24 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 30 September 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 68 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Second Lieutenant Smedley Butler in uniform c. 1898

Illustration published in The San Francisco Call on July 22, 1900, depicting Butler being carried on the back of another Marine to safety across a river at the Battle of Tientsin.

Marine Officers at Veracruz, 1914. Front row, left to right: Wendell C. Neville; John A. Lejeune; Littleton W. T. Waller, Commanding; Smedley Butler.

Butler (far right) with other Marines in Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1914. From left to right: Sgt. Maj. John H. Quick, Maj. Gen. Wendell Cushing Neville, Lt. Gen. John Archer Lejeune.

Camp Pontanezen patch

Butler sitting in car at Gettysburg during a Pickett's Charge reenactment by Marines in 1922.

Brigadier General Smedley Butler in uniform c. 1921-1929

Awards

Medal of Honor

Marine Corps Brevet Medal

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Distinguished Service Medal

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

Spanish Campaign Medal

China Relief Expedition Medal

Haitian Campaign Medal

Philippine Campaign Medal

Dominican Campaign Medal

Nicaraguan Campaign Medal

Mexican Service Medal

World War I Victory Medal (United States)

Yangtze Service Medal

National Order of Honour and Merit

Commander of the Order of the Black Star

Inter-Allied Victory Medals

Officer of the National Order of Merit

Order of the Black Star

In their orbit

Father: Thomas S. Butler

About this person

Major General Smedley Darlington Butler was a United States Marine Corps officer. During his 34-year military career, he fought in the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the Banana Wars. At the time of his death, Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. military history. By the end of his career, Butler had received sixteen medals, including five for heroism; he was awarded the Marine Corps Brevet Medal as well as two Medals of Honor, both for separate actions.

Country

United States