4th in a series of 7 caches to honor the U.S.Marines that were
awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor.
Major General Smedley Butler is 1 of only 19 men (including 7 Marines) to
have received the Medal of Honor twice.
Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), later known to thousands of Marines as "Ol' Gimlet Eye," was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
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.
He was still in his teens when, on 20 May 1898, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps for the War with Spain.
His first Medal of Honor was presented following action at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914, where he commanded the Marines who landed and occupied the city. General Butler (then a major) "was eminent and conspicuous in command of his Battalion. He exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through the action of the 22d and in the final occupation of the city." The following year, he was awarded the second Medal of Honor for bravery and forceful leadership as Commanding Officer of detachments of Marines and seamen of the USS Connecticut in repulsing Caco resistance on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915.
In February 1926, he assumed command of the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, California. In March 1927, he returned to China for duty with the 3d Marine Brigade. From April to October 31, he again commanded the Marine Barracks at Quantico. On 1 October 1931, he was retired upon his own application after completion of 33 years' service in the Marine Corps. General Bultler published in 1935 the book "War is a Racket."
General Butler died at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, on 21 June 1940, following a four-week illness. He was survived by his widow, the former Ethel Conway Peters of Philadelphia, and their three children: Smedley D. Jr., Thomas Richard, and Ethel (Mrs. John Wehle).
General Butler was descendant of two old and distinguished families of Quakers. His father was Thomas S. Butler, for over thirty years a Representative in Congress from the Delaware-Chester County district of Pennsylvania, and a longtime chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee.