At the time of his death, Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, also known
as The Fighting Quaker, was the most decorated Marine in US history; he was
the only person to be awarded a Marine Corps Brevet Medal and a Medal of Honor
for two separate mi…
At the time of his death, Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, also known
as The Fighting Quaker, was the most decorated Marine in US history; he was
the only person to be awarded a Marine Corps Brevet Medal and a Medal of Honor
for two separate military actions. He had also become an unrelenting voice
against the business of war. This book contains a speech and a pamphlet by
Major Gen. Butler broken up into Five Chapters: 1\. War is a Racket 2\. Who
Makes the Profits? 3\. Who Pays the Bills? 4\. How to Smash This Racket! 5\.
To Hell With War! This book is one of the true classics of American History
written directly by one of the Great Heroes of the Country and is something
that can be learned from even today. Raised by prominent Quaker parents,
Smedley Butler defied his pacifist lineage by joining the Marines just before
his 17th birthday. He served in Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Haiti (earning
his Medals of Honor in Mexico and Haiti). Butler was known for his leadership
and commitment to the welfare of the men under his command. He rose quickly
through the ranks to become, at age 48, one of the youngest major generals.
Prior to World War II, Butler spoke out against what he saw as admiration for
Fascism and for Italys leader Benito Mussolini. He was punished for telling
an unfavorable story about Mussolini, avoided court-martial by accepting a
reprimand. Because of his rank, he was able to write his own reprimand and
never apologized to Mussolini. Butler retired from the military in 1931. By
then, he was beginning to question US involvement in foreign conflicts. He had
come to believe that warin particular WWIwas really a profitable business
for the few and at the expense of thousands of lives. He thought of himself as
a cog in the imperialist war machine. In a booklet titled War is a Racket,
Butler wrote, In the World War [I] a mere handful garnered the profits of the
conflict. At least 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were made in the
United States during the World War.How many of these war millionaires
shouldered a rifle?.The general public shoulders the bill. And what is this
bill? Newly placed gravestones. Mangled bodies. Shattered mindsFor a great
many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I
retired to civil life did I fully realize it. Now that I see the international
war clouds gathering, as they are today, I must face it and speak out. War is
a Racket grew out of a series of speeches Butler gave to whatever group wanted
to hear his views. Though he faced criticism, Butler was steadfast in his
beliefs about war, US imperialism, and a growing Pro-Fascist movement. He
spoke frankly and honestly about his experiences and opinions, and was very
popular with the American public. In 1934, Butler went before the House Un-
American Activities Committee (HUAC) to expose a conspiracy against the
government. He had been recruited by a group of wealthy Pro-Fascists who had
hoped to use him in a cou
