“Innocent Bystander” — Where is Smedley Butler When We Need Him?
General Smedley Butler is one of America’s least known and unsung heroes. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1881 into a prominent family of Quaker decent; Smedley Butler opted not to follow in his father’s footprints to become a lawyer and a judge. But instead lied about his age to, enlist in the marines to serve his country in the following campaigns; The Philippine-American War, Boxer Rebellion, Banana Wars, Honduras Revolt, Nicaragua, the Mexican Revolution, Haiti, and World War I with distinction. As a marine he was one of the most decorated military men in American History from the pre World War II period. He retired as a Major General.
He was also an outspoken critic of America’s foreign military policies, and in 1935 wrote the book War is a Racket. After his retirement he served as Director of Public Safety for the City of Philadelphia.
He also exposed a fascist Business Plot to a congressional committee by wealthy industrialists who were planning a military coup to overthrow Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration that ushered in the New Deal. I strongly recommend to anyone who is interested in preserving democracy to research Smedely Butler; especially if you are concerned with our nation’s current events and wars. For in earnest my article will fail to convey the depth and accomplishments of this true American hero.
Now why do we need a Smedely Butler today? As Americans view the unrest across the Arab world by dissidents seeking to bring democracy and reform to their respective countries, our nation applauds their efforts and supports their cause on moral grounds; just like we supported the Chinese dissidents in 1989 at Tiananmen Square. In the latter, we as a nation looked aghast as the Chinese government used tanks to suppress an uprising of dissidents seeking political reforms. As Americans we believed this could never happen here, or has it? Just think. A few short years ago Police were called in to disperse a crowd protesting corporate greed on Wall Street, and demanding jobs. Oh yes, how easy we forget the double standard of American Democracy.
Smedely Butler after having served 33 years in the Marines with distinction realized he was nothing more than “a gangster of Capitalism.” Smedley would go on to state for the record, “Al Capone was merely a gangster in three districts in Chicago, I operated in three continents.” He also stated, “I wouldn’t go to war again as I have done in the past to protect some lousy assets of the bankers.” Lowell Thomas is quoted as follows regarding Smedely Butlers character and patriotism; “moral as well as physical courage,” and noted that: Even his opponents concede that in his stand on public questions, General Butler has been motivated by the same fiery integrity and loyal patriotism which has distinguished his service in countless Marine campaigns.
General Butler was also an out spoken critic of American’s infatuation with Fascism, especially the Black Legion, a well organized terrorist group with roots in the Ku Klux Klan. Whose members wore black hoods and robes emblazoned with skulls and crossbones that targeted Jews, Catholics, Blacks, union organizers, and Democratic office holders. This group was responsible for numerous deaths and assassination plots against Pro New Deal politicians.
But, one of his greatest military acts of patriotism was when he took an aggressive stand against American’s abusive military power against its own people and veterans in July of 1932 to advocate for veteran benefits. In the summer of 1932 a ragged force of 15,000 weather beaten and unemployed war veterans along with their destitute families descended upon our nation’s capital to seek relief from the depression to seek compensation for lost wages when they were sent to the Western Front. They did not seek special favor, just requesting some government assistance to help them survive the difficult economic times as a reward for their sacrifices and courage.
Smedely Butler took up their cause for the request for a Bonus Bill. President Hoover dismissed their request for aid by claiming that there was no depression in the country. General Butler seeing the pain and suffering of his fellow military corpsmen knew the repercussions his political views would have on his career. In solidarity with the veterans he announced his retirement so he could freely and fully speak his mind at the rally. He spoke out against the war racketeers who reaped extravagant profits while the true heroes were made destitute.
The president dispersed the Bogus Army along with General Butler by ordering General Douglas Mac Arthur, along with steel helmeted solders with gas masks to fire tear gas and fixed bayonets to attack fellow Americans and veterans. The soldiers set fire to their impromptu living quarters. The foot soldiers were reinforced by cavalry, machine gunners, and yes tanks! General Mac Arthur showed no mercy against the destitute veterans as he hunted them down. This makes the repressive Chinese military at Tiananmen Square look rather docile. As a nation if we truly believe in exporting Democracy abroad, we should begin with practicing it here first. As you can see as a nation we do not have a clean track record when it comes to domestic democracy, and suffer from a severe case of national A.D.D. Now, where is Smedely Butler when we need him?
Dr. Richard Cirulli is a business consultant, professor, and hosts the weekly cable show The American Condition. He can be reached at profcirulli@optonline.net
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
