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Born:
July 30, 1881 at West Chester, PA
Entered
Service in the US Marine Corps from Pennsylvania
DOUBLE RECIPIENT
FIRST Medal of Honor Awarded during the Mexican Campaign
For heroism April 22, 1914 at Vera Cruz, Mexico
SECOND Medal of Honor Awarded during the Haitian Campaign
1915 For heroism November 17, 1915 at Fort Riviere, Haiti
Died: June
21, 1940 at the age of 58
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First Award
In an effort to force out General Victoriano Huerta, who
had seized the presidency of Mexico in a bloody coup d' etat,
President Woodrow Wilson sent three Navy vessels to Vera Cruz
under the command of Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. On the
morning of April 21 nearly 1,500 American combat troops were put
ashore, and that night another 1,500 reinforcements landed. By
noon on April 22nd the American forces had taken control of the
city. In the two day action Fletcher lost 17 men killed, 63
wounded. The Mexicans had nearly 800 dead or wounded. Major
Smedley Butler was one of 55 men awarded the Medal of Honor for
this action, and was cited as commander of a battalion of the
ground forces for "courage and skill in leading his men
through action on the second day of the campaign, and for
subsequent leadership in the final occupation of Vera
Cruz.
Though the United States occupied Vera Cruz for seven months
following the initial landing, the men who landed at Vera Cruz
on April 21 - 22 accomplished their mission in two days, and
returned to their vessels within the same week.
Second Award
As Commanding Officer of detachments from the 5th, 13th,
23d Companies and the Marine and sailor detachment from the
U.S.S. Connecticut, Major Butler led the attack on Fort Riviere,
Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several
different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old
French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of
retreat for the Caco bandits. Reaching the fort on the southern
side where there was a small opening in the wall, Major Butler
gave the signal to attack and marines from the 15th Company
poured through the breach, engaged the Cacos in hand-to-hand
combat, took the bastion and crushed the Caco resistance.
Throughout this perilous action, Major Butler was conspicuous
for his bravery and forceful leadership. Smedley Butler earned
his FIRST award of the Medal of Honor during the Mexico
Incursion at Vera Cruz in 1914. Others earning Medals of Honor
for heroism in this action were: Sergeant Ross Iams and Private
Samuel Gross.
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