"I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism" Smedley Darlington Butler born July 30, 1881, died June 21, 1940. Smedley Butler was one of the highest ranking and most decorated Marines in US history. Butler rose to the rank of Major General, (the highest rank in the Marine Corps at the time). Among the decorations Major General Butler received were two Congressional Medals of Honor and the Marine Corps Brevet Medal. Until his death, Major General Butler was the most highly decorated US Marine in history.