Smedley Butler was one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history. He received two Medals of Honor, one of only 19 Americans ever to do so. He spent thirty-three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to Major General. In 1935, he wrote a book called War Is a Racket. He said: "I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents." One of the most decorated Marines in American history said this. In 1935. It is not assigned reading. The football stadium still says, "Thank you for your service." But the general who explained what that service was actually used for is still kept outside the official mythology.