© Focal Points
At the time of his death in 1940, he was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. During his 34-year career, he fought in the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, and World War I.
However, at some point after World War I, he began to have grave doubts about his profession. Over time, with study and reflection, he concluded that he had NOT spent his life fighting and killing for the American people, but for special interests in New York City and Washington.
As he memorably stated it in his 1935 book, War is a Racket:
I helped make Mexico, 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 benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.
Comment: No wonder the US and Russia are staying quiet about the current negotiations and leaving the EU out of it.