Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
	Obverse
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded.
Presented by	the Department of the Navy
Eligibility	Officers and enlisted members of the US Marine Corps
Clasps	Wake Island
Status	Currently Awarded
Established	8 May 1919
First awarded	Panama 1873 (retroactive)
	; ; Service ribbon and streamer
Precedence
Next (higher)	Marine Corps Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal; Navy – Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
Equivalent	Navy – Navy Expeditionary Medal
Next (lower)	China Service Medal
Related	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States Marine Corps. It was established on 8 May 1919 as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon. A full-sized medal was authorized on 1 March 1921.^[2] The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is therefore one of the oldest medals of the United States military which is still issued to active duty personnel.

Award criteria

To be awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, a Marine must have engaged in a landing on foreign territory, participated in combat operations against an opposing force, or participated in a designated operation for which no other service medal is authorized.^[3] After 1961, some commands permitted eligible personnel to choose between the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, depending on the nature of the operation in question.

Design

In 1919, the Corps established the Expeditionary Ribbon to recognize "limited service against an opposing force." Two years later, in 1921, the ribbon became the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (MCEM).^[4] The medal was designed by Walker Hancock and features a 1920s-era Marine in full combat gear, advancing with one foot in the water and one foot on land, bayonet at the ready, with the word "Expeditions". On the reverse of both the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and Navy Expeditionary Medal, in the center of the bronze medallion an eagle is shown alight upon an anchor; the eagle is facing to the left and the flukes of the anchor are to the right. The eagle is grasping sprigs of laurel, which extend beyond the anchor in both directions. Above the eagle are the words UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS or UNITED STATES NAVY presented as an arch. Above the laurel are the words FOR SERVICE presented horizontally. The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States, the anchor alludes to Marine Corps or Navy service, and the laurel is symbolic of victory and achievement.

Subsequent awards of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal were originally denoted by award numerals. After 1921, multiple awards were denoted by bronze service stars. The Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia is also authorized for navy personnel who were on duty with and attached to a Marine Corps unit that participated in combat. The Wake Island Device is authorized for any personnel who were awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal as part of the defense of Wake Island during the opening days of World War II.^[5]^[6]

References

^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Kerrigan, Evans E. (1964). "Expeditionary Medals". American War Medals and Decorations. New York: The Viking Press. p. 105. OCLC 702555627.
^ "Service Medals and Campaign Credit of the United States Navy, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal".
^ "Expeditionary Medals and Ribbons: Explained". Medals of America - Military Blog. 20 March 2019.
^ "HISTORY OF COMBAT SERVICE INSIGNIAS" (PDF). AIR FORCE ENLISTED HERITAGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ Navy and marine corps awards manual, secnavinst 1650.1 series

External links

Media related to Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal at Wikimedia Commons

[1] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[Kerrigan-2] Kerrigan, Evans E. (1964). "Expeditionary Medals". American War Medals and Decorations. New York: The Viking Press. p. 105. OCLC 702555627.

[3] "Service Medals and Campaign Credit of the United States Navy, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal".

[4] "Expeditionary Medals and Ribbons: Explained". Medals of America - Military Blog. 20 March 2019.

[5] "HISTORY OF COMBAT SERVICE INSIGNIAS" (PDF). AIR FORCE ENLISTED HERITAGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.

[6] Navy and marine corps awards manual, secnavinst 1650.1 series

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v t e United States campaign, expeditionary, and service medals
1862–1906	Civil War Campaign Medal Indian Campaign Medal Dewey Medal Sampson Medal Cardenas Medal of Honor West Indies Campaign Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Spanish War Service Medal Army of Cuban Occupation Medal Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Congressional Medal
1905–1921	China Campaign Medal Navy Cuban Pacification Medal Navy Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Haitian Campaign Medal Dominican Campaign Medal
1911–1941	Mexican Service Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal Texas Cavalry Medal Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
1936–1945	Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Haitian Campaign Medal NC-4 Medal Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Yangtze Service Medal Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
1942–1949	China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal Women's Army Corps Service Medal American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal (Navy) Medal for Humane Action
1953–1999	National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal Antarctica Service Medal Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon Kosovo Campaign Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
2003–present	Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Air and Space Campaign Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Navy
Personal decorations	Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Navy and Marine Corps Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart Meritorious Service Air Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Combat Action
Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy E Ribbon
Good Conduct medals	Navy Good Conduct Marine Corps Good Conduct Selected Marine Corps Reserve
Expeditionary medals	Navy Expeditionary Marine Corps Expeditionary
Service ribbon awards	Sea Service Naval Reserve Sea Service Arctic Service Antarctica Service Overseas Service Navy Recruiting Service Marine Corps Recruiting Service Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon Marine Corps Drill Instructor Marine Corps Security Guard Marine Corps Combat Instructor Navy Ceremonial Duty Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Marksmanship	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal Navy Sharpshooter Pistol Shot Ribbon Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

Award criteria

Design

See also

References

External links