"PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE"
 


 

 STREAMERS FOR THE US MARINE CORPS BATTLE COLOR
 

The United States Marine Corps Battle Color carries a set of streamers to commemorate the battles, campaigns, service and unit citations of the Corps from 1775 to the present day. As of January 2002 there were 54 streamers authorized: 42 for battles, campaigns and service, and twelve for citations. Unlike the Navy, the Marine Corps displays streamers for citations received from the Department of Defense, the US Army and foreign governments. There are also two campaign streamers that were awarded by the Commonwealth of the Philippines prior to independence, and a streamer commemorating Philippine independence.

Battle streamers for the Civil War and subsequent wars and conflicts are in the colors of the ribbon of the campaign medal for award to individuals. (For earlier wars and conflicts, there are no corresponding campaign medals.) Unit citation streamers are in the colors of the service ribbon for wear by individuals of cited units. As applicable, bronze and silver stars are placed on streamers to denote battle, campaign or service credits. Each bronze star denotes one such credit, with a silver star being used in lieu of five bronze stars. The large number of credits earned for expeditionary service necessitates the use of three streamers to accommodate twelve silver and three bronze service stars, plus a silver "W" for the defense of Wake Island early in World War II. Two streamers are displayed for World War I service, and two are required to accommodate nine silver and two bronze stars for World War II Pacific service. Marine Corps streamer dimensions are 2 3/4 inches at the hoist by 3 feet on the fly.

Credit: The drawings on this page are based on information from Sea Flags, the outstanding web site maintained by FOTW Mailing List member Joseph McMillan.

 


 

UNITED STATES UNIT CITATIONS

 

Presidential Unit Citation  •  Navy-Marine Corps-Coast Guard

 

Presidential Unit Citation  •  Army-Air Force

 

Navy Unit Commendation

 

Valorous Unit Citation  •  Army

 

Joint Services Meritorious Unit Commendation

 

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

 

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

 

UNITED STATES BATTLE, CAMPAIGN & SERVICE STREAMERS

 

Revolutionary War  •  1775-83

 

Quasi-War with France  •  1798-1801

 

Barbary Wars  •  1801-05 & 1815

 

War of 1812  •  1812-15

 

African Slave Trade Patrol  •  1820-61

 

Operations Against West Indian Pirates  •  1820-30

 

Indian Wars  •  1835-42

 

Mexican War  •  1846-48

 

Civil War  •  1861-65

 


 

               

Expeditionary Service  •  1874 to Date

 

Spanish-American War  •  1898

 

Philippine Insurrection  •  1899-1906

 

China Relief Expedition  •  1900-1901

 

Cuba Pacification Campaign  •  1906-09

 

Nicaraguan Campaign  •  1912

 

Mexican Service  •  1914-17

 

Haitian Service  •  1915 & 1919-20

 

Dominican Campaign  •  1916

 

               

World War One  •  1917-18

 

Army of Occupation of Germany Service

 

Second Nicaraguan Campaign  •  1926-33

 

Yangtze Service  •  1926-27 & 1930-32

 

China Service  •  1936-39 & 1945-57

 

American Defense Service  •  1939-41

 

World War Two American Theater  •  1941-45

 

               

World War Two Pacific Theater  •  1941-45

 

World War Two European Theater  •  1941-45

 

World War Two Victory

 

Occupation Service

 

Korean Service  •  1950-53

 

National Defense Service  •  1951-75 & 1990-95

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Service  •  1958 to Date

 

Vietnam Service  •  1962-73

 

Southwest Asia Service  •  1990-95

 

Kosovo Campaign  •  1999-

 

PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH CAMPAIGN & SERVICE STREAMERS

 

Philippine Defense Service  •  1941-42

 

Philippine Liberation Service  •  1944-45

 

Philippine Independence Award

 

FOREIGN UNIT CITATIONS

 

French Croix d'Guerre  •  World War I

 

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

 

 

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

 

 

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
 

 

Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Citation
 


 

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