Navy/Marine Corps
Expeditionary Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Naval Service Websites
      • Marine Corps Websites
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11



        Military Branches

        Marine Corps, Navy

        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NG or other military issued document clearly displaying your award of the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.
      • Contact The War Library if you do not have a DD-214, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NG or other Report of Separation: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone).
      • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
        $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Please complete and MAIL the APPLICATION FORM, hyperlinked below.
        Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your DD-214, WD AGO 53-55 or other pre-arranged document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION APPLICATION FORMS

      • USN Expeditionary Medal Recognition
      • USMC Expeditionary Medal Recognition
      • Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Email: Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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        Issue Regulations


        Navy Expeditionary Medal and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal


        Click for larger image

        (1) The medal will be awarded to the officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who shall have actually landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition, or operated under circumstances which, after full consideration, shall be deemed to merit special recognition and for which service no campaign medal has been awarded.

        (2) No person in the Navy or Marine Corps service is entitled to more than one Expeditionary Medal (either Navy or Marine Corps). Participation in more than one expedition will be recognized by the issue of bronze stars (one star for each expedition in excess of one), to be worn on the ribbon of the Expeditionary Medal.

        (3) At present, there is a supply of Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals on hand which will be awarded to Marine Corps personnel participating in authorized expeditions. After this supply is exhausted, the Navy Expeditionary Medal will be the only medal awarded to either Navy or Marine Corps personnel for participation in expeditions.

        (4) All officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who, under the above-mentioned conditions, took part in an operation listed below may submit to the Chief of Naval Personnel or the Commandant, United States Marine Corps, respectively, through official channels, applications for the above medal. The applications should include the names and dates of the expeditions and a statement to the effect that the applicant actually served ashore as a member of a landing party during the period for which the medal is claimed.

        (5) Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served in the defense of Wake Island, 7 to 22 December 1941, will wear a bar inscribed "Wake Island" on the suspension ribbon and a silver "W" on the service ribbon bar of the appropriate Expeditionary Medal. (Navy Department General Order No. 84 of 15 August 1936.)

        A. Authorized by the Secretary of the Navy, August 15, 1936.

        b. Awarded to U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Service members who have actually landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or operated under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded.

        c. The authorized expeditions are:

      • Abyssinia: November 21, 1903 - January 18, 1904
      • Argentina (Buenos Aires): July 30, 1890
      • Armed Guards SS Mei Lu and SS I'Pind: April 22 - May 15, 1928
      • Chile (Valparaiso): August 28-30, 1891
      • China (Canton): December 1927
      • China (Chefoo): March 1-18, 1895
      • China (Legation Guard, Peking): October 10, 1911 - January 19, 1914
      • China (Peking and Shanghai): October 10, 1911 - January 19, 1914
      • China (Peking and Tientsin): November 4,1898 - March 13, 1899
      • China (Peking, Legation Guard): September 9, 1924 - March 1, 1925
      • China (Shanghai): January 15, 1925 - August 31, 1925
      • China (Shanghai): September 9-24, 1934
      • China (Tientsin): December 4, 1894 - May 16, 1895
      • China (Wuchow): April 3, 1926
      • Colombia (Boca de Toro): March 8-9, 1895
      • Colombia (Boca del Toro): April 17-19, 1902
      • Colombia (State of Panama): March 31 - May 22, 1885
      • Colombia (State of Panama): November 11 - December 4, 1901
      • Cuba (Guantanamo Bay): May 28 - August 5, 1912
      • Cuba: January 3, 1961 - October 23, 1962
      • Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo City & San Pedro de Macoris): January 1904 -
      • Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo City): April 1-19, 1903
      • Dominican Republic: August 15 - December 17, 1914
      • Dominican Republic: December 5, 1916 - April 5, 1917
      • Dominican Republic: November 12, 1918 - September 1924
      • Egypt (Alexandria): June 10 - August 29, 1882
      • February 27, 1904
      • Haiti (Cape Haitien): October 18 - November 7, 1914
      • Haiti (Gonaives): February 1-3, 1914
      • Haiti (Naves Island): May 2 - 30 August 30, 1891
      • Haiti (Port-au-Prince): January 26 - February 10, 1914
      • Haiti: August 15 - December 17, 1914
      • Haiti: December 4, 1929 - August 5, 1931
      • Haiti: December 7, 1915 - April 5, 1917
      • Haiti: June 16, 1920 - November 25, 1924
      • Haiti: November 12, 1918 - March 31, 1919
      • Hawaii (Honolulu): February 12-20, 1874
      • Hawaii (Honolulu): January 16 - April 1, 1893
      • Hawaii (Honolulu): July 30-31, 1890
      • Honduras (La Ceiva, Puerto Cortez, Tela & Tegucigalpa): February 28 - March 13, 1924
      • Honduras (La Ceiva, Puerto Cortez, Tela & Tegucigalpa): March 18 - April 30, 1924
      • Honduras (Laguna and Choloma): April 28, - June 8, 1907
      • Honduras (Trujillo, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortex): March 21 - April 16, 1903
      • Iran, Yemen, & Indian Ocean: December 8, 1978 - June 6, 1979
      • Iran, Yemen, & Indian Ocean: November 21, 1979 - October 1, 1981
      • Korea (American Legation Guard): January 5, 1904 - November 11, 1905
      • Korea (Seoul): July 24, 1894 - April 3, 1896
      • Korea (Seoul): June 19-30, 1888
      • Lebanon: August 20, 1982 - May 31, 1983
      • Lebanon: June 1, 1983 to March 4, 1984 (The service member may choose either the Navy Expeditionary Medal or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, depending on Service component, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
      • Libya: January 20 - June 27, 1986
      • Monrovia, Liberia (Sharp Edge): August 5, 1990 - February 21, 1991
      • Nicaragua (Bluefields): December 20, 1909 - March 15, 1910
      • Nicaragua (Bluefields): February 24-28, 1899
      • Nicaragua (Bluefields): July 6 - August 6, 1894
      • Nicaragua (Bluefields): May 7 - June 4, 1926
      • Nicaragua (Corinto): May 2-4, 1896
      • Nicaragua (Corinto): May 30 - September 4, 1910
      • Nicaragua (Managua, Legation Guard): November 12, 1918 - August 3, 1925
      • Nicaragua (Managua: Legation Guard): November 15, 1912 - April 5, 1917
      • Nicaragua (San Juan del Sur): February 7-8, 1898
      • Panama (Isthmus of): September 18-22, 1902
      • Panama (Panama and Colon): September 23 - November 18, 1902
      • Panama (Porto Bello): December 31, 1903
      • Persian Gulf: February 1 - July 23, 1987
      • Republic of Panama: November 4, 1903 - February 26, 1904
      • Russia (Russian Island, Siberia): March 31, 1920 - November 19, 1922
      • Russia (St Petersburg, Embassy Guard): December 1905 - January 1, 1907
      • Rwanda (Distant Runner): April 7-18, 1994
      • Samoa (Apia): March 1899 - May 1899
      • Samoa (Apia): November 13, 1888 - March 20, 1889
      • Syria (Beirut): October 10-17, 1903
      • Syria (Beirut): September 8-13, 1903
      • Thailand: May 16 - August 10, 1962
      • Turkey (Ismir): June 28 - July 3, 1921
      • Turkey (Smyrna): September 7 - October 18, 1922
      • USS Cole Operations (Determined Response): October 12 2000 to December 15, 2002
      • USS Panay: December 12, 1937
      • Wake Island: December 7-22, 1941
      • The following are the most recently authorized expeditions:

      • CUBA 03 Jan 61 -23 Oct 62
      • THAILAND 16 May 62 -10 Aug 62
      • INDIAN OCEAN/IRAN/YEMEN 08 Dec 78-06 Jun 79
      • IRAN/INDIAN OCEAN 21 NOV 79 -20 act 81
      • LEBANON 20 Aug 82-31 May 83
      • LIBYA 20 Jan 86 -27 Jun 86
      • PERSIAN GULF 01 Feb 87-23 Jul 87
      • LIBERIA (SHARP EDGE) 05 Aug 90 -21 Feb 91
      • RWANDA (DISTANT RUNNER) 07 Apr 94-18 Apr 94
      • ERITERA (SAFE DEPARTURE) 06 Jun 98-25 Jun 98
      • USS COLE (DETERMINED RESPONSE) 12 Oct 00-15 Dec 02
      • d. Recipients of the Navy or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals, depending on the circumstances, are authorized to wear certain devices with the award.

        (1) Wake Island Clasp and Silver "W" Device. U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Service members who served in the defense of Wake Island, December 7 through 22, 1941, are authorized to wear a clasp inscribed with the words "Wake Island" on the suspension ribbon on the medal and a silver "W" on the service ribbon.

        (2) Bronze Star. A bronze star is authorized to be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals for participation in subsequent expeditions.

        Establishing Authority; The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was established on May 8, 1919, by Marine Corps General Orders No. 33 as a ribbon only. A medal was authorized by Executive Order 3524 signed by President Warren G. Harding on July 28, 1921 (and implemented on March 1, 1929, by Marine Corps General Orders Number 20).

        Effective Dates: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from February 12, 1874, to the present. The earliest qualifying service was in the Hawaiian Islands from February 12 to 20, 1874.

        Criteria: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who 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.

        Order of Precedence: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is worn after the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal and before the China Service Medal.

        Devices:

        -- A bar with the words WAKE ISLAND is authorized for wear on the medal for personnel who served in the defense of Wake Island between and December 7 and 22, 1941.

        -- A silver W is worn on the service ribbon to denote the Individual is entitled to the WAKE ISLAND bar.

        -- On March 1, 1920, bronze numerals were authorized to denote additional awards of the USMC Expeditionary Medal (subsequently replaced by bronze stars).

        --A bronze star three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter is authorized for each subsequent entitlement to the medal.

        First Recipient: Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal M.No.1 was awarded to Quartermaster Sergeant Roy L. Kinna for service in Cuba between May and August of 1912.

        Designer: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was designed by Walker Hancock, and its ribbon was designed earlier by Major S.W. Bogan, USMC.

        Obverse: In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a Marine in full pack is shown charging with fixed bayonet. There are wave scrolls at the base where they meet at firmament. In the upper half of the medal, following its contour, the word EXPEDITIONS in raised letters.

        The figure is that of an enlisted Marine "in action, responding to the call of duty." The scroll waves ending at firmament allude to Marine service and signify an opposed landing.

        Reverse: In the center of a bronze medallion, an eagle is shown perched on an anchor; the eagle is facing to the left, and the flukes of the anchor are to the right side of the medallion. The eagle is grasping sprigs of laurel, which extend beyond the anchor in both directions. Above the eagle are the words UNITED STATES MARINE COPRS). Above the laurel on the left is the word FOR, and over the laurel on the right, SERVICE.

        The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States; the anchor alludes to naval service. The laurel is symbolic of victory and achievement.

        Ribbon: The ribbon to the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal consists of a khaki background with a broad light gold stripe inside each edge.

        Numberind: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was originally produced at the Philadelphia Mint and was serially numbered on the rim at the six o'clock position with the M.No. prefix.

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