Introduction

US Marine Corps Battle Streamers

Marine corps Streamers The Marine Corps adorns its flagstaff with 54 (as of April 2007) distinctly different Streamers that commemorate the battles, campaigns, service and unit citations of the Corps beginning in 1775 with the Revolutionary war through the current campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Five of the Streamers were awarded by foreign governments (France, Philippines, Korea and Vietnam (2)); Seven Unit Citations were awarded by other US departments (Army, Air Force, Navy and DOD).  These 7 are at the top of the list below.  The other 42 Streamers are battle, campaign and service Streamers  authorized by the US Government.

Marine Corps Streamers use embroidered stars to indicate participation in campaigns, expeditions or battles for which individual medals, citations and commendations were authorized.
The first award is an unadorned Streamer and thereafter a bronze star represents an additional engagement.  Up to four bronze stars are used and for the next award a silver star replaces the four bronze stars.  A silver star indicates participation in five particular engagements or designated phases of a campaign or war, or specific battles and is used in lieu of five bronze stars.

United States Unit Citations

Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)     Ribbon #125
Presidential Unit Citation (Army)     Ribbon #054
Joint Meritorious Unit Award     Ribbon #289
Naval Unit Commendation     Ribbon #107
Valorous Unit Award     Ribbon #155
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy)     Ribbon #167
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)     Ribbon #092

Foreign Unit Citations

French Croix de Guerre World War I     Ribbon #039
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation     Ribbon #122
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation     Ribbon #127
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross    Ribbon #173
Vietnamese Civil Actions    Ribbon #181