WWII US Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal -
The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is a decoration which was first created on May 8, 1919. Originally known as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon, a full sized medal was authorized in July 1921 by Presidential Order of Warren G. Harding. The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is therefore one of the oldest decorations of the United States military which is still issued to active duty personnel.
To be awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, personnel must have engaged in a landing on foreign territory, participated in combat operations against an opposing force, or must have participated in a designated operation for which no other service medal is authorized. 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.
The design of the medal consists of the image of a soldier moving forward with rifle at hand. Backpack on and
doughboy type helmet.
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US medals and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII medal or insignia worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the medals
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The suspension of the medal has what is known as a half broach. That is to say that the back metal
section is does not cover the entire back but only part of it. A
pin
is provided to secure the medal to the uniform.
The side of the medal has the number 6418 engraved on it. This is a production number.
This US medal or insignia is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this medal/insignia.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII medals or insignia, you can do so by
going to our
WWII US medals and insignia
identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
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