MARINE COPRS BREVET MEDAL
(Obsolete)


                        

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Brevet Medal was formally authorized on June 27, 1921 by Marine Corps Orders Number 26 which published an earlier order issued by the Secretary of the Navy on June 7, 1921 prescribing the Brevet Medal as an article of the Marine Corps uniform to worn by officers holding a brevet commission.

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Brevet Medal was issued to denote brevet commissions awarded to Marine Corps officers for service between April 15, 1861 (the beginning of the Civil War) and March 3, 1915 (the date when Marine Corps officers became eligible for the Medal of Honor).

CRITERIA

The Brevet Medal was presented on a one-time basis in 1921 to living officers (or former officers) of the U.S Marine Corps who had received a brevet commission issued by the President and confirmed by the Senate for "distinguished conduct or public service in the presence of the enemy" during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, or the Boxer Rebellion.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Brevet Medal is worn after the Medal of Honor and before all other decorations.

DEVICES

No devices were authorized for this award.

DESIGNER

The Marine Corps Brevet Medal was designed by Sergeant Joseph Alfred Burnett, USMC under the direction of Major General Charles L. McCawley.

RECIPIENTS
  • Bannon, Philip M., breveted to First Lieutenant on June 13, 1898, for distinguished conduct in the battle at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Butler, Smedley D., breveted to captain on July 13, 1900, for distinguished conduct and public serivce in the presence of the enemy near Tientsin, China, July 13, 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Gamborg-Andresen, Carl, breveted to captain on July 13, 1900, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy near Tientsin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Hall, Newt H., breveted to major on August 14, 1900, for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at the siege of Peking, China, during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Kelton, Allan C., breveted to major on July 3, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Long, Charles G., breveted to captain on June 11, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Lucas, Lewis C., breveted to captain on June 13, 1898, for conspicuous conduct in battle at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Mahoney, James E., breveted to captain on June 11, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • McCawley, Charles L., breveted to major on June 11, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • McKelvy, William N., Sr., breveted to captain on June 11, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Murphy, Paul St. Clair, breveted to major on July 3, 1898, for gallant service in the naval battle of Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Myers, John T., breveted to major on July 20, 1900, for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at the defense of the legations at Peking, China, during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Neville, Wendell C., breveted to captain on June 13, 1898, for conspicuous conduct in battle at Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.


  • Pope, Percival C., breveted to captain on September 8, 1863, for gallant and meritorioius servce in the night attack upon Ft. Sumter during the Civil War.


  • Porter, David D., breveted to captain on October 8, 1899, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Novaleta, Philippine Islands, during the Philippine Insurrection.


  • Powell, William G., breveted to captain on June 21, 1900, for distinguished conduct and public sercie in the presence of the enemy at Tientsin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Richards, George, breveted to lieutenant colonel on July 13, 1900, for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at the battle of Tientsin, China during the Boxer Rebellion.


  • Shaw, Melville J., breveted to first lieutenant on June 11, 1898, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.


  • Thorpe, George C., breveted to captain on October 8, 1899, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Novaleta, Philippine Islands, during the Philippine Insurrection.


  • Waller, Littleton W.T., breveted to lieutenant colonel on July 13, 1900, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy near Tientsin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion.


DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM

Obverse

A bronze cross pattée, with the center of each arm extended in a semi-circular shape; in the center of the front is the word BREVET, encircled by the words UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. A small five-pointed star, point-up, is at the bottom center of the circle formed by the inscription. A small Marine Corps insignia (eagle, globe and anchor) attaches the medal to its suspension ring.

Reverse

AThe reverse of the cross is plain except for its center, which contains the inscription FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT in a circle, and the words IN PRESENCE OF ENEMY in the center. The original medals were neither named nor numbered.

Ribbon



The ribbon is scarlet and is charged with thirteen white five-pointed stars (point-down). The stars are arrayed in three chevrons (point down) of three, five, and five. Scarlet is the Marine Corps color, and the thirteen stars represent both military service and the thirteen original colonies and symbolically represent the United States.

                        


Return to top of page
Military Decorations (Index Page)
Navy Decorations (Index Page)
Quick Reference to All Military Decorations
Home Page