F-X Posted December 6, 2012 Share #1 Posted December 6, 2012 Hello, I recently purchased this group, unfortunatly not named. Apparently he served as Medic in a Marine unit during the corean war. - There is the USMC device on the ribbon of the Corean Service medal but no campaign star, is it possible ? - When were the black rank badges introduced ? - Did he wore them when assigned to a Marine unit ? The black medic badge is marked "KREW-GI" , nothing on the rank badge, apprently they are not recent. Thanks for your help. (I already posted it on another section of the forum without luck). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted December 6, 2012 Share #2 Posted December 6, 2012 In answer to your direct question-- Yes, the USMC insignia is authorised for the Korea Service Medal-- It symbolises Navy Personnel who had combat exposure with the USMC. The Brass cadeuceus is US Army Medical Corps-- probably nothing to do with this Navy Medic. The black cadeuceus on shield is likewise not Navy, though I don't know what it is-- The black Sergeant's Stripes look like a USMC Master Gunnery Sergeant (Master Sergeant). I don't know when the subdued ranks came into use in the USMC, but my impression is that these would be Viet-nam war era or more recent. As a Navy Medical Corpsman, I doubt that he would have worn the USMC rank insignia, and certainly not at that grade-- That is E-8, and most medics with the USMC in the Korean War were E-4/E-5. He should have worn Navy rank insignia, not USMC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted December 6, 2012 Share #3 Posted December 6, 2012 The black shield is the current Navy Corpsman insignia worn on the MARPAT uniform.... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted December 7, 2012 Share #4 Posted December 7, 2012 Thanks, Mark, I stand corrected. I guess I may be wrong on the brass caduceus as well--- Back when I had Navy IDMTs working for me, this was NOT one of their insignia--- But, apparently now the USN is using this as an insignia for the medic's corps. I wonder if they adopted this insignia after their training school was co-located with the Army at Fort Sam Houston Texas??? Not my area, so I have no idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted December 7, 2012 Share #5 Posted December 7, 2012 Hospital Corpsman rate has used the winged caduceus since 1948. Before that the Hospital Corp rating used the Red Cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-X Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted December 9, 2012 Thanks for your help. The insignia don't look modern, I made a better shot if that can help. I know the purpose of the Marine Corps device on a Navy campaign medal, but is it possible to have such a device without a campaign star on the ribbon ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphismeister Posted December 9, 2012 Share #7 Posted December 9, 2012 What is Corean war ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted December 10, 2012 Share #8 Posted December 10, 2012 I know the purpose of the Marine Corps device on a Navy campaign medal, but is it possible to have such a device without a campaign star on the ribbon ? The eligibility for this award extends through 1954 (one year after the armistice), but the last Navy/Marine Corps Recognised campaign was Korean Summer 1953, 1 May-27 July 1953. Thus, service in Korea after 27 July 1953 through 1954 would have earned the medal without a campaign star. I don't know if it would have been possible to earn the Marine Corps device (for "combat service with Marine Corps Units") during this period-- obviously that's not my area of expertise. Navy/USMC regulations for that period would need to be checked, and I don't have them at hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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