The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1896 and was
originally a ribbon and medal suspensed from a clasp bearing the words "U.S.
Marine Corps".
The clasp was eliminated after 1935 and the medal has remained unchanged in
appearance since that time.
Enlistment bars, showing each honorable period of service, were used until 1953
when the Marine Corps adopted service stars to denote additional awards of the
Good Conduct Medal.
