Quick jab

[ms4ms]

Greetiings, has anyone heard of operation Quick Jab that occurred in may-june(?) 1981. I remember the pep talk the co gave us. His name was Lt.COl. Ford. This all started with a float to Tinian and some libo in Saipan. We re-embarked onto the ship and floated for a while then were told about some training which was this: we lined up on the top deck and loaded onto some mike boats down the side of the ship on the nets. I remember hitting the beach and running for dear life. I was an a-gunner so I was heavy with .60 ammo. I remember getting gassed and thats about it. I was yelling and firing my 16 like a madman.Now this next statement is true and I have seen many VA counselors. I do not remember if it was real ammo or not. To this day I have a "memory" or a "flashback" or a whatever of just my hands loading a magazine with live rounds. I was awarded the marine corp expeditionary medal for this float. I never had a citiation for the medal. This medal got me a membership into the vfw which confuses me more. Any help out there? Regards, Matthew

[David]

Operation Quick Jab appears to be a series of exercises carried out on that island.

I did not find any place that listed those exercises as authorized for the marine corps expeditionary medal.

[ms4ms]

the plot thickens!! I have searched for many years( at least 6) to find out about this excercise. I also am(obviously) wrong about the mcem from this float. On my dd-214 it does not list an award date that I can see. I also have the nuc, muc, both overseas ribbons, and the new korea self defense medal. i was on alot of floats and don't remember there names. Thats why i am asking for help. My memory is shot.:(. I was awarded a certificate for crossing the artic circle, the blue nose?? I just can't remember. I found the certificate on a military website but I would like my personal citiaiton on it. I also am searching the war library and any site that might have info for me. The time frame for me(mcem) without looking it up again is possibly 1982 in the yemen, indian ocean thingy. I was detatched from 8th engineers many time from 1982-1984. I was on a float to norway and then dry docked in rota spain. It took 17 days to float back to lejeune. Lost and confused...

[David]

What exactly are you trying to remember or establish?

[ms4ms]

Greetings, I reread my 2 posts and I sound like a hopeless luney man. This is not the case. I really wanted to know where I might find issuing info on this award, to see what operation or float or whatever allowed me to receive this. To me it is frustrating to have the MCEM but not know how you earned it. I liked the statement of this website that said it is a history website and I thought I might ask if anyone had heard of this operation.

[David]

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal


ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was established as a ribbon only on May 8, 1919, by Marine Corps General Orders No. 33. A medal was authorized by Executive Order 3524 signed by President Warren G. Harding on July 28, 1921 (and implemented on March 1, 1929, by Marine Corps General Orders Number 20).

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from February 12, 1874, to the present. The earliest qualifying service was in the Hawaiian Islands from February 12 to 20, 1874.

CRITERIA

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is worn after the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal and before the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

DEVICES
A bar with the words WAKE ISLAND is authorized for wear on the medal for personnel who served in the defense of Wake Island between and December 7 and 22, 1941.


A silver W is worn on the service ribbon to denote the Individual is entitled to the WAKE ISLAND bar.


On March 1, 1920, bronze numerals were authorized to denote additional awards of the USMC Expeditionary Medal (subsequently replaced by bronze stars).


A bronze star three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter is authorized for each subsequent entitlement to the medal.
FIRST RECIPIENT

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal M.No.1 was awarded to Quartermaster Sergeant Roy L. Kinna for service in Cuba between May and August of 1912.

DESIGNER

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was designed by Walker Hancock, and its ribbon was designed earlier by Major S.W. Bogan, USMC.

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a Marine in full pack is shown charging with fixed bayonet. There are wave scrolls at the base where they meet at firmament. In the upper half of the medal, following its contour, the word EXPEDITIONS in raised letters.

The figure is that of an enlisted Marine "in action, responding to the call of duty." The scroll waves ending at firmament allude to Marine service and signify an opposed landing.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion, an eagle is shown alight upon an anchor; the eagle is facing to the left, and the flukes of the anchor are to the right side of the medallion. The eagle is grasping sprigs of laurel, which extend beyond the anchor in both directions. Above the eagle are the words UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. Above the laurel on the left is the word FOR, and over the laurel on the right, SERVICE.

The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States; the anchor alludes to naval service. The laurel is symbolic of victory and achievement.

Ribbon



The ribbon to the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal consists of a khaki background with a broad light gold stripe inside each edge.

Numbering

The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal was originally produced at the Philadelphia Mint and was serially numbered on the rim at the six o'clock position with the M.No. prefix.







Qualifying Expeditions:
Navy and Marine Corps Expeditions


Hawaii (Honolulu): February 12-20, 1874


Egypt (Alexandria): June 10 - August 29, 1882


Colombia (State of Panama): March 31 - May 22, 1885


Korea (Seoul): June 19-30, 1888


Samoa (Apia): November 13, 1888 - March 20, 1889


Hawaii (Honolulu): July 30-31, 1890


Argentina (Buenos Aires): July 30, 1890


Haiti (Naves Island): May 2 - 30 August 30, 1891


Chile (Valparaiso): August 28-30, 1891


Hawaii (Honolulu): January 16 - April 1, 1893


Nicaragua (Bluefields): July 6 - August 6, 1894


Korea (Seoul): July 24, 1894 - April 3, 1896


China (Tientsin): December 4, 1894 - May 16, 1895


China (Chefoo): March 1-18, 1895


Colombia (Boca de Toro): March 8-9, 1895


Nicaragua (Corinto): May 2-4, 1896


Nicaragua (San Juan del Sur): February 7-8, 1898


China (Peking and Tientsin): November 4,1898 - March 13, 1899


Nicaragua (Bluefields): February 24-28, 1899


Samoa (Apia): March 1899 - May 1899


Colombia (State of Panama): November 11 - December 4, 1901


Colombia (Boca del Toro): April 17-19, 1902


Panama (Isthmus of): September 18-22, 1902


Panama (Panama and Colon): September 23 - November 18, 1902


Honduras (Trujillo, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortex): March 21 - April 16, 1903


Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo City): April 1-19, 1903


Syria (Beirut): September 8-13, 1903


Syria (Beirut): October 10-17, 1903


Republic of Panama: November 4, 1903 - February 26, 1904


Abyssinia: November 21, 1903 - January 18, 1904


Panama (Porto Bello): December 31, 1903


Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo City & San Pedro de Macoris): January 1904 - February 27, 1904


Korea (American Legation Guard): January 5, 1904 - November 11, 1905


Russia (St Petersburg, Embassy Guard): December 1905 - January 1, 1907


Honduras (Laguna and Choloma): April 28, - June 8, 1907


Nicaragua (Bluefields): December 20, 1909 - March 15, 1910


Nicaragua (Corinto): May 30 - September 4, 1910


China (Legation Guard, Peking): October 10, 1911 - January 19, 1914


China (Peking and Shanghai): October 10, 1911 - January 19, 1914


Cuba (Guantanamo Bay): May 28 - August 5, 1912


Nicaragua (Managua: Legation Guard): November 15, 1912 - April 5, 1917


Haiti (Port-au-Prince): January 26 - February 10, 1914


Haiti (Gonaives): February 1-3, 1914


Haiti (Cape Haitien): October 18 - November 7, 1914


Dominican Republic: August 15 - December 17, 1914


Haiti: August 15 - December 17, 1914


Haiti: December 7, 1915 - April 5, 1917


Dominican Republic: December 5, 1916 - April 5, 1917


Haiti: November 12, 1918 - March 31, 1919


Dominican Republic: November 12, 1918 - September 1924


Nicaragua (Managua, Legation Guard): November 12, 1918 - August 3, 1925


Russia (Russian Island, Siberia): March 31, 1920 - November 19, 1922


Haiti: June 16, 1920 - November 25, 1924


Turkey (Ismir): June 28 - July 3, 1921


Turkey (Smyrna): September 7 - October 18, 1922


Honduras (La Ceiva, Puerto Cortez, Tela & Tegucigalpa): February 28 - March 13, 1924


Honduras (La Ceiva, Puerto Cortez, Tela & Tegucigalpa): March 18 - April 30, 1924


China (Peking, Legation Guard): September 9, 1924 - March 1, 1925


China (Shanghai): January 15, 1925 - August 31, 1925


China (Wuchow): April 3, 1926


Nicaragua (Bluefields): May 7 - June 4, 1926


China (Canton): December 1927


Armed Guards SS Mei Lu and SS I'Ping: April 22 - May 15, 1928


Haiti: December 4, 1929 - August 5, 1931


China (Shanghai): September 9-24, 1934


USS Panay: December 12, 1937


Wake Island: December 7-22, 1941


Thailand: May 16 - August 10, 1962


Cuba: January 3, 1961 - October 23, 1962


Iran, Yemen, & Indian Ocean: December 8, 1978 - June 6, 1979


Iran, Yemen, & Indian Ocean: November 21, 1979 - October 1, 1981


Lebanon: August 20, 1982 - May 31, 1983


Lebanon: June 1, 1983 to March 4, 1984*


Libya: January 20 - June 27, 1986


Persian Gulf: February 1 - July 23, 1987


Monrovia, Liberia (Sharp Edge): August 5, 1990 - February 21, 1991


Rwanda (Distant Runner): April 7-18, 1994


USS Cole Operations (Determined Response): October 12 2000 to December 15, 2002

* For service in Lebanon between June 1, 1983 and March 4, 1984, the service member may choose either the Navy Expeditionary Medal (or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, depending on Service component) or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.




ribbon

http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/imgcacheA/25659.png


medal, front

http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/imgcacheA/25660.png


medal, back

http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/imgcacheA/25661.png

[ms4ms]

DAvid, I actually wonder if you are sitting at your computer laughing away. I can't beleive the answers you have sent along, and I would complain but jeez, you are an ADMINISTRATOR. i ASKED FOR HELP from a so called history website and I got what I call challenging, are you for real kind of results. This has actually hurt me rather then help. I simply wanted to find out how i earned this award(mcem). You missed the part where I said I have studied this medal for many many years. The nice stuff you cut and pasted I know by heart and have for years. I know the ops for this medal. I stated that I can't remember where I was and what I was doing during the years and ops that are listed for this medal. I am 100% service connected for many issues some of them being rage and temper :d: and this reply is not in line with my therapy. I hope and wish there are others who might have legitimate avenues of who and where I can call to get info on these ops. Semper Fidelis, Matthew Knogge SGT. USMC 1980-1988

[David]

Greetings, I reread my 2 posts and I sound like a hopeless luney man. This is not the case. I really wanted to know where I might find issuing info on this award, to see what operation or float or whatever allowed me to receive this. To me it is frustrating to have the MCEM but not know how you earned it. I liked the statement of this website that said it is a history website and I thought I might ask if anyone had heard of this operation.

I can assure you I am not laughing. The text in red above is why I added the information to this thread. If you need further assistance you will most likely need to be in more contact with veterans groups, i.e. your unit, your units association, past members of your unit, VA, etc. etc. etc. as the above information is about all that is available online. In regards to the operation in question, I could only find passing reference to it on a couple of pages, no details really to speak of. Good luck in your search.