Marine Corps Brevet Medal

The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactively recognized living Marine Corps officers who had received a brevet rank. The similar practice of frocking continues in all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Brevet promotions were used by the United States military in some capacity from 1775 until they were discontinued in 1900. The Army was the only branch authorized to grant brevets until 1814, when the Marine Corps was granted the same privilege. Over 86 years, the Marine Corps awarded 121 brevet promotions to 100 Marine Corps officers. Captain Anthony Gale was the first to receive a brevet promotion in 1814, and John Twiggs Myers, who died in 1952, was the last surviving recipient.

In 1921, Commandant John A. Lejeune requested that a Marine Corps Brevet Medal be authorized. After it was approved and created, the decoration was given to the last 20 living Marine Corps officers who received brevet promotions.

Brevet promotions

A brevet promotion, or brevet, is the advancement in rank without the advancement in either pay grade or position. Typically, a brevetted officer would be given the insignia of the brevetted rank but not the pay or formal authority. Brevet promotions were originally authorized for the United States Army in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress. In 1778, a resolution was passed stating brevets would only be authorized "..to officers in the line or in case of very eminent services...".

The Marine Corps would not receive the authorization from Congress for brevet promotions until 1814, stating "... That the President is hereby authorized to confer brevet rank on such officers of the Marine Corps as shall distinguish themselves by gallant actions and meritorious conduct or shall have served ten years in any one grade...".

Due to the establishment of the Medal of Honor and the change in rules allowing both officers and enlisted to receive it, the need for brevet promotions diminished. During the American Civil War, the Army used the issuing of brevet promotions to such a degree that Congress passed an act in 1869 that restricted the issuance of brevet promotions. The act established three requirements for awarding a brevet: "they could only be awarded in time of war and then only for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy, and it also removed all privileges of command based upon brevet rank except as directed by the President."

In 1870 Congress passed a law stating that no officer could wear, nor be addressed by, their brevet rank making brevet promotions an honorary decoration only.

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|O-02First Lieutenant

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct during the Spanish–American War"

|75px|alt=An image of a white male in his military uniform with no hat on. Military style ribbons are clearly visible.

|O-03Captain

|Tientsin, China

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy July 13, 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion". One of three to receive both the Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor. One of nineteen to receive the Medal of Honor twice.

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|O-03Captain

|Tientsin, China

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Boxer Rebellion"

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|O-04Major

|Peking, China

|"For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy during the Boxer Rebellion"

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|O-04Major

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

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|O-03Captain

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

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|O-03Captain

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For conspicuous conduct in battle during the Spanish–American War"

|75px|alt=An image of a white male in his military uniform with no hat on. Military style ribbons are clearly visible.

|O-03Captain

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

|75px|alt=An image of a white male in his military uniform with no hat on. Military style medals are clearly visible.

|O-04Major

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

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|O-03Captain

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

|75px|Paul St. Clair Murphy

|O-04Major

|Santiago, Cuba

|"For gallant service in the naval battle of Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish–American War"

|75px|alt=an image of a white male in his military uniform with a hat on and a mustache. Military style ribbons are clearly visible.

|O-04Major

|Peking, China

|"For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at the defense of the legations during the Boxer Rebellion"

|75px|alt=an image of a white male in his military uniform with a hat on. Military style ribbons are clearly visible.

|O-03Captain

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For conspicuous conduct in battle during the Spanish–American War". One of three to receive both the Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor.

|75px|alt=an image of a white male in his military uniform with no hat.

|O-03Captain

|Fort Sumter

|"For gallant and meritorious service in the night attack upon Ft. Sumter during the Civil War"

|75px|alt=an image of a white male in his military uniform with no hat. Military style ribbons are clearly visible.

|O-03Captain

|Novaleta, Philippine Islands

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Philippine Insurrection". One of three to both receive the Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor.

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|O-03Captain

|Tientsin, China

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Boxer Rebellion"

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|O-05Lieutenant Colonel

|Tientsin, China

|"For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy during the Boxer Rebellion"

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|O-02First Lieutenant

|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Spanish–American War"

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|O-03Captain

|Novaleta, Philippine Islands

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Philippine Insurrection"

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|O-05Lieutenant Colonel

|Tientsin, China

|"For distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy during the Boxer Rebellion" He is the only Marine to have been awarded both the Brevet Medal and the Navy Specially Meritorious Service Medal.

;Approved recipients who died before award of the medal

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!class="unsortable"|Image

! Name

! Rank brevetted to

! Date of action

! Place of action

!class="unsortable"|Notes