Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal ribbon.

Old Version USMC GCMThe 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.