At the end of the Iranian hostage crisis I was onboard the USS Saipan in the Arabain Sea.We were standing by to evec the hostages,but they decided to evac them to Germany instead.After we got home we learned we were awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.???We didn't set foot on shore!
Before that & right after the hostage crisis started,we (the US) discovered Russian troops in Cuba,so Jimmy Carter sent a bunch of Marines down for a show of force.I was attached to the squadren that went down.The squadren flew so many hours & was always in the high 90 percentages mission capable wise,that we got a Meritorious Unit Citation,which is a ribbon.I worked night crew,4pm-midnight.All we on nights did was snorkel & cliff dive during the day,& if there was a good movie playing at the outdoor theater we secured to go watch the movie which started at 7:00.It was a 2 month vacation for me,but I got another award I didn't earn & am not proud of.The air crews sure earned it though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
All that just to show that the M.C. does give out unearned awards too.Even if a Marine got busted,fined & lost a stripe,they still got a Good Cookie Medal geeze!It is part of the government after all.I did earn my eagle,globe & anchor and my stripes though & am very proud of them.