The blood stripe on Marine NCO dress uniforms commemorates which battle?

The blood stripe on Marine NCO dress uniforms commemorates which battle?

• A. Belleau Wood
• B. Iwo Jima
• C. Fallujah
• D. Chapultepec

Answer: (D)

The blood stripe honors the Marines who fought and bled at Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War in 1847. Defending Chapultepec Castle, Marine troops faced heavy losses, and that sacrifice led to a red stripe being added to the dress trousers as a lasting symbol of their valor. Over time, this stripe became a standard part of the dress uniform for noncommissioned officers and officers, linking today’s Marines to that historic act. The other battles listed are famous Marine engagements, but they are not the origin of the blood stripe.

The blood stripe honors the Marines who fought and bled at Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War in 1847. Defending Chapultepec Castle, Marine troops faced heavy losses, and that sacrifice led to a red stripe being added to the dress trousers as a lasting symbol of their valor. Over time, this stripe became a standard part of the dress uniform for noncommissioned officers and officers, linking today’s Marines to that historic act. The other battles listed are famous Marine engagements, but they are not the origin of the blood stripe.