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Throughout the Nineteenth Century, the Great Powers of Europe were beset by national and imperial rivalries. Meanwhile, the world as a whole become more interconnected and interdependent than it had ever been. Competing militaries adopted such reforms as trained conscript armies, military use of railroads and telegraphs, modernized weapons delivered by a military industrial base, and centralized general staffs. This in turn contributed to militarism, an inclination to resolve quarrels by force. It also locked nations into time-sensitive mobilization plans, wherein speedy deployment could lead to victory and tardy deployment to defeat.
By the early Twentieth Century, European powers had organized themselves into two competing security structures, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. Smaller nations had ambitions as well, and played off the Great Powers to assist in advancing them. A small spark could ignite a massive conflagration, and the entire world could readily become involved.
United State President Woodrow Wilson and others spoke of World War I as "the war to end all wars" or "to make the world safe for democracy." In the twenty years that followed, these high ideals ran afoul of a flawed and retributive peace treaty, the unwillingness of the United States and other non-European powers to assume responsibilities for maintaining peace, newly established dictatorships, national ambitions, and world economic collapse.
As horrific as World War I was, it proved the prelude and groundwork for an even more appalling conflict, a world-wide struggle that would take the lives of over 60 million people.
The streamer reflects campaign participation credit and is the campaign or service ribbon design authorized for the soldiers for that specific conflict or operation during the period. Organizations display the streamers on the color for campaigns or service for which they have received campaign participation credit as show on the unit's lineage and honors. The inscription is as shown on the unit's lineage and honors/statement of service. Campaign streamers displayed by organizations do not have the date of the campaign embroidered on the streamer unless it is part of the name (e.g. Mexico 1916–1917).
From Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army
The Navy's battle streamers, spanning the period from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm, number 28. Like the Marine Corps, the Navy flies a single streamer for each campaign, war, or theater of operations, with embroidered stars used for individual battles and operations determined to be suitable for special recognition. Stars on the Navy streamers follow the practice initiated during the World War II period for ribbons and medals — that is, a bronze star for each action, and a silver star in lieu of five bronze stars. The Navy applies stars to appropriate ribbons throughout its history, whereas the Marine Corps uses stars to commemorate service in this century only.
From Naval History and Heraldry Command