Blood stripe - wikipedia Blood stripe The blood stripe is visible on the uniforms of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Band in 2003 A blood stripe is a scarlet stripe worn down the outside leg seams of trousers on the dress uniform of the United States Marine Corps. This red stripe is 2 inches ( 5.1 cm ) for general officers, 1.5 inches ( 3.8 cm ) for other officers, and 1.12 inches ( 2.8 cm ) for enlisted Staff Noncommissioned Officers and Noncommissioned Officers. Modified versions are worn on the officers ' evening dress uniforms, with the scarlet flanked with gold trim, and on members of the Marine Band, which wear the traditional red stripe with a white stripe in the center. Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources History While trouser stripes were in use in various militaries for many years ( especially the British Army, whose uniforms influenced American uniforms for many years, as well as the ref, red stripes of the Spanish Navy Marines ), red trouser stripes were not a predominant feature of any American Marine uniform until 1837. In that year, President Andrew Jackson ordered changes that included the adoption of the Army 's practice of wearing stripes the same color as uniform jacket facings. These original stripes were buff white to match changes to the uniform jacket, but when the jacket was changed back to dark blue with red trim in 1839, the stripes remained, but altered to a similar blue edged in red. Tradition holds that in the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico on September 1847, Marine officers and NCOs sustained an unusually high casualty rate during the battle. In 1849, uniform regulations dictated that the stripes be changed to a solid red in honor of the numerous Marine deaths. Ten years later, a scarlet cord was inserted into the outer seams for noncommissioned officers and musicians, while a scarlet welt was added for officers. Finally, in 1904, the simple scarlet stripe seen today was adopted, with the varying widths prescribed for different ranks. According to a Marine Corps publication, Marine casualties for the Mexico City campaign were 780 killed and 2,400 wounded, about fifty percent of the invading force. Ninety percent of Marine officers and non-commissioned officers who fought were killed. Mexican snipers would strategically target officers and non-commissioned officers as they could be seen giving command motions to subordinates or some wore distinguishing uniform apparel, this effectively dismantled combat effectiveness of the Marine invading force. In his Personal Memoirs ( 1885 ), Ulysses S. Grant, who served as lieutenant in Taylor 's army despite being opposed to the war with Mexico, says the following regarding the cost of the battles of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey : `` The Mexicans have shown a patriotism which it would be well if we would imitate in part, but with more regard to truth. They celebrate the anniversaries of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey as of very great victories. The anniversaries are recognized as national holidays. At these two battles, while the United States troops were victorious, it was at very great sacrifice of life compared with what the Mexicans suffered. The Mexicans, as on many other occasions, stood up as well as any troops ever did. The trouble seemed to be the lack of experience among the officers, which led them after a certain time to simply quit, without being particularly whipped, but because they had fought enough. '' See also United States Marine Corps portal Lampasse for military trouser - stripes in general. Leatherneck Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps References This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps. ^ Jump up to : Lore of the Corps Archived 2009 - 11 - 05 at the Wayback Machine. by National Museum of the Marine Corps Jump up ^ `` Reseña Histórica '' ( in Spanish ). Spanish Navy. Retrieved 3 January 2010. Jump up ^ Kelly, Jack ( April 12, 2009 ). `` Kill the pirates ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009 - 04 - 14. Jump up ^ http://community.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Marines%20in%20the%20Mexican%20War%20%20PCN%2019000412200.pdf Jump up ^ Grant, Ulysses S. ( 2004 ). Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. Project Gutenberg. Sources `` Marine Corps Uniform Regulations ''. MCO P1020. 34G W / CH 1 - 5. United States Marine Corps. 31 March 2003. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 05. Dress Blues on marines.com Blood Stripe on Answers.com `` Marine Corps Uniforms ''. Marine For Life. 3 September 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 11. Leicht, Cpl. Paul W. ( March 5, 2004 ). `` Earning the Blood Stripe : Marines remember a legacy of sacrifice ''. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar : United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 11. 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Question: where does the blood stripe go on the dress blues
Answer: down the outside leg seams of trousers