(Image Source: The Steve Gill Show)

BY KYLIE MCGIVERN

They are the few. The proud. But many marines sent a fighting message to The United State Marine Corps – their “Killed in “Action” bracelets were staying on. KING explains.

“U.S. marines expressed some frustration over a crackdown on troops who wear memorial bracelets that commemorate friends who’ve been killed in action. These bracelets are worn by marines, they vary in design. Some are made with rubber, most of them are metal. All of them though, are considered unauthorized jewelry by the military. Some leaders turn a blind eye to this, while others have told marines that they’re prohibited.”

The problem is, Marine uniform regulation doesn’t include KIA bracelets on its list of authorized jewelry. The Daily Mail reports soldiers reached out to the Marine Corps Times through letters, writing...

“...signs have been put up telling them to take them (“Killed in Action” bracelets) off - but they refused, risking punishment or withdrawal or privileges... The ban is despite the fact that even President Barack Obama wears one on his arm in tribute to a dead soldier.”

Numerous news organizations reported the solder’s battle for bracelets on Monday through early Tuesday. But the Marine Corps raised a white flag Tuesday afternoon, when Commandant Gen. James Amos announced his decision to authorize the KIA bracelets for Marines in uniform. Stars and Stripes has that statement.

“We are acknowledging the close personal nature of our ten years at war and the strong bonds of fidelity that Marines have for one another, especially for those fellow Marines who we have lost.”

CNN interviewed Sgt. Megan Cavanaugh, who says the bracelets were about respect, not rebellion.  Really, no one thought twice about whether the bracelets were permitted.

“No one ever thought to bring it up, you know, now in our war that we’re having so many killed in action, you know that we would want to wear these. And I think for so long it was not ignored, but people just didn’t notice it or they didn’t think to ask for it to be included into the policy, and you know once they heard that it was an issue and that marines were kind of standing up to and it and this is important to us, you know, I think it’s great that they’re including that into the policy and that they’ll be authorized for wear.”

The Marine Corps says updated “Standardization and Uniformity” guidelines will be distributed to Marines by the end of the week.  

Transcript by Newsy.