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7.15.1 The Distinctive Emblems: Red Cross, Crescent, and Crystal. To facilitate visualidentification of medical and religious personnel, and medical units, facilities, transports, andequipment, four distinctive emblems have been recognized in treaties to which the United Statesis a Party. As displayed below, they are 1) a red cross; 2) a red crescent; 3) a red crystal; and 4)a red lion and sun. Each is displayed on a white background.The Distinctive EmblemsRed Cross Red Crescent Red Crystal Red Lion and Sun (withdrawn)7.15.1.1 Red Cross. “As a compliment to Switzerland,” the heraldic emblem ofthe red cross on a white ground formed by reversing the Federal colors is retained as the emblemand distinctive sign of the Medical Services of armed forces. 383 The explanation that the redcross is used as a compliment to Switzerland was added to emphasize that the red cross is notintended to have religious significance. 384 The red cross has long been used to identify medicalpersonnel during armed conflict. 3857.15.1.2 Red Crescent, and Red Lion and Sun. In the case of countries thatalready use, in place of the red cross, the emblem of the red crescent or the emblem of the redlion and sun on a white ground, those emblems are also recognized by the terms of the GWS andGWS-Sea. 386383 GWS art. 38 (“As a compliment to Switzerland, the heraldic emblem of the red cross on a white ground formedby reversing the Federal colours, is retained as the emblem and distinctive sign of the Medical Services of armedforces.”).384 GWS COMMENTARY 303 (“The phrase stating that the red cross emblem was formed, as a compliment toSwitzerland, by reversing the Federal colours was introduced into the Geneva Convention by the DiplomaticConference of 1906. ‘This tribute in 1906’, wrote Paul Des Gouttes, the eminent commentator on the GenevaConvention, ‘had also another object: to confirm officially and explicitly that the emblem had no religioussignificance’.”). See also AP III preamble (“Stressing that the distinctive emblems are not intended to have anyreligious, ethnic, racial, regional or political significance,”).385 See, e.g., Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, art. 7, Aug. 22, 1864, 22STAT. 940, 944 (“A distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals, ambulances and evacuations. Itmust, on every occasion, be accompanied by the national flag. An arm-badge (brassard) shall also be allowed forindividuals neutralized, but the delivery thereof shall be left to military authority. The flag and arm-badge shall beara red cross on a white ground.”).386 GWS art. 38 (“Nevertheless, in the case of countries which already use as emblem, in place of the red cross, thered crescent or the red lion and sun on a white ground, those emblems are also recognized by the terms of thepresent Convention.”); GWS-SEA art. 41 (“Nevertheless, in the case of countries which already use as emblem, inplace of the red cross, the red crescent or the red lion and sun on a white ground, these emblems are also recognizedby the terms of the present Convention.”).471