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A wartime mention from a popular American magazine:

A few words about the U.S. Merchant Marine from their British allies.

Addendum: Below is the regulation from the U.S. Department of Defense specific to U.S. Merchant Marine personnel. "DoDM 1348.33-V2, December 21, 2016. SECTION 4: DOD CE&S MEDALS (pages) 53-54. 4.15. POW MEDAL. a. Introduction. The POW Medal, established by Section 1128 of Title 10, U.S.C., recognizes qualifying individuals who, while serving in a capacity with the Military Services, were taken prisoner and held as POWs. b. Award Category. Individual Service Medal. c. Award Criteria and Eligibility Requirements. ☆(1) General Eligibility Criteria. (a) The POW Medal is authorized for any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Military Services, was taken prisoner and held captive after April 5, 1917. The POW Medal will be issued to Service members and other personnel serving in any capacity with the Military Services, who were taken prisoner and held captive: 1. While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; 2. While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or 3. While serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. (b) The POW Medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Military Services, was held captive under circumstances not covered by Paragraph 4.15.c.(1)(a), but which the Military Department Secretary concerned finds were comparable to those circumstances under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict... 2. (c) The period of service qualifying an individual for the POW Medal must have been honorable for the period of captivity which serves as the basis for award. 1. Any person convicted by a U.S. military tribunal of misconduct or a criminal charge or whose discharge is less than honorable based on actions while a POW is ineligible for the POW Medal. 2. POWs whose conduct is not in accord with the Code of Conduct contained in E.O. 10631 and whose actions are documented by U.S. military records are ineligible for the POW medal. (Page 55) (2) U.S. Civilian Personnel. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned will evaluate requests for award of the POW Medal to U.S. civilians and will award the POW Medal upon determining that: (a) The individual was serving in a capacity with a branch of the Military Services under the control and authority of the Military Department Secretary concerned. (b) The individual meets POW Medal eligibility criteria contained in ☆Paragraph 4.15.c.(1)."

U.S. Merchant Marines are awarded the Prisoner Of War medal for conflicts from World War One to the present. It was established on 8 November 1985. Some other "strictly military" awards have been granted previously, but seemingly are limited to the Second World War. To wit: "NAVY DEPARTMENT BULLETIN CUMULATIVE EDITION; 31 DEC. 1943 43-1391 --- Navy Awards to Merchant Marine Personnel Op18 C-jc, Serial 202913, 9 September 1943 ACTION: ALL SHIPS AND STATIONS 1. Authority is hereby delegated to the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, the Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, the Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, the Commander United States Naval Forces Europe, the Commander THIRD Fleet, the Commander FOURTH Fleet, the Commander SEVENTH Fleet, and the Commander EIGHTH Fleet to make awards of certain Navy decorations to officers and members of the crews of the United States Merchant Marine ships operating with the Navy. The following policy will govern such awards: (a) Navy awards may be made to United States Merchant Marine personnel only when direct combat with the enemy is involved, or in case of especially meritorious service under combat conditions when members of a naval expedition. The latter is not to be construed as covering normal overseas convoys. (B) In such cases, Navy awards will be limited to the Silver Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, as appropriate. Major naval commanders to whom this authority is delegated are authorized to award these naval decorations on the spot as is now done for naval personnel. (d) All naval commanders, if not authorized to make awards themselves, will be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of such medals as may be considered appropriate. Such commanders, if serving directly under an officer authorized to make awards, will submit recommendations to that officer. Other naval commanders will submit such recommendations to the Secretary of the Navy. (e) All naval commanders will be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of War Shipping Administration medals to the Navy Department for further transmission to the War Shipping Administration. ---SecNav. Frank Knox." Sources: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/167042-ww2-us-merchant-marine-war-zone-bar-certificates-ribbons-and-medals/ http://www.usmm.org/medalsmilitary.html http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/MerchantMarines.html https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_War_Medal

The Soviet Union awarded the 40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War to the merchant seamen of all Allied nations who participated in the legendary "Arctic convoys", primarily to and from Murmansk, during the War. The USSR, under General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, advertised and solicited applications from ex-merchant seafarers who qualified. The British and Canadians were the first, and most copiously awarded. Upon award, the recipients were placed on a perpetual list, ensuring they would automatically receive subsequent anniversary medals until their deaths (these "jubilee" medals are not awarded posthumously). Additionally, all surviving veterans of the Arctic convoys were awarded the esteemed Medal of Ushakov beginning in 2012. For the U.S. Merchant Marines, given the despicable, insulting attitude of the American government, and most of the American public, towards merchant seafarers, coupled with the hostile view of the USSR, recognition was slow, and grudging at best. Nonetheless, arrangements were made for these brave merchant seamen to receive the 40th Anniversary medals upon application. It was not until the 21st century that recognition for those non-military personnel who "did their bit" and then some, started coming more copiously. The first two images show the medal as awarded to non-USSR citizens, including Allied metchant seamen. Sources: https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/10/29/soviet-murmansk-medal-brings-chilling-memories-marylander-served-in-arctic-convoys/ https://militariabcn.com/product/ussr-medal-of-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-victory-of-the-great-patriotic-war-version-for-foreigners/?lang=en https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Ushakov Not to digress, but the images below show awards to the U.S. Merchant Marine's British counterparts. Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-33252549.amp

Some things special, is that according to the information here, and on Pamyat Naroda, Petr Lavrent'yevich was part of a 'Spetsnaz' Group, the Special Forces, which I believe may be quite interesting. Furthermore, the group he was part of, the 1st Guards Engineering Brigade, were the providers and supporters of the 5th Shock Army, of which in their headquarters is where the unconditional surrender of the German Reich was signed by Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, on the 8th of May, in Karlshorst, Berlin - which marked the end of the War in Europe.

U.S. Merchant Seamen were also given medals by the goverment of the Phillipines, for those who participated or were present for the defense (1941), liberation (1944-1945) or independence (1946) of that island nation. The miniature of the Phillipine Defense Medal is slightly different in design than the full sized medal (image 3). These are official government awards. Sources: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/wwii-philippine-made-medal-lot-defence-liberation-479-c-fda4b0ab78 https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-philippine-defense-medal-instituted-in-1944-1651-c-684479ca2e

Greetings, fellow phalerists! Today I would like to present a Medal for Battle Merit, No. 2186611. I was able to have it researched, and here is the results... It was awarded to a Captain of the 4th Guards Motorized Engineering Warsaw Battalion, 1st Separate Guards Motorized Engineering Brest Red Banner and Order of Suvorov Brigade - LEVCHENKO, Petr Lavrent'yevich. Here is our hero... Now, I will show you the Medal, and the Register Card. Here, we can see the basic information. He was born in 26 August, 1906, in the Village of Moshny, Cherkassy Region, Kyiv Oblast. He had no Party Membership, had 7 Years of Education, and was serving in the Red Army from 1941 until 1946. After war, he was working as Manager of the Teahouse in Moshny, where he still lives. Throughout the war, he received the Order of the Red Star, Medal for Battle Merit, Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad, Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw, Medal for the Capture of Berlin, and the Medal for the Victory over Germany. This will be the story of how he received the Medal for Battle Merit. I will place here the Award Sheet, Original and Translation. First, Original... Here is the following translation... When searching his name, I found that he held an Officers Card, which I retrieved. I will apply it here, but I have not translated it yet.

Dear Gentlemen, "Union of Myanmar Military Service Medal": Yours sincerely, No one

Dear Gentlemen, The insignia of the Navy Saigon (Marine Saigon / Sài Gòn), Courtois Paris: "Paulatim crescam" : "Peu à peu je croîtrai" / "Little by little I will grow" Yours sincerely, No one

The U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal and the U.S. Merchant Marine Medal For Outstanding Achievement. The reverse is common to the Defense, Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean-Middle East, Korea and Vietnam Medals. Sources: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155944309043 https://www.vfmr-ordersandmedals.com/epages/vfmr-ordersandmedals_com.mobile/pt_PT/?ObjectPath=/Shops/vfmr-ordersandmedals_com/Products/ae052&Locale=pt_PT

The Mariner's Medal. Source: http://www.militarywives.com/index.php/federal-medal-descriptions/1259-merchant-marine-mariner-s-medal Awards available to the U.S. Merchant Marine as full - sized medals during and shortly after the Second World War: Image 1: Distinguished Service Medal. Image 2: Meritoruous Service Medal. Image 3: Mariner's Medal. Image 4: World War II Victory Medal. Source: http://www.medalmulisha.com/merchant-marine.html

Addenda: The World War Two Victory Medal was the only campaign medal available to U.S. Merchant Seamen in 1946. The Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Bars were created by "An Act Of Congress" on 10 May 1944 and did not become actual medals until 1992. The Defense Bar, the equivalent to the military's American Defense Service Medal, was created by "An Act Of Congress" on 14 August 1944, and became a medal in 1992. The Combat Bar was established on 10 May 1943 by the U.S. Congress, and is equivalent to the USN-USMC Combat Action Ribbon. It remains a ribbon bar with no medal. Also, on 10 May 1943, the U.S. Congress created the Mariner's Medal, which is the U.S.M.M.'s equivalent to the military's Purple Heart. In 1956 and 1968 respectively, the U.S. Congress created ribbon bars for Merchant Marine participation in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and they became medals in 1992. The Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal was established in 1992, and recognizes service in all campaigns post - Vietnam War. The U.S. Maritime Administration established the Merchant Marine Distiguished Service Medal on 11 April 1942. Only 152 have been awarded, 30 of them posthumously. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Merchant Marine Meritoruous Service Medal on 29 August 1944, and since then 521 have bern awarded. Both are still awarded. The U.S.M.A. created the Merchant Marine Medal For Outstanding Achievement in 2002. Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_Merchant_Marine https://web.archive.org/web/20070625061117/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=6d6ec8876126cefbf2ae5f2907ce08f0&rgn=div5&view=text&node=46:8.0.1.11.48&idno=46 https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/mariner-medals http://www.usmm.org/medallaws.html#dsm1 Images of a display showing U.S. Merchant Marine medals. The medal on the bottom row at the extreme right in images 1, 2 & 5 is the U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal. Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/176523549561?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=176523549561&targetid=2295557533630&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1027271&poi=&campaignid=21415037908&mkgroupid=173029509028&rlsatarget=pla-2295557533630&abcId=9450163&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxqC6BhBcEiwAlXp45x5w--m7JTy-YWXmMaa7RXIOfyxpQdO-6in4NE5kEC0EdYglK5oWOxoCjk4QAvD_BwE The U.S. Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Source: https://ianewatts.org/medal-merchant-marine-distinguished-service-medal-2/

Dear Lady and Gentlemen, Thank you. "State Military Service Medal": Yours sincerely, No one

I've been been working on this one for a couple of months now, having finally sorted out a clerical error in my research that derailed me a bit... There were only two candidates in the 1918 Naval Ranklist that tick all of the boxes: Both had been in the Navy long enough to have the 1897 Centenary Medal, with Kunau entering in 1896, and Schulz in 1894. The Boxer Rebellion ended up being the key. Theoretically Schulz could have had a steel grade, but I couldn't find a visible connection. Kunau's entry in the 1908/1909 Deutscher Ordens Almanach omits it, mentioning the RAO4, 1897 Centenary Medal, and the Russian St. Anne Order. However, the 1901 Naval Ranklist lists him as being on the SMS Fürst Bismarck, which would have warranted a bronze. Additionally, Daniel Krause was kind enough to check his database for me. Kunau lines up nicely while Schulz ended up with additional decorations not present on either bar. Curiously enough, on the eve of the Great War, the two men were co-workers: Anyhow, most of what I've got concerning his WWI service comes from the Ehrenrangliste der Kaiserlich Deutschen Marine (1914-18): He remained in the Kiel area during the interwar period, and ended up back in uniform in WWII, commanding a banana boat turned troop transport. His ship (the Pionier) was ferrying troops between Norway and Germany when it was torpedoed by a British sub, less than a week after his 61st birthday. About 60% of the crew and passengers survived, however the captain was not among them.

Hi What could it be? Is this an insignia? Has anyone seen a similar item before?

Hi I'm almost sure it's a copy, but I'm still asking for your opinions. Regards

Fascinating thread, a lot of new information to sift through...

Fascinating stuff - although my area is medals, it's interesting to see all the uniform items... I'd never realised that merchant sailors wore them to such an extent.

Personal note... Small collection I put together from "bits and bobs"...

By no means is the list below exhaustive, but does provide some insight on the U.S. Merchant Marine. Apparently, the coin I bought from he U.S. Mint is a reproduction of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the U.S. Merchant Marine in 2020, in recognition of Second World War service. https://www.americanmaritimepartnership.com/press-releases/president-trump-honors-wwii-merchant-mariners-with-congressional-gold-medal/ https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3037882/wwii-merchant-mariners-receive-congressional-gold-medal/ http://www.usmm.org/strugglevetstatus.html https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/merchant-marine-world-war-ii https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-30-mn-10163-story.html

have you any idea what happened to them or found any reference to the medals? Something to use as a starting point.., tony 🍻

I’d say yes.. 👍👍

A comparison of U.S. Merchant Marine World War Two Victory Medals. "The Merchant Marine World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine established by an Act of Congress on August 8, 1946. The decoration is awarded to officers and men of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served aboard American-flagged merchant ships for at least 30 days between December 7, 1941, and September 2, 1945." From: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_Marine_World_War_II_Victory_Medal In these images, the first and second medals from the left are 1947-1950s issues. Third from the left is a 1980s production from Lordship Industries Group International, and the reverse of the pin bar is hallmarked "L.I.G.I" The right-most medal is a modern issue and its pinback bar is hallmarked "Vanguard" on the reverse. See also: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2012-title46-vol8/xml/CFR-2012-title46-vol8-part350.xml