The U.S. Merchant Marine.

[ChrisKelly]

A few "bits and bobs"...

 

[ChrisKelly]

[ChrisKelly]

[ChrisKelly]

[Gordon Craig]

Nice thread.  We don't see enough threads on the U.S. Merchant marine.

Regards,

Gordon

[TracA]

Chris,

 

I agree with Gordon. Great thread.

 

Tracy

[ChrisKelly]

Below are links to the U.S. Militaria Forum.  They work.  I tested them.

 

I know it's a lot easier to see pictures than to read some long narrative.  That can make your eyes hurt, to say the least. 

 

The first link is an absolutely fabulous, comprehensive gallery of U.S. Merchant Marine ratings insignia.  Much more than my small collection.  The second link shows some other insignia, including uniform buttons.

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/16304-1940-usmerchant-marine-ratings/#comment-110393

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/305061-us-maritime-service-merchant-marine-buttons/#comment-2451206

 

[ChrisKelly]

I bought this commemorative medal from the U.S. Mint this past June.  Price was $20USD plus $5.95USD for shipping within the continental U.S.A.  

 

 

This is most of my collection [about "98.6%"] of Second World War U.S. Merchant Marine insignia.  

 

Edited 7 hours ago by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

Edited 3 hours ago by ChrisKelly