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 November 27 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 November 28 by ChrisKelly

[Megan]

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.

[ChrisKelly]

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/

 

Edited November 28 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

Edited November 28 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

 

Edited November 28 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

 

[ChrisKelly]

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

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

Edited November 29 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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)."

 

 

 

Edited November 29 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

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

 

Edited November 29 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

A wartime mention from a popular American magazine:

 

Edited November 29 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

[Gordon Craig]

Wow is all that I can say.  You have posted enough material to occupy my entire day just reading.  Thanks for taking all the time to post this very useful information.

Regards,

Gordon

[ChrisKelly]

Roughly four percent of those who served were killed, a higher casualty rate than that of any of the American military services during World War II. There were 733 Merchant Marine ships sunk due to enemy attacks, and the Japanese captured 609 mariners as prisoners of war. The Germans and Japanese sank six ships manned by the Merchant Marine in 1941 before Pearl Harbor, making mariners some of the first American casualties of the growing global conflict. 

 

U. S. Merchant Marine 

Number serving: 243,000

War dead: 9,521

Percent: 3.90%

Ratio: 1 in 26

 

U.S. Marines

Number serving: 669,108

War dead: 19,733

Percent: 2.94%

Ratio: 1 in 34

 

U.S. Army

Number serving: 11,268,000

War dead: 234,874

Percent: 2.08%

Ratio: 1 in 48

 

U.S. Navy

Number serving: 4,183,466

War dead: 36,958

Percent: 0.88%

Ratio: 1 in 114

 

U.S. Coast Guard

Number serving: 242,093

War dead: 574

Percent: 0.24%

Ratio: 1 in 421

 

U.S.A.

Total number serving: 16,576,667 Total war dead: 295,790

Overall percent: 1.78%

Overall ratio: 1 in 56

 

Source:

 

http://www.usmm.org/casualty.html

 

 

 

Edited December 8 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

 

 

 

 

From the film Das Boot (1981).  A realistic portrayal of what happens when a convoy is attacked.  U-96 torpedos an oil tanker.

 

 

Actual footage of a modern oil tanker attacked by Houthi forces off the coast of Yemen.

 

 

 

Edited December 11 by ChrisKelly

[ChrisKelly]

 

 

Edited December 11 by ChrisKelly