Laws Establishing Merchant Marine Medals
Law Establishing Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal
Law Establishing Merchant Marine Distinguished Service MedalPUBLIC LAW 524 -- 77th CONGRESS
CHAPTER 241 -- 2d Session
H. J. Res. 263
JOINT RESOLUTION To provide decorations for outstanding conduct or service by persons serving in the American merchant marine
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States Maritime Commission is hereby authorized and directed, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, to provide and award a medal of such material and design and with such devices and inscriptions as the Commission may deem suitable to each person who in the American merchant marine, on or after September 3, 1939, has distinguished himself or during the war distinguishes himself by outstanding conduct or service in the line of duty. Such medals shall be presented with appropriate ceremony as specified by the Commission.
SEC. 2. There may be issued with each medal a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu of the medal. Not more than one medal shall be issued hereunder to any person, but for each succeeding instance sufficient to justify the award of a medal to such person the Commission may award a suitable bar or other emblem or insignia to be worn with the medal and the corresponding rosette or other device. In case any person who so distinguishes himself as to justify the award of a medal or decoration hereunder dies before the award can be made to him, the award may be made and the medal or decoration presented to such representative of the deceased as the Commission deems proper.
Approved April 11, 1942
Law Establishing Merchant Marine Service Emblem, War Zone Medals, Combat Bar and Mariner's Medal, Service Flag and Service Lapel Button
PUBLIC LAW 52 -- 78th CONGRESS
CHAPTER 96 -- 1st Session
H. R. 2281AN ACT To provide for the issuance of devices in recognition of the services of merchant sailors
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Administrator, War Shipping Administration, is hereby authorized to provide and issue
(a) a seamen's service insignia of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the period (hereinafter referred to as the war period) beginning December 7,1941, and ending with the termination of the present war, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine, and
(b) a seamen's war zone insignia or device of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine while sailing in any war or combat zone.
SEC. 2. The Administrator is authorized to provide and issue a seamens honor bar to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine which, at the time of such service, is attacked or damaged by an instrumentality of war. The Administrator is further authorized to provide and issue a star (to be attached to such bar) to any such person who is forced to abandon such vessel when so attacked or damaged, with an additional star for each such abandonment.
SEC. 3. The Administrator is authorized to provide and award a medal of appropriate design and a ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person, who while serving on any vessel in the Ameri-can merchant marine during the war period, is wounded, suffers physical injury, or suffers through dangerous exposure as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States.
SEC. 4. The Administrator shall prescribe appropriate conditions of eligibility for the issuance or award of insignia or medals under this Act. Not more than one insignia or medal of each type provided herein shall be issued or awarded to any one person, but. for each succeeding service of any person sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 3 of this Act, the Administrator may award a suitable bar, emblem, or insignia to be worn with the medal. In case any person who performs service sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 3 dies before the award can be made to him, the award may be made and the medal presented to such representative of the deceased as the Administrator deems proper. No award of any insignia, medal, or device shall be made hereunder after two years after the termination of the present war.
SEC. 5. The Administrator is authorized to approve a design for a seamens service flag which may be displayed, and a design for a service lapel button which may be worn, by members of the immediate family, of a person serving in the American merchant marine during the war period. In approving any design under this section, the Administrator may approve the design approved by the Secretary of War under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved October 17, 1942 (Public Law 750, Seventy-seventh Congress), but only if the Secretary of War shall consent thereto and the Administrator shall approve for use in connection therewith a distinctive insignia or other device designating service in the American merchant marine. The Administrator, upon approval of the design for such service flag and service lapel button, shall cause notice of such approval and a description of the flag and button to be published in the Federal Register.
SEC. 6. (a) The Administrator is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(b) The Administrator is authorized to expend out of any funds available for expenditure by the War Shipping Administration such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Approved May 10, 1943
Philippine Medal
PUBLIC LAW 135 -- 79TH CONGRESS
CHAPTER 275 -- 1st Session]H. R. 3436
AN ACT Providing for a medal for service in the armed forces during the present war
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War and the Secretary of he Navy are authorized and directed to procure, in numbers sufficient for the
purposes of this Act, a medal (and suitable appurtenances) of design and official designation jointly approved by them, to be awarded to all persons who shall have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or of the Government of the Philippine Islands at any time during the period beginning December 7, 1941, and ending with the date of the termination of hostilities in the present war, and whose service shall have been honorable. The term "date of the termination of hostilities in the present war" means the date proclaimed by the President as the date of such termination or the date specified in a concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress as the date of such termination whichever is the earlier. The medal may he awarded posthumously and, when so awarded, shall be presented to such representative of the deceased as shall be prescribed in the applicable regulations. Awards shall be made pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy.Approved July 6, 1945
Executive Order Establishing Gallant Ship Citation, Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Bar World War II
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9472
Establishing Certain Awards for the Merchant Marine
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President and as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
1. (a) The Administrator of the War Shipping Administration, hereinafter referred to as the Administrator, is hereby authorized to issue a citation as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction to any United States ship or to any foreign ship operated by or for the account of the United States Maritime Commission or the War Shipping Administration which, subsequent to September 8, 1939, or during the present war has served or shall serve in outstanding action against attack or in gallant action in marine disasters or other emergencies at sea.
(b) The Administrator shall award a plaque to any ship so cited; and a replica of such plaque shall be preserved, under such regulations as the Administrator may prescribe, as a permanent historical record.
(c) The Administrator shall also award an appropriate citation ribbon bar to the master and each person serving on board such ship at the time of the action for which citation is made, as public evidence of such honor and distinction:
Provided, That whenever such master or person would be entitled hereunder to the award of an additional citation ribbon, a suitable device shall be awarded, in lieu thereof, to be attached to the ribbon originally awarded.2. (a) There is hereby established the Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal, with accompanying ribbon and appurtenances, for award by the Admin-istrator, under such regulations as he shall prescribe, to any master, officer, or member of the crew of any United States ship, or any foreign ship operated by or for the account of the United States Maritime Commission or the War Shipping Administration who, subsequent to September 8, 1939, or during the present war has been or shall be officially commended by the Administrator for conduct or service of a meritorious character but not of such an outstanding character as would warrant an award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal established pursuant to the act of April 11, 1942, ch. 241, 56 Stat. 217.
(b) No more than one Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal shall he awarded to any one person, but for each succeeding commendation justifying such an award a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the medal and ribbon.
3. The Administrator is hereby authorized, until two years after the termination of the present war, to provide and issue, under such regulations as he may prescribe, a distinctive service ribbon bar to each master, officer, or member of the crew of any United States ship who shall have served at any time during the period beginning September 8, 1939, and ending December 6, 1941.
4. In case any person who is entitled to an award under this order dies before the award can be made to him, the award may be made to such representative of the deceased as the Administrator may deem proper.
5. The design of the plaque, medal, and ribbons herein authorized, shall not duplicate the design of any medals or ribbons awarded by the War or Navy Department. 6. The Administrator may delegate his authority hereunder and issue such other regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the provisions of this order.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
The White House, August 29, 1944.
[F. R. Doc. 44 -- 13133; Filed, August 29, 1944; 2:38 p.m.]
Establishing Authority
The DoT 9-11 Ribbon was established by Secretary of Transporation Norman Y Mineta following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001Effective Dates
The DoT 9-11 Ribbon was been in effect from September 11, 2001 to September 11, 2002.Criteria
The DoT 9-11 Ribbon was awarded to individuals serving in any capacity with the Department of Transportation, Merchant Marine, or to other civilians for acts or service that contributed to recovery from the attacks of September 11, 2001; force protection following the attacks; or, for efforts that directly contributed to the increased infrastructure security effort between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2002. It was awarded to the following categories of personnel:
- Coast Guard units that shifted Operational Control (OPCON) to Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, or Protecting Liberty for any amount of time between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2002.
- All personnel involved in patrolling harbors, critical infrastructure facilities, escorting high interest vessels, and conducting boardings of vessels entering U.S. waters during the period of September 11, 2001 to September 11, 2002. Participation in these operations must have been for no less than fourteen days.
- All personnel, to include active, reserve, auxiliary, and civilian personnel who manned or augmented for no less than fourteen days, Coast Guard, DOT, FEMA, and DoD command centers (including Operations Centers at Groups and above, COTP ICS, FEMA Regional Operations Centers and VTS) between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2002.
Approval authority for the DoT 9-11 ribbon was delegated to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, who in turn delegated award authority to Area Commanders.
Order of Precedence
The DoT 9-11 Ribbon is worn after the Humanitarian Service Medal and before the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon.
DescriptionThe DoT 9-11 Ribbon consists of seven stripes, equal in width, of red/white/blue/white/red/white/blue, with the outermost red stripe worn to the wearer's right
Restriction
This ribbon may not be worn on the Navy or Marine Corps uniforms.
Sources:
Hearing before the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Seventh-Ninth Congress, Second Session on H. R. 5892, A Bill Providing for a Medal of Service in the Merchant Marine, April 4, 1946, Washington DC, U. S. Governement Printing office, 1946
www.uscg.mil/Medals
Distinguished Service Medal Citations
Meritorious Service Medal Citations
Gallant Ships
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