After the close of the Second World War, the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point became the focal point of national memorials for the American Merchant Marine. It came to hold a handful of monuments and war booty, just as did the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis for the United States Navy and the United States Military Academy at West Point for the United States Army. In looking for a visible, yet significant location to store the replica and original citation plaques of the Gallant Ships, the Administration naturally chose Kings Point. Eight plaques came to the Kings Point in August 1946 – almost a year from Japan’s surrender to the Allies.
The installation of the plaques was an auspicious event – as was fitting for the heroism of the crews. After a full-dress review and the award Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John A. Wilson of Steubenville – a Kings Point alumnus – the Merchant Marine Meritorious Service medal for heroism, the Regimental Commander accepted the plaques on the behalf of the Corps of Cadets. The plaques were installed in Bowditch Hall – at the time the central academic building on campus – in the corridor between the main auditorium and the Academy’s library. Although not a stipulation in Public Law, affixed to the plaques was to be a list of all the crew members who were awarded the Gallant Ship ribbon; this never happened.
After the initial deposit of plaques, the Academy did not receive any additions to its collection. Any citation plaques or medallions in Federal custody remained in storage in Washington D.C. until 1978 – just before the opening of the American Merchant Marine Museum on May 20, 1979.
In the intervening decades between the 1946 installation and the museum’s opening, MARAD did do its due diligence to collect the citation plaques and medallions aboard ships under its jurisdiction. Since several of the ships were part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, prior to the ships making their way to the breaking yards, MARAD personnel removed the plaques from their wheelhouses and sent them to Washington D.C. As mentioned before, with the creation of the museum, most of the extant citation plaques in Federal hands were deposited in the “Gallant Ship Room” with a few exceptions. All other citation plaques and medallions are either lost or are in the custody of other museums or the vessel’s owners; at the end of this page is a table including managing operator and Gallant Ship citation plaque whereabouts, if known.
| Gallant Ship Plaques at Kings Point, 17 August 1946 in order of announcement |
| SS Samuel Parker |
| SS Virginia Dare |
| SS Stephen Hopkins |
| SS Adoniram Judson |
| SS William Moultrie |
| SS Nathaniel Greene |
| SS Cedar Mills |
| SS Marcus Daly |