awards & decorations

Throughout the history of the American Merchant Marine, awards and decorations were not unknown to seamen, but their blanket award specific to the Merchant Marine in particular as begun by the Federal government during the Second World War was novel. When considering Federal awards and decorations for the American Merchant Marine, their classification often falls along the lines of placement in a “Pyramid of Honor” – that is, a hierarchy of military decorations awarded for combat valor and meritorious service. This was done not only under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration, but continued by post-war authors making sense of the awards. At the pinnacle of the United States armed services’ pyramid is the Medal of Honor, followed by various Distinguished Service crosses particular to the armed service in question, Distinguished Service medals, valor and service awards, and finally the Purple Heart at the base.  Something of the same was true for the American merchant seaman. Although ostensibly having their own system of precedence and hierarchy, it is far more useful to consider Merchant Marine awards and decorations in the context of their establishment.

Postwar, the rôle of the American Merchant Mariner in the Second World War and as an auxiliary to the military was either relatively forgotten or taken for granted by the United States. Other nations, notably France and Russia, awarded Americans with medals thanking them for their service to their nations.

The following pages display and analyze some of the arrays of awards and decorations that were and are available to American Merchant Mariners, midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and commissioned officers with the United States Maritime Service at Kings Point.

Awards & Decorations
Studies & Essays
Collections & Objects