Early War, 1942-1943
The first Federal decorations specifically created for merchant seaman during the Second World War were the Maritime Eagle pin and the quasi-official “Torpedoed Seaman’s Club” insignia. After the initial award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal, the latter two became deprecated and it was the only decoration granted to seamen until 1943.
Late & Post-War, 1943-1946
Advisors to independent tankermen’s unions – John Collins and Agnes Collins – testimony before Congress in 1942 was instrumental in capturing Congressional attention to the plight of the merchant seaman, and in turn brought about both government-sponsored welfare for the families of merchant seamen and a system of honors for the seamen themselves. The idea of government-sponsored social welfare for beached seamen was an alien concept in the 1940s since the government expected private charitable organizations and shipping companies to pick up the task. An honors system for civilian merchant seamen, as outlined by Mr. Collins was a topsy-turvy idea – merchant seamen were not considered on a par with man-of-war sailors in the eyes of most Americans. And yet, in terms of both, the government did eventually institute relief programs, and took the Collins’ suggestions – almost to the letter – in how to award merchant seamen for their contributions in the Second World War. Out of these efforts came the rest of the wartime decorations; an initial group legislated for in 1943, a second in 1944, and finally the Victory Medal in 1946.
