The Second World War cemented American overseas relationships and brought about new alliances. Allies, both new and old, grateful for the heroic work American Merchant Mariners endeavored on their behalf, have awarded them awards and decorations both during and after the Second World War. In present Maritime Administration publications, only those ribbons from the Philippines and a Soviet commemorative medal are mentioned. Please click on the country name below to be taken to various sub-pages detailing the various awards.
This page is under construction and endeavors to record the honors bestowed upon the American Merchant Mariner. If you have any information about Allied awards given to members of the American Merchant Marine, please do contact me.
The Allies & Awards to American Merchant Mariners
Big Three
United Kingdom (-)
Soviet Union (5)
United States (11 +letter)
Allies with Gov’ts in Exile
Poland (1)
Czechoslovakia (-)
Norway (2)
Netherlands (-)
Belgium (1)
Luxembourg (-)
Free France (4 +letter)
Ethiopia (-)
Greece (-)
Yugoslavia (1)
Philippines (2)
Other Allies
The Republic of China (Taiwan) (1)
India (-)
Canada (-)
Australia (-)
New Zealand (-)
South Africa (-)
Brazil (-)
Mongolia (-)
Mexico (-)
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Highlights
Free France (French Republic)
America’s oldest ally was and is France; and it is in France that saw the Normandy landings and the initial Allied push to end the war in Europe. Beginning in 2010, France began honoring those American Merchant Mariners who participated in the Normandy landings with the country’s Legion of Honor (Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur).
Norway
The crew of SS Henry Bacon earned the gratitude of the Kingdom of Norway for their selfless devotion to save their precious cargo of Norwegian refugees – to them went the War Medal (Krigsmedalje). Decades later, a Norwegian group has awarded American Merchant Mariners a pendant medal known as the “Convoy Cup.”
Commonwealth of the Philippines (Republic of the Philippines)
In the years following the Second World War, American Merchant Mariners were granted the right to wear ribbons (and not subsequent medals) of the Commonwealth and later Republic of the Philippines.
Soviet Union (Russian Federation)
Through the good offices of Ian Millar, the U.S.S.R. granted American merchant seamen a commemorative medal as given to Soviet military veterans for their vital role in supplying the country with much-needed supplies over Arctic convoy routes on the dreaded Murmansk Run. However, during the Second World War precious few medals were granted to American Merchant Marines for their heroism.
