The United States Merchant Marine is not an armed service and has a relatively recent history of federally-issued medals and decorations. American merchant seamen and their ships have had a long history of being militarized without due recognition; before the Second World War, medals, awards, and decorations came from civic groups and managing operators. The wartime Roosevelt Administration started a new precedent: merchant seamen were to be honored just the same as their brothers-in-arms. And like sailors, merchant seamen received ribbons that were to become medals after the cessation of the war. Unfortunately, as momentum was building for placing seamen on an equal footing with the “battleship sailor” regarding benefits and medals, Roosevelt died; mariners had to wait to replace their hard-earned federally-issued ribbons with medals. Almost forty years after the close of hostilities, merchant seamen were granted veteran’s status – something far more valuable.
Below are some rarely-seen items from various entities: an award document for the highest wartime decoration to a United States Lines Master, a solid gold United States Lines award, and photographs of the collection of wartime medals at the American Merchant Marine Museum.
United States Maritime Commission Award Citation
Copy of Capt. George A. Vickers Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal citation sent to his employer, United States Lines. ca. 1945. He was presented his medal by a member of the War Shipping Administration – the government agency which assumed shipping management for the duration of the war from the U.S. Maritime Commission.
United States Lines Distinguished Service Medal & Award
With the retirement of Capt. George Fried from the United States Lines, the company’s Board of Directors instituted the “United States Lines’ medal for distinguished service.” Following the precedent of other Orders and Awards, there were two classes: Medal and Award. The former was awarded to ship masters and the latter to crew members and officers. November 20, 1934, marked its first award.
United States Lines Distinguished Service Award
Award medal presented to Philip Westerly Babcock, Jr. for his participation as lifeboat crew during the rescue of the fishing schooner Fieldwood by the SS American Farmer on December 19, 1938.
col.: IW
American Merchant Marine Museum collection
