For thirty years – from 1934 to 1964 – United States Lines awarded its employees a pair of decorations called the United States Lines Distinguished Service Medal and the United States Lines Distinguished Service Award. Both were primarily awards for heroism in lifesaving; and among American steamship companies, they were the first of such ongoing […]
Tag: usl
usl cap badge history
Upon taking command of the SS Leviathan in the Spring of 1923, Captain Herbert Hartley wore the earliest known cap badge of United States Lines. The badge’s design was novel for the era; whereas most passenger lines opted for a flag flanked by laurels, United States Lines (USL) used an eagle’s bust in profile ringed […]
United States Lines & USNRF
Military uniforms tell a story. The bit and bobs that are scattered across them offer clues to their context and sometimes even political battles fought far from the crew compartment or barracks. American Merchant Marine uniforms in the inter-war period were work clothes. I was bothered by a statement by a General Dalton of the United […]
usl chapman flag
CHAPMAN TAKES OVER LEVIATHAN FOR $4,000,000 The S. S. Leviathan, pride of the United States Shipping Board, has officially changed hands. The new house flag of the United States Lines, Inc. a white field, [five-pointed] red star and blue triangle now flaps from its mainmast. Ceremonies on its hoisting attracted officials of the shipping board […]
usl uniform buttons
United States Lines Uniform Buttons Usually, when a steamship company of any gravitas incorporates itself, it assumes all the trappings of a maritime organization. It usually invests in stock certificates depicting sea-borne commerce, a house flag flown from the masts of its vessels, cap devices for its officers and stewards, and buttons to adorn its […]
usl 1927 ab cap badge mockup
This cap badge never existed. In 1927, new a cap badge appeared for officers serving aboard USL ships – they featured an eagle over the house flag of the company. In later years, the eagle would denote membership in the USNR. Hense, as would commonly be seen – officers would wear badges with eagles and […]
ss leviathan maiden voyage july 1923
Crew Photographs, July 1923 Selected photographs from the Library of Congress with SS Leviathan crew members. Date of photographs are noted as from 1923; given the subject matter, this is most probably from SS Leviathan‘s maiden voyage on 7 July 1923. Harris & Ewing are the photographers. “The morning of Independence Day found the S. […]