usmma-awards – Ian Watts

torpedoed seamen’s club insignia & merchant marine combat bar

In the summer of 1943, the War Shipping Administration announced merchant seamen could apply for a series of ribbons Congress recently legislated for, and the President wrote into law. These bits of cloth and metal represented the American merchant seamen’s sacrifices made in service to the nation, and they came when the merchant seaman’s morale was at an ebb in the face of a protracted war. These same decorations were latecomers among the several pins and ribbons already available via union and other government channels, yet, as intended, they eclipsed all others. Among the new awards, the Merchant Marine Combat Bar represented the crux of merchant seamen recognition and became a ubiquitous marker of the combat-proven merchant seaman. It is arguably central to the U.S. Government’s understanding of how many merchant seamen experienced the rigors of war – it began as the “Torpedoed Seamen’s Club” insignia.

In 1920, the law to create a medal honoring merchant seamen who participated in the Great War expired. Congress did not extend the deadline owing to inadequate recordkeeping to identify merchant seamen who possibly qualified for the medal. In 1943, the U.S. Government was not so hindered. With the United States’ official entrance into the Second World War, the entire deep-water American Merchant Marine fleet fell under the umbrella of the War Shipping Administration (WSA). For the duration, merchant seamen aboard these ships became quasi-employees of the U.S. Government. Due to agreements negotiated with labor unions and shipping company management in early 1942, the U.S. Government acted within established industry parameters:

The U.S. Government paid and gave merchant seamen their salaries and insurance.
Unions placed men on ships through hiring halls.
Steamship companies (also known as “managing operators”) as the U.S. Government’s agent, issued paychecks.

Before ship-out, seamen were duly credentialed and checked by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Thus, the bureaucratic process was in place for tracking seamen as assets of the United States in triplicate, and the potential for them to receive awards and decorations by the federal government.

As soon the United States declared war on Japan and its allies in December 1941, Germany dispatched a contingent of U-boats and positioned them off the United States’ eastern seaboard to prey on United States’ shipping. As a result, merchant seamen found themselves unwittingly thrown into the crucible of unrestricted submarine warfare. Absent were basic protections such as coastal blackouts, patrol aircraft, minesweepers, or military escorts. As a result, a great many seamen received otherwise preventable death sentences as the Germans attacked and sank their ships. Censorship rules prevented reporting the full breadth of the catastrophe in mass media, but it did not avert seamen from talking to each other.

Cover of *Full and Down, Fall 1942*. Yearbook of the U.S.M.S. Officer’s School on Government Island, Alameda, California.

It may be argued that the European Theater of the Second World War was won on the factory floor. It may be further argued that the United States’ ultimate success in Europe rested on the logistics process. Unhindered by the exigencies of war, American industrial output reached its zenith mid-war. However, it is often forgotten that early in the war, the United States faced numerous set-backs: its supply-lines to its overseas colonies and bases were severed, and its merchant fleets were sunk quicker than shipyards could replace the tonnage. Success only came with a steady stream of men to man the ships.

In this critical period, military planners schooled in von Clausewitz understood the grim calculus of numbers. The U.S. Maritime Commission sponsored building merchant ships cheaply and quickly, and the WSA embarked upon production-line style training of merchant seamen. Instead of mandating riveted hulls that could weather the shifting pressure of ocean waves, they chose welded constructions – they were cheap and modular – but brittle; ships did split in two. Since the overall investment was altogether low, they were not concerned if the ships sank after a convoy or two and or met its fate by a torpedo. Engines for the same ships were not the best – logisticians determined there was safety in numbers. Instead of depending upon speed to evade the enemy, merchantmen depended on the defensive screen of air cover or naval escorts. Since the delivery of war materiel was essential but could be replaced, convoys often contained shipments in duplicate. The unspoken rule was WSA planners expected high numbers of casualties; true to this assumption, 1942 saw some of the highest losses in terms of Allied and Neutral ships by tonnage and, by extension, their crews.[1] To the United States Maritime Commission’s credit, their maritime architects focused on automation, thus reducing ship complements and the WSA had maritime instruction beginning with lifeboat drills. But, in the mathematics of death, like frontline soldiers, merchant seamen were all expendable – to an extent.

The popular conception of merchant seamen at the time was not altogether positive. American opinion was colored by the violence of the past several decades in the docklands and the idea of seamen as wards of the state; workers on the waterfront were coarse and involved themselves in union agitation which often resulted in bloody riots. In January 1943, the press tapped into these negative sentiments – and having passed censors – circulated a fabricated story where seamen reportedly refused to unload their ships at Guadalcanal. Citing their contract did not cover working on Sunday, the seamen left the task to tired marines. The story struck a chord with the public – there was an outcry that while marines died selflessly for their country, seamen selfishly thought only of themselves. A Congressional Hearing determined the story was patently false and informed by anti-union bias, but the stigma remained.[2] Recruitment efforts stalled, and morale sagged. Yet, merchant seamen were needed to do a vital job more than ever. The loss of potential seamen trainees was devastating; the WSA understood the keen need for replacement hands. Even late in the war, Admiral E. S. Land reported:

E. S. Land. “War Shipping Administration Offers Plan to Aid Merchant Seamen: Seven-Point Legislative Program Recommended to Congress At Request of Representative S. O. Bland.” The Log, October 1944, Vol 39, No. 11, p. 80.

As 1942 wore on, patriotism only ran so high. Many merchant seamen left the fleet and saw their fate as a soldier or sailor better off than death at sea. In sum, morale was terrible and needed a lift.

After the passage of the law that resulted in the eventual creation of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Medal in April 1942, concrete action by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress to honor merchant seamen was noticeably lacking. Instead, a subtle game of one-upmanship of granting merchant seamen distinctive insignia to mark their status as bonafide patriots transpired between the WSA and maritime labor. February 1942 saw the creation of the U.S. Maritime Commission-sponsored Maritime Eagle, a version of which became a de-facto decoration in May. Published before a Congressional hearing in September 1942 on legislation to create a distinctive insigne for merchant seamen, LIFE Magazine included a feature on National Maritime Union pins in its 24 August 1942 issue;[3] this same hearing resulted in the Maritime Eagle being stricken as an award.[4]

Thus, up until 7 October 1942, merchant seamen had only the U.S. Naval Reserve badge as a decoration they could earn from a federal source – and these were only available to officers and cadet-midshipmen. Otherwise, only their employers and unions offered a small number of awards to seamen. The most noted among these were those from United States Lines and NMU. The former was awarded for lifesaving and gallantry, the latter for being torpedoed. Both awards were members-only, leaving the rest of the industry without recognition for their employees’ or members’ trials.[5] Finally, the first award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal on 8 October 1942 to Edwin F. Cheney, Jr. came, and the relatively obscure “Torpedoed Seamen’s Club” insignia the day after. The latter was a “ribbon bar similar to that worn by members of the military” for a to-be-named “Club for Torpedoed Seamen” or “Seaman’s Honor Club.” Even though this club’s insignia was inaugurated one day after the first award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal, to Congress, however, both were mentioned in the same breath. This point is significant: the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal honored individuals who proved themselves as paragons of the spirit of the American Merchant Marine; the insignia recognized the struggles and triumphs of merchant seamen who experienced and survived combat.

A group of “Torpedo Club” members, U.S.M.S. Officer’s School on Government Island, Alameda. Fall 1942.

By February 1943, the unnamed club extended beyond its original focus of torpedoing and shipwreck. It covered “all classes of seamen who have faced enemy action in the line of duty” on a vessel attacked or damaged directly or indirectly through enemy action, in addition to the abandonment of a vessel due to enemy action. Each eligible seaman received a ribbon bar of the club and a star for each time the ship is lost through enemy action.

In September 1942, Representative Francis E. Walter of Pennsylvania promoted a bill to further recognize merchant seamen due to perceived inertia. His preamble to the bill read:

Although Representative Walter’s intentions were admirable, U.S. Congress quashed the bill in committee the argument ran that merchant seamen were civilians and needed no further recognition since they had a medal on the way. The next bill – H.R. 132 – came before the House sponsored by Representative Schuyler Otis Bland of Virginia, then Chairman of the House Committee of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, and it too was quashed but later rolled into H.R. 2281. This last bill was introduced in March 1943; it only reached criticality since the press reported in February that General Dwight D. Eisenhower wished to award merchant seamen military medals for their bravery and service in the face of the enemy. With the Maritime Eagle debacle undoubtedly in mind, Admiral E. S. Land approached President Franklin Roosevelt to allow the military to decorate seamen as a morale booster. Instead of military decorations, the American Merchant Marine gained a small constellation of ribbons and medals of its own, mostly due to the impassioned pleas of government-friendly tanker union advocates John J. and Agnes Collins. After some back-and-forth and a practical rubber-stamping by the U.S. Senate, the bill was presented to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 5 May 1943, and written into Public Law five days later; thus becoming the culmination of the third attempt for proper recognition of the services of merchant seamen.[6]

Within the bill’s text, all the Merchant Marine service awards gave the appearance of duplicating or having parity with those of the Armed Services. All these decorations had U.S. Navy analogs except for the Merchant Marine Combat Bar. The Combat Bar was unusual because it was created as an Honor Bar, as evident in the House Resolution mandating its creation:

Moreover, the Combat Bar was actually the Torpedoed Seamen’s Club insignia; the law gave it “statutory basis” which removed it as a WSA administrative award:

Nevertheless, the Merchant Marine Combat Bar was a decoration in a class alone without an analogous place among military campaign or unit awards. Its potential analog among military honors would be the yet-to-be-created Combat Infantryman Badge. Less than a year after its creation, a reported 50% of veteran merchant seaman enrolled at the U.S. Maritime Service officers’ schools wore the ribbon, and 30% had a silver star affixed to it.[7] By war’s end, the WSA awarded the ribbon 114,145 times.[8] The last date of award of the Combat Bar was 26 March 1957.

Although the period for qualification for the award of the ribbon has long since expired, a version of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar, albeit with the bands rotated 180 degrees, is on the books as the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s “Academy Achievement Ribbon for Meritorious Service.”

design & wear

torpedoed seaman’s club insignia
The Torpedoed Seaman’s Club was an informal organization, so there were no membership cards or certificates, simply a ribbon bar. It appears that merchant seamen were given their lengths of ribbon to fashion or job-out their insignia. U.S. Maritime Service upgrade schools had clubs for each class as early as October through December 1942. Unions were notified of availability for their rank and file in February 1943. However, I have not seen the insignia in wear except for a single instance in combination with the USMMCC “Enemy Action – torpedoed ribbon” in June 1943.

**Cadet-Midshipman William M. Thomas, Jr**. at the award ceremony of his Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal (June 1943). Note the **Enemy Action – torpedoed ribbon** to the right of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar with one silver star. There is the distinct possibility that the former is a “Torpedoed Seamen’s Club” ribbon. *Col.: AMMM*

The Torpedoed Seamen’s Club insignia’s design was distinct for the time. Unlike military ribbons of the period, it used horizontal bands of color. As design elements, the colors were evocative of the condition that governed membership in the club: service aboard a ship attacked at sea. The bands represented the teal blue of a clear sky, the deep blue of the ocean, and a red band between the two of white representing both a ship ablaze and valor.

From top to bottom, the bands were:

Light blue
White
Red
White
Dark blue

A silver star was attached to the insignia for each instance of forced ship abandonment. The star was 3/16″ with a single ray pointing upward.

As for its size, the ribbon was 2” wide x 1/2” tall. It was designed to stand alone on the wearer’s chest. The dimensions matched those of ribbon bars given to United States Maritime Commission Cadets for honors; the width also corresponded to that of the highest civilian decoration of the time: U.S. Treasury Lifesaving Medal.

merchant marine combat bar
With the passage of H.R. 2281 on 10 May 1943, the club insignia was deprecated renamed the Merchant Marine Combat Bar (and referred to in legislation as a seamen’s honor bar). Although sizes were not specified in the legislation, the size of the ribbon was changed to match that of ribbons of standard U.S. Navy size: 1 3/8” wide x 1/2” tall (length); although manufacturers often used U.S. Army ribbon dimensions of 3/8” tall.

Its initial precedence fell immediately behind the war zone bars and before the Mariner’s Medal despite it being mentioned first in the law. WSA regulations in November 1943 called for a space of 1/4” between all ribbons, matching the practices of the U.S. Navy. As the war progressed, ribbon order changed, once again following the U.S. Navy example: personal commendation and combat-related ribbons first, with campaign ribbons following. The practicality of spacing ribbons was no longer desirable, and by mid-1944, they were placed on medal bars colloquially known as racks or sewn in continuous bands on blues. The Secretary of the Navy approved all ribbons to be 3/8” tall at this point, although the wider format was still found in the fleet with formal deprecation in April 1949 and prohibition by March 1951.

Despite its statutory basis, the wear of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar – as well as all Merchant Marine medals and ribbon bars – on the Armed Services’ uniforms was a mixed bag. Since the American Merchant Marine was not a recognized, armed service de jure, all Armed Services took a dim view of Merchant Marine ribbons, but these positions changed as more merchant seamen joined the services in the post-war era. The U.S. Army explicitly prohibited their wear despite General Eisenhower wishing to award medals to some deserving merchant seamen. The U.S. Navy approved their wear only after bureaucratic inertia was overcome in April 1949; when found on U.S. Navy uniforms, the silver star follows U.S. Navy rules by having two rays of the star pointing upward. After the U.S. Navy, the other services followed suit.

from: *The Naval Reservist: News of Interest to the Naval Reservist*, Bureau of Naval Personnel, NAVPERS 15653, October 1949.

It is not uncommon to find both the Torpedoed Seamen’s Club insignia and the Merchant Marine Combat Bar in the wartime mementos of merchant seamen and among them, lengths of ribbon as well. It is of note that seamen did not receive ribbon bars, rather award cards that (barely) fit into their seaman’s identification wallets. They were free to purchase ribbons of which they qualified at their own expense – this tradition set in 1943 still holds at the United States Merchant Marine Academy today (July 2020).

gallery

Variations of the Torpedoed Seamen’s Club insignia & Merchant Marine Combat Bar

award card

on uniform

The above uniforms are circa 1944 and were once owned by the Kings Pointer, David Upham. The story behind the silver star on the Merchant Marine Combat Bar and more images of the uniforms are here.

Legislation

Public Law 78-52

78th Congress

AN ACT

To provide for the issuance of devices in recognition of the services of merchant sailors [H. R. 2281]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Administrator, War Shipping Administration, is hereby authorized to provide and issue

(a) a seamen’s service insignia of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the period (hereinafter referred to as the war period) beginning December 7, 1941, and ending with the termination of the present war, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine, and

(b) a seamen’s war zone insignia or device of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine while sailing in any war or combat zone.

SEC. 2. The Administrator is authorized to provide and issue a seamen’s honor bar to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine which, at the time of such service, is attacked or damaged by an instrumentality of war. The Administrator is further authorized to provide and issue a star (to be attached to such bar) to any such person who is forced to abandon such vessel when so attacked or damaged, with an additional star for each such abandonment.

SEC. 3. The Administrator is authorized to provide and award a medal of appropriate design and a ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person, who while serving on any vessel in the Ameri-can merchant marine during the war period, is wounded, suffers physical injury, or suffers through dangerous exposure as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States.

SEC. 4. The Administrator shall prescribe appropriate conditions of eligibility for the issuance or award of insignia or medals under this Act. Not more than one insignia or medal of each type provided herein shall be issued or awarded to any one person, but. for each succeeding service of any person sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 3 of this Act, the Administrator may award a suitable bar, emblem, or insignia to be worn with the medal. In case any person who performs service sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 3 dies before the award can be made to him, the award may be made and the medal presented to such representative of the deceased as the Administrator deems proper. No award of any insignia, medal, or device shall be made hereunder after two years after the termination of the present war.

SEC. 5. The Administrator is authorized to approve a design for a seamens service flag which may be displayed, and a design for a service lapel button which may be worn, by members of the immediate family, of a person serving in the American merchant marine during the war period. In approving any design under this section, the Administrator may approve the design approved by the Secretary of War under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved October 17, 1942 (Public Law 750, Seventy-seventh Congress), but only if the Secretary of War shall consent thereto and the Administrator shall approve for use in connection therewith a distinctive insignia or other device designating service in the American merchant marine. The Administrator, upon approval of the design for such service flag and service lapel button, shall cause notice of such approval and a description of the flag and button to be published in the Federal Register.

SEC. 6. (a) The Administrator is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(b) The Administrator is authorized to expend out of any funds available for expenditure by the War Shipping Administration such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Approved May 10, 1943

Further legislation determined that the award’s eligibility period was from 7 December 1941 to 25 July 1947.

notes

[1] Joshua Smith, “Allied and Neutral Shipping Losses by Month, 1939-1945.” (https://www.academia.edu/5535799/Allied_and_Neutral_Shipping_Losses_by_Month_1939-1945).

[2] United States. Congress. House. Committee on Naval Affairs on Sundry Legislation Affecting the Naval Establishment, “Serial No. 29: Hearing of Subcommittee on Misbehavior of Merchant Seamen at Guadalcanal, 5 February 1943,” 78th Congress, 1st Session. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Naval Affairs on Sundry Legislation Affecting the Naval Establishment, “Serial No. 30: Report of Subcommittee of House Naval Affairs Committee appointed to investigate the alleged misconduct of merchant seamen at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,” 78th Congress, 1st Session. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943.

[3] NMU’s creation of a gold pin of valor and torpedo pin was created in mid-1942 for those who survived enemy attacks. See: Ian Millar. “The Torpedoed Seaman’s Medallion of the National Maritime Union.” The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America, October 1991, Vol. 42, No. 10, pp. 30-33. And: “NMU: It is a union fighting a war.” LIFE Magazine, 24 August 1942, pp 77-82.

[4] United States. Congress. House. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, “Recognition of American Merchant Seamen: Hearings Before the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Seventy-seventh Congress, Second Session, on H.R. 7548, a Bill to Provide for the Issuance of a Device in Recognition of the Services of Merchant Sailors. 30 September 1942,” 77th Congress, 2nd session. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942.

[5] As noted, NMU had two decorations: a medal for bravery – usually awarded for lifesaving – and the gold pin of valor and torpedo pin – for surviving a torpedoing.

[6] The report which accompanied H.R. 2281 included a synopsis of all legislation for recognition of merchant seamen; the below is a list of all passed and failed attempts:

1942
H.J. Res. 263
“Decorations for heroic service in the American merchant marine”
Introduced: 12 February 1942
Approved: 11 April 1942; Public Law 524.

1942
H.R. 7548 (77th Cong.)
“Recognition of American merchant seamen”
Introduced: 30 September 1942; sponsor: Hon. Francis E. Walter.Dropped.

1943
H.R. 132 (77th Cong.)
“A bill to provide for the issuance of a device in recognition of the services of merchant sailors”
Introduced: 6 January 1943; sponsor: Hon. Schuyler Otis Bland.
Dropped; resurrected in H.R. 2281.

1943
H.R. 2281 (78th Cong.)

“An Act to provide for the issuance of devices in recognition of the services of merchant sailors”
Introduced: 29 March 1943; sponsor: Hon. Schuyler Otis Bland.
Approved: 10 May 1943; Public Law 52.

[7] Richard Donovan. “U.S. Merchant Marine Training Program.” The Log, July 1944, Vol 39, No. 8 “1944 Yearbook and Review Number,” p. 234.

[8] This number includes multiple awards to the same individual; that is: affixing stars. The number of Torpedoed Seamen’s Club insignia awards is unknown although it would be safe to assume its numbers are included with that of the Merchant Marine Combat Bar. Please see: Irwin R. Abraham. U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations and Awards. Author Edition, 1966, p. 25.

additional notes

Regarding General Eisenhower and military medal to the American Merchant Marine, please see:
Toni Horodosky. “Wartime Memos: U.S. Merchant Marine an Armed Force” http://www.usmm.org/fdr/armedforce.html

merchant marine service emblem

Background

Pursuant to Public Law 105-368 (enacted 11 November 1988), Merchant Mariners of the Second World War gained the right to petition for veterans’ benefits. Among the small ream of documents they must produce is a DD-214 – “[a]s issued under the provisions of Public Law 95-202 (38 USC 106 Note), [it] administratively establishes Active Duty for the purposes of veterans benefits.” Its several boxes provide a terse narrative of a mariner’s various awards and decorations while serving under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration and allied organizations; there is inevitably a line above all others which reads: Merchant Marine Emblem.

The Emblem, or more specifically the Merchant Marine Service Emblem (sometimes called a Service Insignia), was the second decoration legislated by Congress specific to the American Merchant Marine; it supplanted the War Shipping Administration’s administratively-created Maritime Eagle award. As a badge of honor and recognition, the emblem found its way to the caps, chests, collars, coat cuffs, and shoulder boards of American merchant seamen. Upon the war’s close, the Federal government awarded the emblem no longer; instead, it became a piece of identifying insignia for members of the United States Merchant Marine Corps of Cadets at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. As awarded during the war, the metal badge was seen on cadet-midshipman collars and garrison caps until the spring of 1955; a miniature still resides on the Regiment’s cap badge, and an embroidered version graces the coat sleeve cuffs as a medallion. In recent years, the United States Maritime Service at Kings Point has revived the emblem and re-made it into a command-at-sea badge for Masters and Chief Engineers.

Perhaps the broad issue of the emblem to merchant seamen during the Second World War resulted in its absence from post-war literature as being an award to Merchant Mariners. This could be in the semantics of “award of insignia” and not “honor;” however, an award of insignia is considered an honorific act, which would make the emblem an award, not a decoration. Nevertheless, almost every bluewater merchant seaman from the period has the emblem – even the formerly caustic National Maritime Union and Seaman International Union rank and file who railed against Federal emblems and honors. In the strictest of definitions, following Congressional debate leading up to the creation of the awards and decorations of the Merchant Marine, the emblem is an award since it is a representation of special service on the behalf of the United States, and thusly is a mark of honor. Its rightful place is indeed the first line of the DD-214.

Legislation

Hon. Schuyler Otis Bland of Virginia introduced House Resolution 2281 on 5 April 1943 – some months after a similar bill died in committee (as outlined here) – to honor merchant seamen:

After no debate, on 10 May 1943, the Resolution became Public Law 78-52; §1 a. concerned the device which was to become the Merchant Marine Service Emblem:

The definitions and design, and more importantly, who was to receive the Merchant Marine Service Emblem came some months later in the Federal Register, Saturday, 25 September 1943 p. 13070:

Design

The design of the new badge was not as bold and stylish as its predecessor – the Maritime Eagle – but held an elegant, lasting charm. It married two elements familiar to all merchant seamen who attended training at the various War Shipping Administration Training Stations – the ubiquitous compass card used in boxing the compass training – and the federal shield of the United States Maritime Commission (albeit with the cable tidied up). The badge was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan and struck at The Medallic Art Company (MACO); incidentally, its die was produced just before that of the “Merchant Marine Medal” which came to be called the Mariner’s Medal.

Not included in the legislation was how to wear the emblem. Luckily, guidance is found in the King Point’s Polaris issue November 1943, p. 49; by 1944 – these instructions match images of merchant seamen of the period. However, in King Point’s case, the emblem began appearing on cadet-midshipmen collars in May 1944 and was found in Regulations in 1945. An embroidered version of the emblem also found its way to cadet-midshipman cuffs in July 1944 – when new dress uniforms were issued across the Regiment. In time, the emblem came to be called “Manhole” by cadet-midshipmen, and so it remained until the Academy deleted it from collars and garrison hats in Spring 1955. After this date, the metal emblem was no more.

1944, Leonard W. Valentine, MM DSM recipient

Polaris, June 1944; 16
May 1944 – first photograph of wear at USMMA

United States Maritime Service, 2003

Due in large part to the efforts of Captain Eric York Wallischeck, USMS (Ret.) at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, in October 2003, the United States Maritime Service reissued a renovated version of the emblem following the newly legislated 46 U.S.C. § 51701 d. “United States Maritime Service Awards Program;” this legislation amended §1306 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 1295e) by adding:

Previously, the United States Maritime Service had no specifically enumerated awards; the 2003 legislation remedied the lack. It is important to note that the cessation award of the Merchant Marine Service Emblem as an award was coincident with the end of the Second World War on 8 November 1946. Thus, as a nod to that older tradition, the emblem reappeared as the “United States Maritime Service Command At Sea Badge (Deck Officer/Engine Officer).” The rule governing the badge’s wear has it centered above all ribbons, following the stipulation outlined in 1943. Since both wartime manufacturers of the badge, The Medallic Art Company and American Emblem Company, had long-shuttered and production dies lost, Vanguard Industries created a new badge not entirely faithful to the original design, but a faithful interpretation of the law.

USMMA Girl Scout Gold Award Ribbon

Worn by Midshipmen who have earned the Gold award while a member of the Girl Scouts. Medal shall only be worn during scout functions. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

vanguard #3660 sku 7848900

USMMA Academic Stars & Emory S. Land Medal

After the reorganization of the education program and alignment of the Cadet Corps into a Naval-style Regiment in January 1943, the U.S. Maritime Commission ribbons denoting academic honors fell by the wayside and cadet-midshipmen began adopting uniform notions from the U.S. Naval Academy. After the Second World War, the Academy became the recipient of a legacy of Admiral Emory S. Land – ex-chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration – a champion and supporter of both the Academy and a strong United States Merchant Marine in the form of an academic medal. Academic Stars and the Admiral Land Medal are markers of the long importance the Academy has held academics in its dual program of training learned and skilled merchant marine and military officers.

Academic Stars, 1940s-present day

Kings Point. C-M/N. Scholastic Star. 1945.
Obsolete.

USMMA. M/N. Staff Midshipman Officer Insigne. 1985.
USMMA. M/N. Academic Star (Gold). 1995. — USMMA. M/N. Staff Midshipman Officer Insigne. 1985. USMMA. M/N. Academic Star (Gold). 1995.

USMMA. M/N. Academic Star (Silver). 2017.

In 2017, Midshipmen are awarded Academic Stars on the following basis:

Gold Star: a QPA of at least 3.50 with no course failures in the term. (left)
Silver Star: a QPA of at least 3.25 up to and including 3.49 with no course failures in the term. (right)

They are awarded on a term basis; for Term 1, the award ceremony takes place in February.

If a midshipman falls below the requisite QPA, the Academic Star is removed from the midshipman’s uniform. It is worn below the U.S.N.R. badge (known as the “Eagle Pin”) and above the left breast pocket; if the midshipman is wearing a ribbon rack (“Glory bars”), the star is placed above the ribbons.

Since Academic Stars were awarded each term, midshipmen once had the option of wearing each awarded Star on their uniform; I note the most worn was eight in 1971. Unlike their counterparts across the Long Island Sound at SUNY Maritime, Kings Pointers only now wear one Academic Star at a time; they abandoned this practice at the close of the 1970s.

Is worn for two academic quarters after the quarter for which it is awarded. This is irrespective of when the star is actually physically awarded. Only one star may be worn either a Silver Star for a GPA of 3.25 to 3.49 or a Gold Star for GPA of 3.5 and above. This device is worn above the left pocket, but below the eagle. The Regimental Academic Officer (RAO) is recognized to be the recommending official for this award. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

The first published Regulations Governing Appointments to Cadetships in the Merchant Marine of the United States in 1939 has a short section on Awards; it notes:

16. (a) Cadets receiving average grades of 85 percent or higher in annual examinations shall be permitted to wear a blue and white ribboned pin with a small gold anchor or propeller, as appropriate, in the white center. If a cadet receives a grade of 85 percent or higher in subsequent annual examinations additional small gold anchors or propellers shall be place on the pin.

(b) Steamship company employers may select one cadet (D) and one cadet (E) on January 1st of each year, as outstanding cadets in their service. The reports of the District Cadet Training Instructor may be consulted for the purpose of comparison or the employers may make awards based in their own records. Cadets selected by employer shall be permitted to wear a gold and blue ribboned pin with gold anchors or propellers, as appropriate, on the blue center. This pin shall not be awarded more than once to any cadet. If an outstanding cadet also has won a pin for high scholastic grades such pin shall be work as a continuation of the other.

However, with the issuance of Executive Order 9083 dated February 28, 1942 “Redistribution of Maritime Function” per “Section 5. Transfer of Training Functions from Maritime Commission,” the training of cadet-midshipmen came under the purview of the Coast Guard. With this change, previous awards to cadet-midshipmen ceased. Shortly thereafter, when the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy recruited Captain James H. Tomb as Superintendent in April 1942, the award structure re-visited. By 1943 came the “Scholastic Star.” Due to the nature of the instruction at the Academy, during the Second World War, the Star was only found on the uniforms of Second and First-Class Midshipmen. Unlike the present QPA qualifications determining which star could be worn, the Scholastic Star was awarded by the Academy’s Academic Board to midshipmen in the top 10% of their class. So as long as a midshipman remained in the top 10%, they rated the wear of the Star. It was available to midshipmen beginning the second quarter of their first year.

It took another twenty years before the “Outstanding Cadet” pin was re-introduced as the “Sea Year” ribbon.

Admiral Emory S. Land Medal for Excellence in Naval Architecture

The Academy has awarded midshipmen the Admiral Emory S. Land Medal for Excellence in Naval Architecture (also known as the abbreviated “The Admiral Land Medal”) at graduation since the class of 1950 up until the present day. At its outset, the medal was only one of ten awards available at graduation, The original qualifications are hazy; however, its past recipients often graduated Cum Laude. Its existence first appeared in print in the June 1950 issue of Polaris:

in “Editor’s Review.” *Polaris*, June 1950, p 15.

Unlike the other awards and decorations granted to midshipmen, this medal was only worn by the recipient in their last moments as a member of the Cadet Corps. In less than a couple of hours after the award’s announcement, the midshipman became a Kings Point alumnus. This has changed in recent decades as the number of awards granted to midshipmen at graduation has increased.

Today, the medal is awarded a day prior to final exercises at a two-hour-long ceremony called “Awards Convocation” during the Academy’s “June Week.” The medal is one among 91 academic and service-oriented and 10 athletic awards granted to graduating midshipmen; and, it is one of the two medals sponsored by the Superintendent’s office. Along with the engraved medal comes a cash prize of $500 and the placement of one’s name on a perpetual plaque outside the Academy’s main space for public events, Ackerman Auditorium. The criteria for the medal are simply for a midshipman “outstanding in Naval Architecture” as selected by faculty who teach Naval Architecture. A noted change in the past decade is the medal is now known as “The Admiral Land Medal and Award.”

Despite the close similarity in name with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), “The Vice Admiral Emory S. ‘Jerry’ Land Medal for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Marine Field,” the similarity is in name only. The Academy’s medal it is not sponsored by SNAME; in fact, the United States Merchant Marine Academy medal predates the 1952 creation date of the SNAME medal by two years. It is one of three decorations named in the honor of Admiral E. S. Land; the other two are the SNAME award as noted above, and the “Admiral Emory S. Land Trophy” – awarded since 1952 for leadership in athletics by the University of Wyoming to select undergraduate students; Admiral E. S. Land was an alumnus of the University of Wyoming.

Below, please find the sixth awarded Admiral Land Medal and an example of the current medal. The original medal was gilded bronze. As a design note, Admiral E. S. Land has a Maritime Commission “V” pin on his coat lapel. The present medal appears to be a cast in a base metal. (click on images for higher resolution examples)

1955

Col.: IW

2018

Col.: USMMA

Many thanks are due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Joshua Smith at the American Merchant Marine Museum to locate an example of the present medal and to verify the medal is still awarded.

USMMA Honor Ribbon

This is an academic honor ribbon.

The ribbon’s award “reflect[s] not only academic excellence but include high marks in shipboard evaluations by their ship’s officers.” The ribbons are an award for both the first and second sea years. The award ceremony for the Sea Year Academic ribbon is coterminous with the Term 1 Academic Stars award ceremony. It is blue and gray, the school colors.

The ribbon has four grades: Honor Ribbon, Honor Ribbon with Bronze Star, with Silver Star, and with Gold Star (2017).

Honor Ribbon: A QPA of at least 3.25 up to and including 3.49 for the first time, during the second sea year, no failing grades, and above average (3.0) on Shipboard Performance Evaluations, all of which have been entered in to Academy’s Professional Development and Career Services Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades.

Honor Ribbon with Bronze Star: A QPA of at least 3.50 up to and including 3.49 for the second sea year, no failing grades, and above average (3.0) on Shipboard Performance Evaluations, all of which have been entered in to Academy’s Professional Development and Career Services Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades.

Honor Ribbon with Silver Star: A QPA of at least 3.25 for the second sea year period, no failing grades, and above average (3.0 or better) on Shipboard Performance Evaluations, all of which Evaluations have been entered in to the Academy’s Professional Development and Career Services Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades, and earned any Honor Ribbon during first sea period.

Honor Ribbon with Gold Star: A QPA of at least 3.50 for the second sea year period, no failing grades, and above average (3.0 or better) on Shipboard Performance Evaluations, all of which Evaluations have been entered in to Academy’s Professional Development and Career Services Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades, and earned Honor Ribbon with Bronze Star during first sea period.

The ribbon is worn “on all uniforms except the Boiler-suit and Athletic uniforms. When Worn it shall be located on the left side of the last row of ribbons, or, if no other ribbons are worn, it shall be centered with the lower edge ¼” above the left pocket. Ribbon shall be worn with the blue field inboard, and the point of the star upwards (if star applicable).” (USMMA 2012)

N.B.: This ribbon is also called “Scholastic Honor Ribbon” (1978, 2000, 2005, 2015), “Sea Year Honor Ribbon” (1964, 1968, 1985, 2012), “Sea Year Academic Ribbon” (2007, 2017), “Honor Ribbon” (2015, 2017), “Sea Year Ribbon” (2014, 2017, 2018), or “Sea Year Scholastic Ribbon” (2017), depending upon the communication.

Reference:
Professional Development & Career Services, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Sea Year Guide (July 24, 2012). U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, 2012.

vanguard #3222 nex: sea year #3222

with bronze star (³⁄₁₆“)

with silver star (³⁄₁₆“)

with gold star (⁵⁄₁₆“)

Changes were made to the both the ribbon and grades in later 2017. The ribbon was changed to blue and white, with blue inboard – matching the traditional colors of the ribbon – along with a re-write of the appurtenances.

Awarded to any midshipman for exemplary academic performance during the Sea Year, in accordance with the criteria set forth in the “Academic Handbook”. A subsequent award shall be indicated by a 3/16 inch bronze star. (Blue stripe is worn inboard). The Regimental Shipboard Training Liaison Officer (RSTLO) will be the recommending official for this award. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

No longer were the silver and bronze stars; it follows that the award henceforth would have a maximum of two bronze stars.

USMMA Drum Major Service Ribbon

<no image> [red-white-red-white-blue-white-red-blue-red-white-blue-white-red-white-red]Drum Major Service Ribbon

Is awarded to present or former qualified Drum Majors. To qualify, a member of the Band must be selected to be a Drum Major for their class and lead the Band in at least one performance. The Regimental Band Master (RBM) is authorized to be the recommending official for this award.

USMMA Eagle Scout Ribbon

Eagle Scout Ribbon

This is an organization ribbon. It is primarily purchased and worn by members of the Eagle Scout Club. To qualify for the ribbon, individuals must either have been Eagle Scouts or Girl Scouts prior to matriculation at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

According to Scouting records, of the 279 midshipmen in the Class of 2020, 58 are Scouts and of those, 34 are Eagle Scouts – making up 20.8% and 12.2% of the total student body, respectively. Taking into consideration that the Class Profile is 19.7% female, the numbers are skewed to 25.9% and 15.2% of all male midshipmen. If the statistics hold for each class, there are 130 Eagle Scouts within the ranks of Kings Pointers. However, any given year, there are 14-15 midshipmen in the Eagle Scout Club.

Statistics on Girl Scouts is not known.

Worn by midshipmen who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout while a member of the Boy Scouts of America. (Red stripe is worn inboard). Medal shall only be worn during scout functions. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

USMMA EMT Service Ribbon

The Academy has authorized the wearing of the EMT Service Ribbon to an individual who serves as a licensed EMT-B, or higher, on the Academy EMS Squad. A Gold Frame ribbon device is authorized to be worn with the EMT Service Ribbon for individuals who serve as an EMS Officer. A Gold Star ribbon device is authorized to be worn with the EMT Service Ribbon for the individuals who have served as an EMS Petty Officer for a complete officer rotation. A Silver Star ribbon device is authorized to be worn with the EMT Service Ribbon for the individuals who have served on the EMS Squad during the Indoctrination Period for Plebe Candidates. The RESCO is authorized to be the recommending official for this award. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

USMMA Fanfare Trumpet Squad Ribbon

Fanfare Trumpet Squad Ribbon

This is an organization ribbon. The Fanfare Trumpet Squad was a component of the Regimental Band. It was comprised of 10 midshipmen – ranging from Midshipmen Third to Second Class – in two sections: “Fanfare Trumpet” and “Bass Fanfare Trumpet.”

Is awarded to present or former qualified members of the fanfare trumpet squad. To qualify, a member of the Band’s Fanfare Trumpet Squad must have performed at least three times. The Regimental Band Master (RBM) is authorized to be the recommending official for this award. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

USMMA Training Vessel Service Ribbon

Training Vessel Service Ribbon

Is awarded to any midshipman who has completed an extended training cruise aboard the T/V KINGS POINTER. The Department of Waterfront Activities shall establish the criteria for this award, as well as any devices that may be worn to indicate additional service or advanced training. The Regimental Waterfront Officer (RWO) is authorized to be the recommending official for this award. (USMMA MIDSHIPMAN UNIFORM REGULATIONS, 11 August 2017)

vanguard #3401 nex: training vessel