Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal
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The Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine (USMM). The decoration is the highest award which can be bestowed upon members of that service and is the service’s equivalent of the Medal of Honor; since mariners serving in the USMM are not employed by the Department of Defense, they are not eligible for the Medal of Honor. It is awarded to any seaman in the USMM who, on or after September 3, 1939, has distinguished himself during the war by outstanding conduct or service in the line of duty. Regulations state that not more than one medal shall be issued to any one seaman, but for each succeeding instance sufficient to justify the award of a medal, there will be awarded a suitable insignia to be worn with the medal.
Although the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal is considered a federal service decoration, it may be worn on the uniforms of active duty service members.
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[edit] USMMA awardees
- Midshipman Francis A. Dales
- Midshipman Elmer C. Donnelly
- Midshipman Edwin Joseph O'Hara - Awarded posthumously
- Midshipman Walter G. Sittmann
- Midshipman William M. Thomas, Jr.
- Midshipman Phil Cox Vannais
- Midshipman Frederick R. Zito
- List of MMDSM Awardess from USMM website {Reference only}. See [1].
[edit] Design Notes
Designed by Paul Manship, subsequent awards of the medal are represented by 5/16th inch gold stars affixed to both the suspension ribbon and the ribbon bar.
[edit] See also
- Awards and Decorations of the United States Maritime Administration
- Awards and decorations of the United States Merchant Marine
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
