Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal

BACK DEVICE(s)

Description:

1. Authorized by Public Law 77-524, 77th Congress Joint Resolution.
2. Awarded to any seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine who, on or after September 3, 1939, distinguished him or herself during the war by outstanding conduct or service in the line of duty. Not more than one medal shall be issued to any one seaman. For each subsequent instance sufficient to justify the award, additional insignia will be awarded and worn with the medal.

Background:

1. This award resulted from the noteworthy performance of outstanding nature involving an act, conduct, or display of valor beyond the line of duty. The recipients of this award almost invariably faced near or certain death or bodily injury.
2. Examples
• Facing close range and direct gun-fire in performance of rescue work wherepersonal safety was extremely vulnerable.
• Volunteering for special assignment when in so doing, it meant almost certaindeath, injury, or an ordeal of suffering.
• Sacrificing position of safety for an almost certain loss of life, such as giving upspace in a lifeboat and remaining on sinking craft.
• Refusing rescue aid and giving preference to saving lives of others, such as re-maining with sinking craft rather than crowd into a dangerously overcrowdedlife raft.
• Under peril of being burned to death and without proper equipment, descend-ing into the hold of vessel to extricate victims trapped under scalding steamand fire from ruptured boilers.
• Descending on a rope over the side of the vessel into a storm to rescue an un-conscious victim washed overboard.
• Displaying courage and leadership in fighting furious fire surrounding high ex-plosives, which, if detonated, would have caused complete loss of vessel andcrew members.
3. The Medal has 3 different colors of plating unlike most medals
1. Obverse
   It is Nickel Plated, Silver Plated, and Gold Plated with a matte finish. The Compass Rose is Silver Plated with a matte finish. The remainder shall be Gold Plated with a matte finish.
2. Reverse
   It is Gold Plated with a matte finish.  It bears the words "UNITED STATES" in an arc around the top and the words "MERCHANT MARINE" in a counter arc across the bottom.  In the center is a Mariner's Shield above which, in an arc, are the words "DISTINGUISHED SERVICE".  
3. Suspension Device
   It is Gold Plated with a matte finish. The suspension device is secured to the pendant by a hinge and pin joint. On the suspension device, against a laurel wreath is an eagle.  Original awards have P. M. on the reverse of the suspension device.
4. Ribbon
   The drape and the ribbon are 1 3/8" in width and designed in the layout of 11/32" Ultramarine Blue, 1/8" White, 3/8" Soldier Red, 1/8" White, 11/32" Ultramarine Blue
5. Device(s)
   5/16th inch gold stars signify additional awards and are affixed to both the suspension ribbon and the ribbon bar.
6. Information from
   Decoration, Distinguished Service Medal, Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-3943/120F 19 February 2019
   Ribbon, Distinguished Service Medal, Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-11589/326D 14 September 2020