Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal 

BACK DEVICE(s)

Description:

1. Authorized by Executive Order 9472 dated August 29, 1944.
2. The War Shipping Administrator is hereby authorized, until two years after the termination of the present war, to provide and issue, under such regulations as he may prescribe, a distinctive service ribbon bar to each master, officer, or member of the crew of any United States ship who shall have served at any time during the period beginning September 8, 1939,and ending December 6, 1941.
3. It is awarded to any seamen of any ship operated by or for the War Shipping Administration who is commended by the Administrator for conduct or service of a meritorious nature, but not sufficient to warrant the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
4. 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.
5. In case any person who is entitled to an award under this order dies before the award can be made to him, the award may be made to such representative of the deceased as the War Shipping Administrator may deem proper.

Background:

1. Conditions for the award of the Meritorious Service medal involve noteworthy action, deed, or conduct at risk of life to save property and life of fellow crew members. The risk of loss of life or injury appears under these awards to only slightly less, yet distinctive, than in action meriting a Distinguished Service medal.
2. Examples
• Standing by pumps to fight fire when dangerously close to high explosives.
• Deliberately diving into shark-infested waters to rescue crew members fromsinking vessel.
• Removing personnel from below the deck area and repairing ruptured connec-tions notwithstanding imminent danger of boiler explosions.
• Assisting armed guard crews in manning guns with disregard of personalsafety during strafing and bombing attacks.
• Rescuing others under hazardous conditions involving torpedoed vessels inrough seas.
3. The Medal
1. Obverse
   It is 1 5/32 inch Gold Plated medal with a matte finish with polished highlights. It bears an eagle with a cluster of 6 arrows clutched in it's talons superimposed over an anchor.
   Reverse
   It is Gold Plated with a matte finish. It contains the words "FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE" in an arc across the top. In a counter arc across the bottom are the words "IN THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE"
4. Ribbon
   The drape and the ribbon are 1 3/8" in width and designed in the layout of 7/16" Victory Medal Blue #1, 1/32" Golden Yellow, 1/16" Scarlet, 1/16" White, 1/8"Navy Blue #1, 1/16" White, 1/16" Scarlet, 1/32" Golden Yellow, 7/16" Victory Medal Blue #1
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, Meritorious Service Medal, Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-3943/121F 27 February 2019
   Ribbon, Meritorious Service Medal, Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-11589/325D 5 October 2020