Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal

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 United State Merchant Marine 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.

US Merchant Marine Academy 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
 * Midshipman Carl M. Medved

Other awardees
In addition the above six (6) Mariners werre also awarded the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
 * Captain Elis R. Johanson
 * First Officer Clinton Harriman
 * Third Officer Karl Lonsdale
 * Yeoman Storekeeper Robert Griffin,
 * 2nd Asst. Engineer Michael Saltwick
 * Fireman Watertender Hermino Rivera,
 * Oiler Epifanio Rodriguez,
 * Third Officer Frederick August Larsen Jr.

Design Notes and Description
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. Original awards have P. M. on the reverse of the suspension device.

The medal is in gold-plate with a diameter of 41.9mm. It is composed of a silver 8-point ball tip star superimposed on a gold compass with a square eagle-anchor suspension device. The ribbon is blue, white, red, white, blue.