Type Individual Award Established April 11, 1943[1] Posthumous
awards 30 | Eligibility Merchant Marine seamen Total awarded 152 | |
 | ||
Awarded for Outstanding conduct or service in the line of duty. | ||
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.
Contents
As the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal is considered a federal service decoration, it may be worn on the uniforms of active, reserve and retired uniformed service members.
United States Merchant Marine Academy awardees
Third Mate Edward Michael Fetherston
Other awardees
In addition, the above six Mariners were also awarded the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.