§ 350.3 Other original recognition of service.

Under the provision of Pub. L. 100-324, the Administrator has the authority to review original applications for the following decorations:

(a) World War II Service. (1) Merchant Marine Emblem, awarded to merchant seamen for service during World War II from the period December 7, 1941 to July 25, 1947;

(2) Victory Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who served as members of the crews of ships for 30 days or more during the period December 7, 1941 to September 3, 1945;

(3) Honorable Service Button, awarded to merchant seamen who served as members of the crews of ships for 30 days or more during the period December 7, 1941 to September 3, 1945;

(4) Mariner's Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who, while serving on a ship from December 7, 1941 to July 25, 1947, were wounded or suffered physical injury as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States;

(5) Merchant Marine Combat Bar, awarded to merchant seamen who served on a ship which, at the time of such service, was attacked or damaged by an instrumentality of war, from December 7, 1941 to July 25, 1947. A star is attached if the seaman was forced to abandon ship. For each additional abandonment, a star is added;

(6) Merchant Marine Defense Bar and Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who served on merchant vessels between September 8, 1939 to December 7, 1941;

(7) Atlantic War Zone Bar and Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who served in the Atlantic War Zone, including the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of America, Caribbean, Barents Sea, and the Greenland Sea, between December 7, 1941, and November 8, 1945.

(8) Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Bar and Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who served in the zone including the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean west of 80 degrees east longitude, between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945;

(9) Pacific War Zone Bar and Medal, awarded to merchant seamen who served in the Pacific War Zone, including the North Pacific, South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean east of 80 degrees east longitude, during the period December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946;

(10) Presidential Testimonial Letter, signed by President Harry S Truman, to all active merchant seamen who sailed during World War II;

(11) Philippine Defense Ribbon, awarded to merchant seamen who served as members of crews of ships in Philippine waters, for not less than 30 days, from December 8, 1941 to June 15, 1942;

(12) Philippine Liberation Ribbon, awarded to merchant seamen who served as members of crews of ships in Philippine Waters for not less than 30 days from October 17, 1944 to September 3, 1945;

(b) Korean Conflict Service. Korean Service bar and medal for merchant seamen who served in waters adjacent to Korea during the Korean Conflict, between June 30, 1950 and September 30, 1953.

(c) Service in the Vietnam Conflict. Vietnam Service bar and medal awarded to merchant seamen who served in waters adjacent to Vietnam between July 4, 1965 and August 15, 1973.

(d) Operations DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM. The Merchant Marine Expeditionary Award, authorized on May 22, 1991, to those American merchant seamen who directly participated from August 2, 1990 to December 31, 1991 in the war zone designated by Executive Order 12744 as “the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, and that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude.”

[60 FR 49804, Sept. 27, 1995, as amended at 91 FR 1708, Jan. 15, 2026]