Merchant Marine Defense Medal and Ribbon

Merchant Marine Defense Ribbon
Merchant Marine Defense Medal
Merchant Marine Defense Ribbon


Merchant Marine Defense Medal

History - Established 1944

The Merchant Marine Defense Medal honors Merchant Marine mariners who carried out service on board merchant vessels running American colors between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941 leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Merchant Marine consists of civilian mariners who operate privately and federally owned vessels; in wartime, these vessels may be called to provide transportation or other support for military troops or supplies.

Details

The medal features a ship’s wheel encircled by a wreath and an inscription reading “MERCHANT MARINE DEFENSE.” The ribbon is bisected by a vertical black stripe flanked on either side by one stripe each of red, white, and green proceeding outward.