Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal

Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal
Awarded by United States Maritime Administration
Type	Individual Award
Awarded for	Conduct of a meritorious nature, but not sufficient to warrant the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal
Status	Still issued
Statistics
Established	, August 29, 1944 (as amended by , Feb. 5, 1946);
Total awarded	521
Precedence
Next (higher)	Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)	Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon
Merchant Marine Meritorious Service ribbon

The Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine. 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. 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.

As the Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal is considered a federal service decoration, it may be worn on the uniforms of active, reserve and retired uniformed service members.

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.