Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act
PL 100-324 (H.R.1430), enacted 05/30/1988

102 STAT. 576 
PUBLIC LAW 100-324-MAY 30, 1988 
Public Law 100-324 
100th Congress 
An Act 
May 30, 1988 
[H.R. 1430] 
Merchant 
Marine 
Decorations and 
Medals Act. 
Maritime 
affairs. 
46 u s e app. 
2001 note. 
46 u s e app. 
2001. 
46 u s e app. 
2002. 
46 u s e app. 
2003. 
46 u s e app. 
2004. 
To authorize decorations, medals, and other recognition for service in the United 
States merchant marine, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Merchant Marine 
Decorations and Medals Act". 
SEC, 2. The Secretary of Transportation may award decorations 
and medals of appropriate design (including ribbons, ribbon bars, 
emblems, rosettes, miniature facsimiles, plaques, citations, or other 
suitable devices or insignia) for individual acts or service in the 
United States merchant marine. 
SEC. 3. The Secretary of Transportation may award— 
(1) a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to an 
individual for outstanding acts, conduct, or valor beyond the 
line of duty; 
(2) a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal to an 
individual for meritorious acts, conduct, or valor in the line of 
duty, but not of the outstanding character as would warrant the 
award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal; 
(3) a decoration or medal to an individual for service in time 
of war or national emergency proclaimed by the President or 
Congress, or during operations by the Armed Forces of the 
United States outside the continental United States under 
conditions of danger to life and property; and 
(4) a decoration or medal to an individual for other acts or 
service of conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and extraordinary 
heroism under conditions of danger to life and property that 
would warrant a similar decoration or medal for a member of 
the Armed Forces of the United States, 
SEC. 4, The Secretary of Transportation may issue a Gallant Ship 
Award and a citation to a United States vessel or to a foreign-flag 
vessel participating in outstanding or gallant action in marine 
disasters or other emergencies for the purpose of saving life or 
property at sea. The Secretary may award a plaque to a vessel so 
cited, and a replica of the plaque may be preserved as a permanent 
historical record. The Secretary may also award an appropriate 
citation ribbon bar to the master and each individual serving on 
board the vessel at the time of the action for which the citation is 
made. The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State before 
giving an award or citation to a foreign-flag vessel or its crew under 
this section. 
SEC. 5. (a) The Secretary of Transportation may not award more 
than one of any type of decoration or medal to an individual. For 
each succeeding act or service justifying the same decoration or 
medal, a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the 
decoration or medal. 
PUBLIC LAW 100-324—MAY 30,1988 
102 STAT. 577 
(b) When an individual scheduled to receive a decoration or medal 
under this Act is unable to accept it, the Secretary may make the 
award to an appropriate personal representative. 
(c) The Secretary may provide at cost, or authorize for the manu-
facture and sale at reasonable prices by private persons— 
(1) the decorations and medals authorized under section 2 of 
this Act and replacements for those decorations and medals; 
and 
(2) replacements for decorations and medals issued under a 
prior law. 
(d) Decorations and medals authorized under section 2 of this Act 
may be of similar design as are authorized for members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States for similar acts or service. 
SEC. 6. Except as authorized under another law, the Secretary of 46 USC app. 
Transportation may issue at no cost a flag of the United States and 2005. 
a grave marker to the family or personal representative of a de-
ceased individual, who served in the United States merchant marine 
in support of the Armed Forces of the United States or its allies in 
periods of war or national emergency. 
SEC. 7. (a) The Maritime Administrator may issue a special certifi- 46 USC app. 
cate in recognition of service to an individual, or the personal 2006. 
representative of an individual, whose service in the United States 
merchant marine has been determined to be active duty under 
section 401 of Public Law 95-202 (38 U.S.C. 106, Note). 
(b) Issuance of a certificate to any individual under subsection (a) 
of this section does not entitle that individual to any rights, privi-
leges, or benefits under any law of the United States. 
SEC. 8. Except as authorized by this Act, a person may not 46 USC app. 
manufacture, sell, possess, or display a decoration or medal provided 2007. 
for in this Act. A person violating this section is liable to the United 
States Government for a civil penalty of $2,000. 
^ 
SEC. 9. The Act of July 24, 1956 (46 App. U.S.C. 249-249c) is 
repealed. 
SEC. 10. (a) The Act entitled "An Act to set aside certain surplus 
vessels for use in the provision of health and other humanitarian 
services", as amended, approved October 22, 1982 (Public Law 
97-360; 96 Stat. 1718), is amended— 
102 STAT. 578 
PUBLIC LAW 100-324—MAY 30, 1988 
(1) in section 6, by striking "United States Ship Colonial 
LSD-18", and substituting "United States Ship Sanctuary 
AH-20"; and 
(2) in section 7, by striking "1989" and substituting "1992". 
(b) The United States Ship Sanctuary AH-20 shall be transferred 
to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. 
Approved May 30, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1430: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-510 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-329 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Mar. 8, considered and passed House. 
May 13, considered and passed Senate.