What is the procedure to request posthumous award of the Purple Heart to a WWII Merchant Marine who lost his life in combat?
Re: Awards and decorations
Posted by Ron Carlson on January 23, 2013, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Awards and decorations"
Robert,
Your question requires a multi-part answer.
First, the Purple Heart is a decoration reserved for members of the United States armed forces. Since merchant mariners are civilians and were not and are not considered to be members of the military, the Purple Heart is not available to merchant sailors. In World War II, with mariners dying and being injured in large numbers, the Congress in 1943 addressed this dilemma by establishing a decoration known as the Mariner's Medal. Awarded only to members of the United States merchant marine, the Mariner's Medal recognizes seamen who were killed or wounded as a direct result of conflict against an opposing armed force. Some 6,635 Mariner's Medals were awarded for service in World War II but have not been awarded since.
Under current law, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation is authorized to award various merchant marine decorations, and to provide replacement decorations at cost. Department of Transportation regulations specify that replacement decorations may be issued upon written request made to the Office of Maritime Labor, Training and Safety. (See U.S. Code of Regulations, Title 46, Part 350, Section 350.5 at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title46-vol8/pdf/CFR-2012-title46-vol8-sec350-5.pdf.)
The Office of Maritime Labor, Training and Safety is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). The following street address should be sufficient:
U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Office of Maritime Labor, Training and Safety West Building 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590
You may also wish to send an e-mail to Patricia Thomas (patricia.thomas@dot.gov) for information.
It will likely be necessary to provide identifying information about the deceased mariner, so be prepared to offer whatever information you have. Ms. Thomas (above) may be able to explain what information is necessary.
You may wish to obtain the service record of the mariner killed in combat during World War II, either for your own information or to ascertain information that may be necessary for you to produce in requesting a replacement medal. Service records of merchant mariners killed during World War II are available through:
Archives I Reference Unit (NWCT1R) National Archives and Records Administration 7th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20408 E-mail: archives1reference@nara.gov
Good luck.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
“First, the Purple Heart is a decoration reserved for members of the United States armed forces. Since merchant mariners are civilians and were not and are not considered to be members of the military, the Purple Heart is not available to merchant sailors”.
Allow me to provide several statements. WWII Merchant Marines are classified as active duty members of the Armed Services.
"Veterans Qualification Process On January 19, 1988, the Secretary of the Air Force, Edward C. Aldridge, Jr., determined that the service of the "American Merchant Marine in Oceangoing Service during the Period of Armed Conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945," shall be considered "active duty" under the provisions of Public Law 95-202 for the purposes of laws administered by the Veterans Administration."
The initial guideline involving the Purple Heart during WWII is AR 600-45, dated 22 September 1943. (in part).
“16. Purple Heart (fig. 8).---a. The Purple Heart, established by General George Washington at Newburgh, 7 August 1782, during the War of the Revo- lution and revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements by War Department General Orders, No. 3, 22 February 1932, is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States and to civilians who are citizens of the United States serving with the Army, who are wounded in action against an enemy of the United States, or as a direct result of an act of such enemy, provided such wound necessitates treatment by a medical officer. (For the purpose of awarding the Purple Heart, a wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force, ele- ment, or agent sustained as the result of a hostile act of the enemy or while in action in the face of the enemy.) One award (the Purple Heart for the first wound, an Oak-Leaf Cluster thereafter) is authorized for each such wound, except that only one award is authorized for two or more wounds received contemporaneously.”
As you probably noted it identifies civilians. So if a person does not agree to WWII merchant Marines rated as members of the military, that leaves the classification as civilians which fit the guideline. “From 1942 to 1997, civilians serving or closely affiliated with the armed forces—as government employees, Red Cross workers, war correspondents and the like—were eligible to receive the Purple Heart. About 100 men and women received the award, the most famous being newspaperman Ernie Pyle, who was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously by the Army after being killed by Japanese machine gun fire in the Pacific Theater near the end of World War II. Before his death, Pyle had seen and experienced combat in the European Theater accompanying and writing about infantryman for the folks back home”.
“The most recent Purple Hearts presented to civilians occurred after the terrorist attacks at Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia, in 1996—about 40 U.S. civil service employees received the award for their injuries”.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT THE WHITE HOUSE, December 3, 1942. 10125 F. R. Doc. 42-12663; Filed, December 4, 1942; 11:42 a.m. NAVY DEPARTMENT BULLETIN CUMULATIVE EDITION; 31 DEC. 1943 43-1391 --- Navy Awards to Merchant Marine Personnel Op18 C-jc, Serial 202913, 9 September 1943 ACTION: ALL SHIPS AND STATIONS 1. Authority is hereby delegated to the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, the Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, the Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, the Commander United States Naval Forces Europe, the Commander THIRD Fleet, the Commander FOURTH Fleet, the Commander SEVENTH Fleet, and the Commander EIGHTH Fleet to make awards of certain Navy decorations to officers and members of the crews of the United States Merchant Marine ships operating with the Navy. The following policy will govern such awards: (a) Navy awards may be made to United States Merchant Marine personnel only when direct combat with the enemy is involved, or in case of especially meritorious service under combat conditions when members of a naval expedition. The latter is not to be construed as covering normal overseas convoys. (b) In such cases, Navy awards will be limited to the Silver Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, as appropriate. (c) Major naval commanders to whom this authority is delegated are authorized to award these naval decorations on the spot as is now done for naval personnel. (d) All naval commanders, if not authorized to make awards themselves, will be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of such medals as may be considered appropriate. Such commanders, if serving directly under an officer authorized to make awards, will submit recommendations to that officer. Other naval commanders will submit such recommendations to the Secretary of the Navy. (e) All naval commanders will be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of War Shipping Administration medals to the Navy Department for further transmission to the War Shipping Administration. --- SecNav. Frank Knox CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS UNITED STATES ARMY AG 2O1- P-Scruggs, John Howard (O) SUBJECT: Award of the Purple Heart. TO: Cadet Officer John Howard Scruggs. Announcement is made of the award of the Purple Heart to the following named cadet officer of the United States Merchant Marine for wounds received in action: (Medal No. 83990) JOHN HOWARD SCRUGGS, Cadet Officer, United States Merchant Marine, (S. S. Samuel Parker). By command of General EISENHOWER: E.L. FORD Brigadier, General, G.S.C., Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL /s/H. V. ROBERTS Colonel, A.G.D. Adjutant General. DISTRIBUTION: 3 - AGWAR 2 - Cadet Officer Scruggs 1 - Dist. Constructor, San Francisco, Cal. 1 - shy; 201 COPY Army and Navy Medals Awarded to Mariners During World War II
Navy Cross "Extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy." Gainard, Joseph Aloysius, Commander USNR Master SS City Of Flint Location: North Atlantic As master of the steamer City Of Flint, at the time of its seizure upon the high seas and during its detention by armed forces of a belligerant European power. His skill, fine judgment and devotion to duty were of the highest order and in accordance with the best tradition of the Naval Service. [On October 9, 1939 the pocket battleship Deutchland fired a shot across the bow of the SS City Of Flint in the North Atlantic. A Nazi boarding party determined the ship was carrying "contraband" and a prize crew sailed the ship to Norway, Soviet Union, and back to Norway, where Norwegian commandos freed the the ship. She returned to the U. S. unharmed.] Distinguished Service Medal "Exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility." Awards may be made to persons other than members of the Armed Forces of the United States for wartime services only, and then only under exceptional circumstances with the express approval of the President in each case. Mattson, John A. Master SS Coast Farmer He and his crew volunteered to carry vital war material to the beleaguered forces on Bataan. Loaded with high explosives and armed only with two light machine guns, they made a 1,000 mile voyage from Australia to the Philippines and were torpedoed and sunk after a successful delivery.
Silver Star "Gallantry and intrepidity in action, such gallantry and service not being sufficient to justify the award of a Medal of Honor or a Navy Cross." Hauffman, Percy H. Master SS Hilary A. Herbert Location: Anzio Prior to entering the merchant marine in 1942, Hauffman was captain of the Staten Island ferry. He received the silver Star for gallantry in action during the landing at Anzio. According to Admiral H. K. Hewitt, commander of naval forces in Europe,Hauffman showed "extraordinary ability and courageous action under fire and outstanding devotion to duty," in landing the SS Hilary A. Herbert at the beachhead and discharging her cargo of ammunition, gasoline and other vital supplies "during a terrific aerial and shore bombardment." Bronze Star "Heroic or meritorious achivement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military or naval operations against an enemy." Last First Position Ship Location Berg Walter M. Master Sankaty Head, Tug Normandy Carlson Gustaf E. Master Margaret Olsen, Tug New York Ericksen [Erickson] Ole Master Ola G. Olsen, Tug New York Gully John Master Beatrice Bush, Tug New York Halme W. H. Master Bodie Island, Tug Normandy Hayman Dan W. Master Trinidad Head, Tug Normandy Hughes F. J. Master Gay Head, Tug Normandy Jessey Percy A. Master Moose Peak, Tug Normandy Livingston Stanley E. Master Black Rock, Tug Normandy Nowell R. S. Master Hillsboro Inlet, Tug Normandy Parkin C. I. Master Great Isaac, Tug Normandy Publicover W. H. Master Farallon, Tug Normandy Striffolino Anthony Master George R. Randolph, Tug New York
Navy Marine Corps Medal "Heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy." Atkinson, William Master SS Mormacwren Towing USS Pasig Bordeaux, Richard J. Commander USMS Ship: Unknown Location: Anzio De Puey, James Master MV Watch Hill Location: Formosa Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the U. S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict. Last First Position Ship Location Baist George H. Midshipman Lyman Abbott Bari Baker Earl C. Oiler Lyman Abbott Bari Cheson [Chason] Robert L. Fireman Lyman Abbott Bari Clay Robert Reese Seaman Unknown New Guinea Crock [Crook] Jonas B. Machinist Lyman Abbott Bari Gilbert Paul V. Watertender Lyman Abbott Bari Goff Langdon J. Messman Lyman Abbott Bari Grice Paul Chief Cook Lyman Abbott Bari Hanson [Hansen] Carl W. Wiper Lyman Abbott Bari Hilton [Helton] Coy E. Messman Lyman Abbott Bari Hodak Peter D. Jr. Unknown Lyman Abbott Bari Hurst Sidney Messman Lyman Abbott Bari Lishman Gordon Steward Lyman Abbott Bari Lowry Len O. A. B. Lyman Abbott Bari Maury George W. 2nd Engineer Lyman Abbott Bari Mitchell William Thomas Cadet Capillo Corregidor Nicholls Frank H. 3rd Engineer Lyman Abbott Bari Noto Lorenzo O.S. V2 bomb ashore Antwerp Roth Morris A.B. Robert L. Vann Antwerp March 1945 Salkay Zoltan Radio Officer Lyman Abbott Bari Scruggs John Howard Cadet Samuel Parker North Africa Shepperd Douglas C. Unknown V2 bomb ashore Antwerp Tischauer Gene Messman Lyman Abbott Bari Townsley Everett Fireman Lyman Abbott Lyman Abbott Walker Robert G. 2nd Cook Lyman Abbott Bari White James C. Steward Lyman Abbott Bari We appreciate your additions and corrections to these lists. usmm.org @ comcast.net ________________________________________ Navy Plans Award for Merchant Marine Following closely on the adoption of four new medals by Congress for United States Merchant Marine personnel, the Navy has now authorized awarding of the Navy's Silver Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to merchant seamen and officers. Navy Department Bulletin R-1391 provides for the following: (a) Navy awards may be made to U.S. Merchant Marine personnel only when direct combat with the enemy is involved, or in case of especially meritorious service under combat conditions when members of a naval expedition. The latter is not to be construed as covering normal overseas convoys. (b) In such cases, Navy awards will be limited to the Silver Star Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, as appropriate. (c) Major naval commanders to whom this authority is delegated are authorized to award these naval decorations on the spot as is now done for naval personnel. (d) All naval commanders, if not authorized to make awards themselves, will be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of such medals as may be considered appropriate. Such commanders, if serving directly under an officer authorized to make awards, will submit recommendations to that officer. Other naval commanders will submit such recommendations to the Secretary of the Navy. (e) All naval commanders wil be meticulous in forwarding recommendations for awards to Merchant Marine personnel of War Shipping Administration medals to the Navy Department for further transmission to the War Shipping Administration. The bulletin carries the signature of Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox. Source: Neptune, publication of Alameda U.S. Maritime Service Officer Training School, November 1943 ________________________________________
Merchant Seamen Eligible for Army Decorations U.S. Merchant seamen are eligible to receive certain Army decorations according to a recent letter sent to the President by Secretary of War Stimson which stated that merchant seamen serving with the Army are eligible to receive the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. Navy decorations which can also be awarded to merchant seamen are the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and the Air Medal. In order to be eligible for these latter, the seamen must have served in a definite capacity with the Navy since December 6, 1941. ________________________________________ City Merchant Sailor Given Purple Heart Purple hearts are rarely awarded to merchant seamen, but Douglas C. Shepperd, 22, 3433 Garfield Avenue [Minneapolis], home Thursday from a hospital in Chicago, was able to tell friends how he was presented the armed forces' oldest medal. One of the few Northwest merchant mariners entitled to wear the purple heart, possibly the only one, Shepperd was wounded by a V2 bomb while ashore in Antwerp last December from the first American convoy to enter the Belgian port. Part of his foot was cut off by shrapnel. He has not fully recovered from the injury after treatment in hospitals in Antwerp, Paris, England, Boston and Chicago. He also wears three ribbons for service in every war theater and a combat bar with a star for being aboard a ship torpedoed and sunk off India in December, 1943. Discharged from the merchant marine this summer, Shepperd is attempting to qualify for trade schooling under provisions of the merchant marine rehabilitation program. He is a graduate of Howard Lake, Minn., high school. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd. ________________________________________ "QUIT KIDDING!" was the only thing ordinary seaman Lorenzo Noto could say when an Army captain told him, he was going to receive the Purple Heart for wounds received in a bombed theater in Antwerp. But the captain wasn't kidding and Noto, a Sheepshead Bay graduate, received the decoration. He was on shore liberty with four other Merchant Seamen and two gun crew members the day the Germans made their break-through around Belgium, December 16, 1944. It was a gray, foggy, bleak day. Rockets and buzz bombs could be heard exploding in the vicinity while the twenty-two- year-old seaman watched and listened to the gunfire around Gary Cooper in "The Plainsman." Suddenly a bomb hit the theater and brought the beams and walls tumbling down. "The roof," said Noto, "seemed to be torn off and the theater was momentarily lighted by daylight." For six hours Noto lay pinned under the wreckage, lapsing into unconsciousness several times, until rescuers were able to tunnel under the debris and drag him to safety.
I served on the Hilary A Herbert as chief radio officer in 1945-46. Back in the Mediterranean during the invasion of Southern France,I aerved on a different shipthat took a load of ammunition and gasoline in 5 gallon Jerry cans which we unloaded at a beach. A solid week of no smoking on board and three full 24 hr days of US Army stevedores unloading the cargo. No attacks this time only cannon fire from the land. After the war when I served on the Herbert we lost our screw way oput in the North Atlantic in 1946 and hadshe to be towed in again, this time to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The shaft just broke in two and it showed rust in it interior, and the failure was attributed to a probable result of its beaching during Aznio