U.S. Merchant Marine
Korea Service Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Sample Display Recognition
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Naval Service Websites

        • Sample Display Recognition:



        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        or EnDurable Acrylux© Frame
        or Classic Deluxe Frame

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        EnDurable Acrylux© Frame
        Colors: Chocolate Brown or Black
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold
        Ready for Wall or Shelf Display

        Classic Deluxe
        Color: Appearance Gold
        Ready for Wall or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your Authorization Letter obtained from The Office of Maritime Labor & Training, Maritime Administration.

      • Contact The War Library if you do not have an Authorization Letter: 1-310-532-0634.
      • Or, obtain your Authorization Letter from:

        Attn: Awards
        The Office of Maritime Labor & Training
        Maritime Administration
        Room 7302
        400 7th Street SW
        Washington, DC 20590

        • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 310-532-0634

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Black & White (No Color) .PDF $9.50 Emailed $9.50
        Document only (Full Color) $14.50 $6.70 $21.20
        Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $6.70 $25.70
        EnDurable Acrylux© Frame (Full Color) $21.00 $6.70 $27.70
        Classic Gold Frame (Full Color) $24.00 $8.70 $32.70

      • * Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • * Contact The War Library for international shipping cost

        • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped within 1 week)

        • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your Authorization Letter.

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        16907 Brighton Avenue
        Gardena CA 90247-5420

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: U.S. Merchant Marine Korea Service Medal Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-310-532-0634

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        Issue Regulations


        U.S. Merchant Marine Korea Service Medal


        Click for larger image
        Korean Service Medal, recognizing service in the American merchant marine during the Korean Conflict. It is awarded for service between June 30, 1950, and September 30, 1953, in waters adjacent to Korea. Design: The torii gate and taeguk are traditionally associated with Korea. The ship's chain alludes to maritime service.

        According to Maritime Administration records, over 12,400 mariners were awarded the Merchant Marine Defense Bar; 143,000 mariners were awarded the Atlantic War Zone Bar; 111,000 Pacific War Zone Bars were distributed; and, 94,000 bars for service in the Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone were presented. In addition, over 2,000 mariners received the Korean Service Bar, and 5,000 were given the Vietnam Service Bar.

        All of these recipients of the war zone bars are eligible to obtain the new corresponding medal. The immediate families of deceased mariners are also eligible.

        Some mariners who sailed in these wars never applied for the war zone ribbon bars. MARAD's authority to process applications for the original issuance of war zone bars expired in 1954. Under the new authority of Public Law 100-324, enacted in 1988, the Maritime Administration may again accept original applications for the decorations listed above.

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