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 USC app. 2001 note. 46 USC app. 2001. 46 USC app. 2002.
46 USC app. 2003.
46 USC 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.
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