CHAPTER 39 — MERCHANT MARINE DECORATIONS AND MEDALS

§ 2001. Award of decorations and medals by Secretary of Transportation

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.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 2, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576.)

SHORT TITLE

Section 1 of Pub. L. 100-324 provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and repealing sections 249 to 249c of this Appendix and provisions set out as a note under section 753 of Title 50, Appendix, War and National Defense] may be cited as the 'Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act'."

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 2004 of this Appendix.

§ 2002. Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal; other decorations or medals

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.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 3, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576.)

§ 2003. Gallant Ship Award; citation; plaque; citation ribbon bar; consultation with Secretary of State

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.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 4, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576.)

§ 2004. Administrative provisions

(a) Restriction on award of more than one of any type

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.

(b) Receipt by personal representative

When an individual scheduled to receive a decoration or medal under this chapter is unable to accept it, the Secretary may make the award to an appropriate personal representative.

(c) Manufacture and sale; replacements

The Secretary may provide at cost, or authorize for the manufacture and sale at reasonable prices by private persons--

(1) the decorations and medals authorized under section 2001 of this Appendix and replacements for those decorations and medals; and

(2) replacements for decorations and medals issued under a prior law.

(d) Design

Decorations and medals authorized under section 2001 of this Appendix may be of similar design as are authorized for members of the Armed Forces of the United States for similar acts or service.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 5, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 100-324, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576, known as the Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act, which enacted this chapter and repealed sections 249 to 249c of this Appendix and provisions set out as a note under section 753 of Title 50, Appendix, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2001 of this Appendix and Tables.

§ 2005. Flag and grave marker for deceased individual who served in periods of war or national emergency

Except as authorized under another law, the Secretary of Transportation may issue at no cost a flag of the United States and a grave marker to the family or personal representative of a deceased 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.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 6, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 577.)

§ 2006. Issuance of special certificate in recognition of service; effect

(a) The Maritime Administrator may issue a special certificate in recognition of service to an individual, or the personal 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, privileges, or benefits under any law of the United States.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 7, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 577.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

Section 401 of Public Law 95-202, referred to in subsec. (a), is section 401 of Pub. L. 95-202, title IV, Nov. 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 1449, as amended, which is set out as a note under section 106 of Title 38, Veterans' Benefits.

§ 2007. Unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of decoration or medal; penalty

Except as authorized by this chapter, a person may not manufacture, sell, possess, or display a decoration or medal provided for in this chapter. A person violating this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $2,000.

(Pub. L. 100-324, § 8, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 577.)



























chanrobles.com





ChanRobles Legal Resources:

ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com